New Tire Suggestions

[SamirD]

Try taking your spare tyre and jack out as well - then go around some corners.

I'd try new pads first too. Unless you're boiling the stock fluid?

But then that's not the normal load I'd have in the car. I try to get used to the performance characteristics of the car in the same form I'd drive it on the street. That way, I know exactly what the car can and needs to do when faced with a quick decision.

I don't think I'm boiling the fluid or overheating the pads. They're just that 'I want to be light on the rotor and dust like crazy' type of pad. I usually like the 'I'll barely dust because I have enough metal in me to eat the rotor but I'll stop really well 0-100mph+' type of pads.

When changing brake fluid, I always use Castrol SRF. So what if it's $50 more and (500% more expensive)? If it helps with not having to flush the system just a tad bit longer or keeps the fluid from boiling that one time when I need it, it's well worth it.

[murcod]

You should remove the tyre and jack just to see what a difference it makes. I had mine out when changing wheels/ tyres and was amazed at the difference in roundabouts.

Have you tried any of the "Super DOT 4" fluids? They're a higher temp rating (I'm not saying SRF high, but better) and usually the same price as normal DOT 4.

PS: IMHO the "Akebono" pads are nothing special.

[KuroNekko]

PS: IMHO the "Akebono" pads are nothing special.

They are bigger and better than the majority of what's on the Kizashi's midsize/compact rivals. At the time the Kizashi debuted, it had one of the best-in-class stopping distances thanks to them.
That being said, it's not like they are some performance pad you'd see on more high performance vehicles. However, that's good because high performance pads generally eat rotors, cause more noise, and more brake dust for the sake of better performance. I'd say the Kizashi is not fast enough for that.

[murcod]

The brakes aren't that different in size to other comparable mid size vehicles. It's also possible the pads have been designed to impress with a single 100kmh - 0km/h stop in mind (hence the USA advertising.) They possibly can't handle the heat from repetitive stops eg. spirited mountain driving. It's a common problem with "road" pads.

[bootymac]

The brakes aren't that different in size to other comparable mid size vehicles. It's also possible the pads have been designed to impress with a single 100kmh - 0km/h stop in mind (hence the USA advertising.) They possibly can't handle the heat from repetitive stops eg. spirited mountain driving. It's a common problem with "road" pads.

Aren't the Akebonos ceramic? They should be able to handle brake fad better than most pads

[LPSISRL]

They are ceramic.

[murcod]

Yes, they've got ceramic in them, but they're still a road pad in a mass produced mid size vehicle- not a high performance road/ track pad. The average person doesn't like to not have full brake performance from the first stop - which is what you will generally sacrifice with a more heat tolerant pad.

This is the model the Kizashi appears to be fitted with http://www.akebonobrakes.com.au/afterma ... index.html


Interestingly, they also claim to be a large OEM supplier of brake pads to car manufacturers:

Akebono is the Original Equipment Manufacturers’ brand of choice and it is factory installed on many of the world’s highest rated vehicles.

Factory Installed OEM brand of choice 90+ models

[murcod]

The good news is there are quite a few upgrade options out there (possibly courtesy of the Kizashi using the same pads as some Nissan models ):

http://www.buybrakes.com/c-90_suzuki-ki ... -pads.aspx
http://www.jcwhitney.com/brake-pads/suz ... j1s21.jcwx
http://www.carid.com/2011-suzuki-kizashi-brakes/
http://hawkbrakesdirect.com/c-82_suzuki ... -pads.aspx

[kizashigal]

I have Nitto Motivos on mine and they are great with a long treadlife warranty. Already have 25k and still look almost new. Handle well in all weather.

[SamirD]

You should remove the tyre and jack just to see what a difference it makes. I had mine out when changing wheels/ tyres and was amazed at the difference in roundabouts.

Have you tried any of the "Super DOT 4" fluids? They're a higher temp rating (I'm not saying SRF high, but better) and usually the same price as normal DOT 4.

PS: IMHO the "Akebono" pads are nothing special.

I typically won't change things like that because if I like it, I'll leave it out and then never have a spare or a jack when I need it.

I did for a while in my Galant with the Baer setup on it. I changed to SRF and never went back after that. Just so night and day after 8 months. The SRF still felt great when it was dark as maple syrup.

And that shocks me about the Akebonos. The CB7 or CD5 Accords both had one model with Akebonos in them and people liked the stock pads. I even used them when the time came to change mine. Great bite, low dust, good high speed stopping power.

But I think like many things on the car, Suzuki specs called for a certain pad compound and Akebono made it. To their credit, they're great pads that rival my German cars (rival them in dust too )--just not my style or what I like on my Japanese sedans.