Axxis and PBR are they the same Pads?
 

So, my '01 X5 3.0 needs front pads and rotors, I called and ordered from IRP in Washington, Import Replacement Parts.

Placed order late last Friday- UPS just delivered today- Friday. One week- not too bad.

Only thing is the pads say pbr on the box. Mike at IRP says they are the same company, same pad, no difference.

When I google Axxis, I get a photo of "Axxis" parts. When I google pbr, I got a photo of "AXXIS/PBR"...wtf?

I think they are "probably" the same. Anyone out there know for sure?

yes, same pads. it has a few aliases.

Not sure which pads you ordered...
 

...but Axxis and PBR have the same parent company, FMP Group. When I check out www.axxisbrakes.com I find the former PBR/Repco Metal Master product now slotted in between the Axxis Deluxe Plus and Axxis Ultimates (and renamed XBG). Looks like Axxis acquired another competitor.

Here's how they compare their three street models:

http://www.axxisbrakes.com/radarchart.htm

Which pads did you order, by the way? I'm curious if they're packaging previously Axxis products under the PBR label.

I ordered Axxis Deluxe... I got pbr Deluxe. It is in a pbr box.

I may have my sequence wrong... the supplier says that FMP group bought Repco Metalmaster. They (FMP) already had the pbr brand and then had the Axxix brand also, but selling in different parts of the world. FMP apparently is trying to consolidate to one brand- probably Axxis.
I may not have it perfectly correct, but I assume they are the same parts.

I also found a guy who says pbr means "Poor Braking in Rain"... any reports on that?

Well, it is a convoluted story, but yes they are PBR pads.

The pads started out as PBR (Paton's Brake Replacement). Australian company, since 1927. Repco bought them in 1947. The pads we know as Deluxe Plus (and Ultimates) were PBR-Repco for years, globally. Still sold under that name in some parts of the world.

Axxis is a US brand, owned by Bendex-Mintex, the parent company of which is FMP.

There is a JV involving Bendex-Mintex (FMP) and PBR-Repco (owned by Pacifica). The ownership has changed a number of times. Due to a marketing agreement, in the US, the PBR-Repco pads are sold under the Axxis name.

Not all Axxis pads are PBR. The Deluxe Plus and Ultimates are.

Thanks for clearing that up, JCL!! You gotta love this 'board. Learn sumpin' new every day!

-Dave

I just swapped my factory dusters for Hawk Performance Ceramics and did the break-in late last night. So far, I think they're pretty great. Even after six 80mph-10mph rolling stops the wheels are still look clean. A closer look reveals a slight film of light gray. This same exercise would have made the wheels totally black. The stopping power feels the same but the application feels more progressive than factory pads.