I'm looking to increase the stopping performance of the pilot. I hate the feeling when the car is loaded with passengers/cargo and trying to stop.

Any of you guys use aftermarket performance pads? what recommendations do you have?

On a dry road, are you able to activate the anti-lock brake system?
If so, then your first upgrade should be tires with better traction.

 

Good suggestion, but I'm not looking for absolute grip and stopping distance.

I am looking for braking power. I want a stronger initial bite and clamping power. I hate the feeling of feeling the extra weight when slowing down.

I wonder if EBC green pads would be an upgrade over oem Honda.

 

Good suggestion, but I'm not looking for absolute grip and stopping distance.

I am looking for braking power. I want a stronger initial bite and clamping power. I hate the feeling of feeling the extra weight when slowing down.

I wonder if EBC green pads would be an upgrade over oem Honda.

Again, if, on a dry road, you are able to activate the anti-lock brake system, then braking performance/power isn't the first issue you need to address.

 

Yes. I don’t think I’m explaining this correctly. I understand the importance of grippy tires. My other car is a civic type r.

It's the feeling of the extra weight. That's what I want to eliminate or lessen. When loaded, you need to push the brake pedal farther to get the same braking force as if the car is empty.

 

Yes. I don’t think I’m explaining this correctly. I understand the importance of grippy tires. My other car is a civic type r.

It's the feeling of the extra weight. That's what I want to eliminate or lessen. When loaded, you need to push the brake pedal farther to get the same braking force as if the car is empty.

Perhaps you'd benefit from switching to a set of braided steel brake lines/hoses.

 

Have you researched these? Home - Akebono Brake Experts

 

Have you researched these? Home - Akebono Brake Experts

Exactly which Akebono brake pads are you suggesting for a 2023 Pilot?

 

Switching to steel braided brake lines you will feel a difference in the initial bite when the brakes are applied, the pedal should become firmer.

 

I suggested this over a year ago and no one made one then. Who makes a set now?

 

I’m not a brake pad expert. But that brand is a good one.

My experience with brakes & towing is this.
#1 replace brake lines
#2 flush braking system
#3 replace pads & rotors
All this depends on issues. For me it was/is for my trucks towing camper trailers in the Rockies.

I do tow with the Pilot, however, not heavy loads. So for me the O.E. Brakes are fine—even in the Rockies.

 

I’m not a brake pad expert. But that brand is a good one.

What good is that brand if they don't make a full set of brake pads for a 2023 Pilot?

 

In my opinion, there is VERY LITTLE you can do to improve braking by a large percentage when continuing to use OEM sized rotors and calipers. When confined to the OEM size, you can only move to better materials.... which offer some performance benefit to braking, but not a huge difference over OEM. I always use Centric coated rotors and Akebono pads. There are better pads out there, but only marginally. If you aren't putting it on a track and running your brakes really hot, moving to more expensive/exotic drilled/slotted rotors and high end pads will not make much difference. I have used the Z36 kits from PowerStop in the past, and I didn't see or feel much difference, even when getting the brakes hot.

 

First thing I did is to check RockAuto, they usually have few lines of products for brakes. However, for Pilot they do not offer anything exciting, but I did find this:

Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads | High Performance Pads | PowerStop

Upgrade to high performance Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads from PowerStop. Affordable, quiet and clean carbon fiber reinforced ceramic pads.

www.powerstop.com

They offer both front and rear performance brake pads, but unfortunately no rotors. So you will have to find quality rotors... perhaps stay with OEM ones but upgrade the pads.

P.S. I was able to upgrade my truck's very decent OEM rotors and pads to Z36 kit - and it definitely works better than OEM: Extreme Truck and Tow Brake Pad and Rotor Kits | PowerStop

 

First thing I did is to check RockAuto, they usually have few lines of products for breaks. However, for Pilot they do not offer anything exciting, but I did find this:

Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads | High Performance Pads | PowerStop

Upgrade to high performance Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads from PowerStop. Affordable, quiet and clean carbon fiber reinforced ceramic pads.

www.powerstop.com

They offer both front and rear performance break pads, but unfortunately no rotors. So you will have to find quality rotors... perhaps stay with OEM ones but upgrade the pads.

P.S. I was able to upgrade my truck's very decent OEM rotors and pads to Z36 kit - and it definitely works better than OEM: Extreme Truck and Tow Brake Pad and Rotor Kits | PowerStop

Brakes my brother, brakes.....

Breaks are what happens when you, well, break something

 

Well, there is a reason why I am not allowed to teach English... or any other language... for the sake of humanity 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

P.S. Thanks @Hogan773 - corrected

 

To my Butt Dyno defense: I did a bit of research, and found that a lot of F150 owners praised Z36.
Brakes/rotors on trucks work differently - surprisingly, the rear ones wear out first; so when I got my factory rear rotors and pads replaced on year 2, I was amazed how noticeably braking improved right away. Year later, I replaced front ones too - as they start making some noise - and no regrets. Brakes well and quiet, looks awesome (cross-drilled and slotted .

However, for my old SUV, I went with OEM rotors (Akebono), as they actually better quality and last longer than aftermarket. Plus I am not trying to stop a small mountain traveling at highway speed...

 

I’m still of the opinion that braided lines would make the most noticeable difference but I don’t know of anyone making them for our application yet.

 

They are available for the 2nd and 3rd gens. I was looking at OEM p/n's for the 3rd gen front hose and the cut-off is 2022. Was hoping it was the same hose up to 2025. And 2019-2025 Passport front hoses are the same at 2016-2022 Pilot, so no dice there neither.

 

For your entertainment only:

Last time I worked on brakes was a 2015 Tacoma TRD with rear drums and replacing with SS brake lines DID make a difference for low $$$. I’m sure in time they will make them for the 2023 & up pilot. Good luck in your search.

 

 

Bosh! Nothing better for pure breaking power.
A little pricey, but not much over other brands.

 

There is always a trade off and not one many want to make on their daily driver, family vehicle. Many fleet and heavier duty vehicles use “semi-metallic” versions still, not as much ceramic content. The trade off is dirty dusting, squeaky etc but the performance is first.

The only initial feel/bite difference you will get is different pad material that grabs more when cold. If you can get braided lines made. If you have a shop you trust have a pressure bleed done with a better fluid. Better fluid will have higher dry / wet boiling points but that shouldn’t affect until hot.

I had dealer do my last brake flush and to me they feel spongier with same pads. I need to redo that. Might be the way they use the scan tool to activate ABS to flush. SpeedBleeders get recommended on many forums to help in flush/bleed.

Physics are what they are but not weight in or in vehicle will normally require more effort. I had switched my Sequoia to Porterfield carbon Kevlar pads and slotted rotors. Much better on the butt dyno even wife made the comment, less effort needed to slow down and stop. The trade was very dirty black rims, the whrrrr noise from slots and the b***h and moan in daily from wife was not worth it. Happy compromise was factory rotors with Hawk LTS pads and fluid flush every 2 years. I wanted but never got the braided hoses. Still worked well towing heavy scout trailer that didn’t have brakes. But you new it was there if you had stop faster.