Which brake pad brand does Honda use?

Honda does not use a single brake pad brand. Honda Genuine pads are sourced from multiple Tier‑1 suppliers—most commonly Akebono and Hitachi Astemo (the company that absorbed longtime Honda supplier Nissin Kogyo in 2021)—with Brembo supplying pads for certain high‑performance models. The exact brand varies by model, year, plant, and market, and dealer-packaged Honda pads typically carry Honda branding rather than the supplier’s name.

How Honda sources brake pads

Like most global automakers, Honda specifies performance targets (noise, dust, pedal feel, fade resistance, rotor wear) and contracts multiple OE suppliers that can meet those specs for different platforms and regions. That means two seemingly identical Hondas—built in different factories or for different markets—may ship with pads from different brands even within the same model year. Dealer “Honda Genuine” pads are manufactured to Honda’s spec by these suppliers and boxed under Honda’s parts program.

Common OEM suppliers for Honda automobiles

The following suppliers most frequently provide factory or Honda Genuine brake pads for Honda and Acura passenger vehicles, depending on model and market:

• Akebono: A major OE supplier of ceramic pads for many Honda and Acura sedans and crossovers, especially in North America.
• Hitachi Astemo (formerly Nissin Kogyo): Longtime Honda-affiliated brake supplier; commonly found on Civics, CR‑V, and other core models worldwide.
• Brembo: Supplies calipers and pad sets for performance variants (for example, Civic Type R and various Acura Type S models) where Brembo brake systems are fitted.
• Regional suppliers: In some markets and model lines, Honda may also source from other established OE brands (e.g., ADVICS in Japan-built applications or ZF/TRW in certain European builds), though coverage varies by region and year.

While these names reflect typical sourcing patterns as of 2025, the supplier mix can shift with platform updates, cost and capacity changes, or regional localization strategies.

What about Honda motorcycles?

For motorcycles, Honda has historically relied heavily on Nissin-branded components (now under Hitachi Astemo) for calipers and pads across many models. Premium and track-focused bikes—such as the CBR1000RR‑R Fireblade SP—feature Brembo brake systems, which include Brembo-spec pads. As with cars, exact pad suppliers and compounds are matched to each bike’s performance targets.

How to find the exact brand on your Honda

Owners who want to confirm the original pad brand on a specific vehicle can use several practical checks:

1. Inspect the pad backing plate: Many OE pads have small stamps or codes (e.g., “AKEBONO,” “NISSIN,” “ASTEMO,” or a supplier code) visible once the wheel is removed.
2. Check the caliper brand: Brembo-branded calipers typically ship with Brembo-supplied pad sets; Nissin/Hitachi Astemo calipers often use corresponding supplier pads.
3. Ask a Honda/Acura dealer parts counter: Provide your VIN; they can view the OE supplier or Honda part supercession notes for your build.
4. Review the factory service information or parts catalog: Electronic parts catalogs sometimes indicate supplier codes alongside Honda part numbers.
5. Examine the box of replacement Honda Genuine pads: While labeled Honda, boxes often include manufacturer codes or country-of-origin details that hint at the supplier.

These steps typically pinpoint the OE supplier for your specific model and build, ensuring you can match pads precisely if desired.

Dealer “Honda Genuine” vs. high-quality aftermarket options

Honda Genuine pads are tuned for the vehicle and remain the safest like-for-like replacement. For owners considering aftermarket equivalents, several reputable brands produce pads that meet or exceed OE friction performance and NVH targets:

• Akebono: ProACT/Euro/Performance lines that often mirror OE ceramic characteristics on Honda/Acura applications.
• Hitachi/Hitachi Astemo: OE-grade pad sets in select catalogs, aligned with their Honda supply heritage.
• Brembo: OE replacement pads for models with Brembo systems; also offers matched friction compounds.
• ADVICS and ZF/TRW: Strong OE pedigrees with applications that overlap certain Honda platforms, varying by region.
• Ferodo and Textar/Pagid (TMD): More common in European catalogs, with OE-specified compounds for select applications.

Sticking with well-established OE suppliers helps preserve braking feel, noise characteristics, and rotor compatibility similar to the factory setup.

Summary

Honda does not rely on a single brake pad brand. As of 2025, most Honda Genuine pads come from Akebono and Hitachi Astemo (formerly Nissin Kogyo), with Brembo covering performance models that use Brembo calipers. The precise supplier depends on the model, year, and region. Owners can confirm the original supplier via backing plate markings, VIN-based parts lookups, or caliper branding, and can confidently choose Genuine Honda pads or high-quality aftermarket equivalents from these same OE manufacturers.

Who makes Honda OEM brake pads?

Honda uses multiple suppliers for its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brake pads, with Akebono being a prominent and frequently mentioned supplier for Honda vehicles. Other manufacturers are also known to supply OEM brake pads for various vehicles, though Akebono is consistently cited as a key partner for Honda. 

• Akebono: This is a trusted supplier for numerous major automakers, including Honda, General Motors, and Toyota. 
• Other Potential Manufacturers: While Akebono is a primary source, it’s possible that other high-quality manufacturers also contribute to the Honda OEM brake pad supply chain. 
• Importance of OEM: Using OEM-specified brake pads ensures proper fit, material composition, and performance, as they are manufactured to Honda’s tight tolerances. 
• Aftermarket Alternatives: For drivers interested in aftermarket options, brands like Raybestos, Centric, and Brembo offer alternative brake pads that may provide different performance characteristics, though they may not be considered “OEM” in the strictest sense. 

Are Honda OEM brake pads good?

With an OEM pads, the fitment is exact because the tolerances demanded by Honda are tight. Brake pads are vital to your safety. Honda and other major automakers know that the future of the company rides on the safety and well being of their customers. As a result, OEM brake pads are always top tier in terms of quality.

What brake pads does the Honda Accord use?

The main types of brake pads for the Honda Accord include ceramic, semi-metallic, and OEM aftermarket options.

Who makes Honda OEM brake pads on Reddit?

I recall Honda uses Akebono as the maker for their OEM brake pads and from my experience with multiple Honda cars, the brake pads work well. I would continue to stick with Honda/Akebono brake pads.