[fenixus]

Hi,

Planning to get new Brembo Replacement rotors on all 4 corners and trying to locate 2 pairs (front and rear) of bite-hard Akebono Street Performance pads... but it's a problem!

So far I was only able to locate front pair of Akebono SP (ASP707) on the tirerack.com, but they do not sell those for rears, why?
Emailed them, so far no reply.

I checked authorized local retailers of Akebono in North-East and they only list Advance Auto Parts stores. so i checked and all they offer is Akebono ProACT series, which I do NOT want (too weak stopping power for me) and they do NOT carry Street Performance series at all :facepalm:
Emailed the regional representative of Akebono, so far nor reply.

Reason why I want badly Akebono SP is that despite that I love Hawk HPS stopping power (and they ARE very quiet for me), I noticed they started dusting more with wear.
Mild dusting in fronts only (I have rear drums) on '00 solara is acceptable, but I do not want 4 dirty wheels on '02 solara... sole reason why I don't want Hawk HPS for another car.

By looking at pads ratings on tirerack.com I see that Akebono SP are rated I mark lower for stopping power than Hawk HPS, but they are better in terms of both noise (never an issue for me) and dust (becomes a little problem).

Why is it that hard to find Akebono Street Performance pads ? any ideas where to get them from locally in NJ/NY or online (amazon doesn't carry them either, nor rockauto) ?

any online stores selling rear fitment pads ?

Do tehy even make SP series pads for rear fitment on '02 solara ? it's weird ...

How do you compare Akebono SP pads to others you've used ?

 

[LynchburgCSI]

Suggestion... get the Hawk HPS's and use a good wheel cleaner and anti-brake dust protectant (new product to the market). I drive an Expedition (HUGE brake rotors, 6000lbs, LOTS of dust) and that works VERY well for me.

 

[fenixus]

huH!

just checked Akebono parts catalog ... and they do NOT make rear fitment SP pads for solaras ... WTF ?
also, what's most funny, they do NOT make SP series pads at all (not even fronts) for camry same 2002 year ? what's up with them ?
http://www.showmetheparts.com/akebono/

I should have started this thread in Solara section ... since there is no SP series for camry :facepalm:

I guess I will have to get Akebono ProACT Premium pads for rears after all if I want to stick with same brand all around ...

 

[fenixus]

Suggestion... get the Hawk HPS's and use a good wheel cleaner and anti-brake dust protectant (new product to the market). I drive an Expedition (HUGE brake rotors, 6000lbs, LOTS of dust) and that works VERY well for me.

I know Hawks HPS very well, I love them on my 00 solara, but as I say I'm looking for pads with similar bite force, but less dusting (rusty brown color for HPS) ... also (not sure if true) I read that dust color on Akebono pads is light (whiteish) so it's not that visible on wheels.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

I remember that color dust from the Hawk HPS's I had on my 5s-fe. I couldn't tell you about Akebonos though. Guess i'm done for this thread. :lol:

 

[fenixus]

hehe, no problem, thanks anyways.

I may still get 2 pairs of Hawk HPS though and live with dirty wheels after every road trip

Haven't decided yet. considering options still.I'm sort of dissapointed with no rear fitment of Akebono SP series for my car though... Hawk HPS are available for rears...

 

[fenixus]

hmmm, i'm confused even more now. I checked '99 camry and solara Akebono pads fitment ... and they both show front and rear SP series pads ?
is the Akebono webcatalog working correctly ? where are the differences coming from ? hard to believe in rotor and caliper size difference between solara gen1 and gen1.5 (same about camry gen4 and gen4.5)... something stinks here ...

so '98-99 camry and '99 solara can use both ASP325 (rear fitment SP series), but then '00-01 camry and '00-03 solara cannot ? it's ridiculous ...

 

[fenixus]

OK, here is the problem with Akebono Street Performance pads availability for rear application on 00-03 Solaras. Akebono webcatalog is WRONG! :headbang:

When you go to their official parts catalog you will see they make Street Performance pads for '99 Solara only (rear discs) ... which is bull shit.
why? simply because 00-01 Solaras are same generation (gen1) and use exactly same rear discs as 99 !!!

Moreover, I have just compared OEM part numbers (rear brake pad kit) between '99 Solara and my '02 Solara and toyodiy.com says that is the exact same part number 04466-33060 on both models !!!

... so, i think I will get '99 Solara application of Akebono Street Performance pads (ASP325) and i'm pretty sure it will fit my '02 Solara rears just fine (Akebono webcatalog say they don't make such application, I call it bull shit).

 

[fenixus]

The rear pads are different from the 99-01 models to the 2002 model. Brake pad companies indicate the different shapes made in the original equipment market for OE calipers with FMSI numbers, and the FMSI pad shape for the previous generation was the D325 but the 2002 models switched to a D828 pad shape so they are not interchangeable. Akebono for some reason never decided to produce the street performance pad in the D828 pad shape. The only sport pad that we carry which is produced in the front and rear pad shape is the Satisfied GS6 Street/Sport pads which function quite well.​

​

Best Regards,​

Nick Shreve | Sales Specialist

amazing ... there is no Akebono Street Performance (rears) nor Hawk HPS (rear) for 2002-2003 Solara rear discs!

