2017~2025 FYI Front Brake Pad images NA CX-5

2020 CX-5 GT

Replaced front pads and rotors in July. Used the Mazda factory installed type pads made in Japan p/n K0Y1-3328ZB, and NOT the value line -- my buddy is a Detroit Three-employed high performance brakes engineer and emphasizes the great degree of engineering that goes into spec'ing pads from Tier 1 suppliers, so encourages this approach of sticking with the matching OEM pad and I trust his insight balanced against his also not wanting to overpay and waste money. I always seek pads at discount off full list even ordering online if needed. Went with POWER STOP rotors JBR1745EVC from Rockauto because he agrees quality units work fine, they cost about half of Mazda's, and these are very nicely fully coated for our MI climate.

YMMV, but it turned out just perfectly with nothing untoward or unusual, just all refreshed full stopping power. Incidentally, the rears got done a few months prior, so maybe 35,000 on those and 37,000 on these--the original fronts accidentally went too far, oops, were way overdue for new parts. Car is not driven aggressively, 60% miles were long, flat highway slogs.

Here's what the factory spec pads look like, obviously made by Akebono but that does not mean that other Akebono pads are exactly the same since the OEMs often get custom crafted variants from these Tier 1 suppliers, in line with how my hi-po brakes engineer bestie does it for his own programs.

Posting here with nothing revelatory, only because I get so many useful tips on stuff like this that it's nice just to share something every so often.

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nothing wrong with OEM pads, but they're not spectacular either.. they're just good enough for most driving conditions and most people... quite unoffensive pads: no noise, low dust, soft initial bite and takes a lot of heating up before they start to really work well (but not phenomenal... a better street performance brake pad would've stopped just as good at lower temperatures without risking rotor warpage)... I was a fan of OEM pads until I found better JDM performance pads that are (stops) better but still relatively unoffensive/annoyance free: low noise, low dust, non-metallic non-asbestos but not certified copper free... so, I'm never getting OEM pads for my mazdas again

these pads might be a different compound than your original pads... ever since 4 years ago, california has required brake pads to be copper free, so for parts inventory simplification purposes, no one makes a "california only" brake pad and a "49 state" brake pad

the european version are high dust, higher performance pads... different market expectations lol

but if you wanted it done right, I would've replaced the shims and clips, as stated in the shop manual... you can find the OEM ones cheap off ebay

powerstop rotors have good reputation, but I would've gotten advics instead, which are high carbon compared to the other brands and even OEM... they're also fully coated despite what rock auto says... I confirmed this with my own eyes on a set I just bought a couple of weeks ago... the price for them are pretty cheap and might be the best non-slotted or drilled rotors you can get... they seem to be high demand or low stock or some reason because I had to wait for them to go back in stock, and then they were selling out quick once they were back in stock
 
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also the 1st gen CX-5s also uses the same brake pads and calipers setup.. the 2016 went to use the same vented hat design like the 2nd gens do and are an upgrade as they're the same size

so, I suggest renaming the thread title to cover those years too
 
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