I ended up getting Akebono Street Performance for fronts and Akebono ProACT for rears.
I have no idea what Satisfied GS6 Street/Sport pads are.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

^ weird. Are the es300/wagon rears the same?

 

[fenixus]

^ weird. Are the es300/wagon rears the same?

i don't know, the calipers in 99-01 (there 2 types) and 02-03 (1 type) appeared same to me, same about brake pad p/n from toyodiy.com...weird that it's really different ...



also note to mention that nor Hawk neither Akebono show HPS/SP pads for 00-01 rear fitment (while they should if they are same as 99) WTF ?

Anyways, I got ProACT (ACT828) for rears and screw that mess as I'm not sure if Street Performance (ASP325) would fit or really would not.

02 solara sle v6 (based on VIN)
04466-33060 rear disc brake pad kit (rear only)
for MCV20; ACV20; SXV20 .. CVT; MARK AK PA544

99 solara sle v6 (general criteria):
A) 04466-33040 rear disc brake pad kit (rear only)
FOR MCV20

B) 04466-33060 rear disc brake pad kit (rear only)
for MCV20; ACV20; SXV20 .. CVT; MARK AK PA544

where tha hell is the rear pad shape difference (325 vs 828) reflected in ?

It's amazingly weird that both Hawk and Akebono SP series don't show rear fitment above 99 solara ...

is it possible that in '99 pads were different between 6cyl coupe (325 shape) and the rest (4cyl and 6cyl convertible using 828 shape) while since 2000 they started making them all same (shape 828) ?

only sure thing is that fronts were never changed and all models have same shape 707 for years 99-03...

 

[LynchburgCSI]

IDEA! Get the part number for a pad an autozone. Ask for it. Compare to other parts you'd like to see.

 

[fenixus]

no it doesn't work like that.

as you can see Akebono makes ProACT series for rear fitment (shape 828), but they don't make street performance series (same as Hawk) in this shape ... hell knows why.
i don't care anymore, order was placed, will have proact in rear and and SP in fronts and forget the thing.

just saying it's very weird.

 

[sdnative]

Akebono ASP707/ACT828 Combo & Solara Rear Brake Change 2000-2003

amazing ... there is no Akebono Street Performance (rears) nor Hawk HPS (rear) for 2002-2003 Solara rear discs!

I ended up getting Akebono Street Performance for fronts and Akebono ProACT for rears.
I have no idea what Satisfied GS6 Street/Sport pads are.

I'm thinking of going with the same combo from Tirerack - ASP707 front/ACT828 rear. Can you give us an update on how the combo worked for you? I suspect it will be good since the front has all the weight and does most of the braking anyway. I just hope it's balanced enough.

BTW Akebono isn't the only company not making rear pads for 2000-2003 Solara. Yes, Toyota did change the pad shape after 1999 from FMSI code 323 to 828. Performance Friction and Hawk don't either BUT the Hawk application guide says their rear pads DO FIT 1999-2003 Solara. How can that be? I think they are wrong. And if theirs fit, why would any brand's 1999 Solara pads. I think they are mistaken. Has anyone tried to install 323 pads on 2000-2003 Solaras?

 

[fenixus]

as of now the breaking force is near perfect. having proact (828) in rear and SP in fronts (plus new ABS pump and new brake fluid) makes miracles. I can now stop this car on a dime (literally!). it's amazing, I have never had such strong brakes so far in any car (00 solara with front HAwk HPS and rear OEM drums included).

this combo WORKS great!

P.S. I have resurfaced all rotors (rears and fronts) too, so maybe this is adding up to the final effect.

 

[sdnative1]

as of now the breaking force is near perfect. having proact (828) in rear and SP in fronts (plus new ABS pump and new brake fluid) makes miracles. I can now stop this car on a dime (literally!). it's amazing, I have never had such strong brakes so far in any car (00 solara with front HAwk HPS and rear OEM drums included).

this combo WORKS great!

P.S. I have resurfaced all rotors (rears and fronts) too, so maybe this is adding up to the final effect.

Very nice! Thanks for the review of the Akebono pads. You've definitely made my decision. To say that it stands up to the Hawk HPS on your other car says alot too (granted with rear drums). I was about to say the heck with it and go with Bendix semi metallics on all 4 corners.

I will be putting new Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors as the 8 year old Toyota rotors with 3 year old Raybestos Quiet Stop ceramic pads are now warping repeatedly. They are getting too thin and have been shaved twice.

Interesting page about rotors here http://www.badbrakes.net

My Solara is also silver. I added a TRD rear sway bar (thought about the Whiteline version too) and KYB GR-2 struts which have provided awesome firm-but-not-harsh ride for 4 years.

 

[fenixus]

Very nice! Thanks for the review of the Akebono pads. You've definitely made my decision. To say that it stands up to the Hawk HPS on your other car says alot too (granted with rear drums). I was about to say the heck with it and go with Bendix semi metallics on all 4 corners.

I will be putting new Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors on too as the 8 year old rotors with 3 year old Raybestos Quiet Stop ceramic pads are now warped.

My Solara is also silver. I added a TRD rear sway bar (thought about the Whiteline version too) and KYB GR-2 struts which have provided awesome firm-but-not-harsh ride for 4 years.

I am sure you will like it as I do

Akebono SP can be safely compared (same class) to Hawk HPS, both are great, but I think Hawks have a little more biting power (but they dust more too and some people are complaining on noise), however Akebono SP are almost same strong (if not same, hard to compare precisely), but are 100% quiet and they say they dust much less, will see...

I'm on original rotors still on both cars, 00 solara has rotors that were not even resurfaced when I installed the Hawk HPS pads. I'm thinking about resurfacing those front rotors in Spring, but am afraid a little that Hawk HPS pads will start to squeal .... so far they have been quiet on braking, only briefly noisy when moving away from a parking lot. Hawk HPS also produce a lot of brownish dust, very well visible after a month of daily driving, I hope Akebonos stay cleaner or at least as I heard theirs dust is lighter in color, so less visible on wheels.

TRD RSB sounds great! how do you like the handling now, any noticeable change in handling, etc. ?

my 2000 i4 is on Gabriel Ultra struts in front, but they are giving up after less than 40k miles, I hope to keep them for a few more k miles still, but ride is getting hard in fronts.

my 2002 v6 solara has front struts almost ready for a replacement, not sure what brand they are now at 124k miles, will be changing them out in Spring anyways (can it be they are still original OEM?), ride is not horrible yet, but is getting very hard on potholes and sometimes I can feel that up-down movement on highways. they are done.

I will be getting probably blue Tokico HP struts for this ride (keeping OEM springs, you wouldn't want to be lowered in my area, bumper repairs are pricey hehe).

How do you like KYB GR2 struts? I've read mixed opinions them ...

 

[sdnative1]

Adding the TRD rear sway bar (which was noticeably thicker than the stock SE one) made a amazing difference when turning. It was almost as if I had stiffer struts just with that alone. That's why some say the RSB is the single biggest suspension upgrade. BTW the TRD comes with polyurethane bushings. The OEM bushings are spongy rubber.

I debated for months on which struts to go with after that. It was between KYB GR-2 and the Tokico HPs. I'm glad I when with KYB on the advice of the repair shop manager. He warned me that anything stiffer would become tiring after a while. KYBs are just stiff enough to make the car feel totally different, he said. He was right. Still solid like day one and instantly eliminated the plush, Camry-like ride. Cornering speed increased while lean decreased. They reduced nose dive when braking, and reduced squat when accelerating. The struts created a German car feel kind of like a BMW or VW. KYBs are made in Japan.

I remember comparing the Toyota struts to KYBs out of the car. I pushed down on the piston rod easily on the Toyotas and watched it slowly rise, while the KYB were very hard to push down on and when I did, the piston quickly lifted back out. The Toyotas struts served their purpose. Didn't have any problems and didn't leak. I just wanted a different type of ride than they were designed for. I sold them on ebay quickly.

Make sure you check your chassis code (MCV20 or MCV30). Although my Solara is called a 2002, it was made 12/01 and had the 2001 chassis. Toyota changed the suspension geometry in mid 2002.

 

[fenixus]

gotcha. will think about rear strut bar upgrade to TRD some day

thanks for input on KYB GR-2 struts! now I will have a problem in deciding between those and Tokico HP hehe ...

my 02 solara v6 was made in 08/2001, chassis code MCV20 (per toyodiy.com).

Adding the TRD rear sway bar (which was noticeably thicker than the stock one) made a amazing difference when turning. It was almost as if I had stiffer struts just with that alone. That's why some say the RSB is the single biggest suspension upgrade.

I debated for months on which struts to go with after that. It was between KYB GR-2 and the Tokico Blues. I'm glad I when with KYB on the advice of the repair shop manager. He warned me the anything stiffer would become tiring after a while. KYBs are just stiff enough to make the car feel totally different, he said. He was right. Still solid like day one and instantly eliminated the plush, Camry-like ride. Cornering speed increased while lean decreased. They reduced nose dive when braking, and reduced squat when accelerating. The struts created a German car feel kind of like a BMW or VW. KYBs are made in Japan.

Make sure you check your chassis code (MCV20 or MCV30). Although my Solara is called a 2002, it was made 12/01 and had the 2001 chassis. Toyota changed the suspension geometry in mid 2002.

 

[LynchburgCSI]

Heads up... the TRD RSB or whiteline one should be the first $150 spent on the camry or solara. It's THAT good.