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Drive Safe With Sharper Brakes Using The Best Brake Pads
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Brake pads are a central component in a car’s braking system. On today’s busy roads, they can be the only difference between a close call and a terrible accident. Brake pads can turn a potentially fatal accident into a scratchless escape. But unfortunately most people don’t even realize that they’re out on the road with worn-out pads that significantly compromise their braking performance. The thought of changing the brake pads out only strikes once they start making those annoying, screeching noises.
In reality, you should change your brake pads every 25,000 to 65,000 miles because of the friction generated while braking gradually wears them out. The average driver isn’t aware of this, which is why you also wouldn’t know what material, brand, or type of replacement you should get. We reviewed over 30 highest-quality options to create this list of the best brake pads in 2023.
Buying Guide: Brake Pads
We’ve gone over the descriptions, pros, and cons of some of the top-quality options that the brake pad market has to offer. But choosing the right replacement for your vehicle depends on many factors and you’ll need lots of basic information to make the right decision. Here’s a detailed buying guide to help you navigate the market and find a perfect match for your car!
What Are the Types of Brake Pads?
Brake pads can be divided into three major categories: ceramic, semi-metallic, and non-asbestos organic brake pads. Here’s a brief overview of each of them.
Ceramic brake pads
Since brake pads produce lots of frictional heat while braking, they need to be able to dissipate heat quickly and efficiently. Ceramic brake pads excel in that department! They also last longer with better wear resistance and they produce minimal dust. Despite these superior qualities, these brake pads are still lighter than most other types of brake pads. The only downside is their high price tag, which limits them to high-performance vehicles only.
Non-asbestos organic brake pads
Next up, we have non-asbestos organic brake pads (NAO). These brake pads are made out of organic materials and represent the most planet-friendly choice you can make for your braking system. Unlike other brake pads, these don’t produce and diffuse pollutants into the environment as they wear out.But since their materials are generally softer, they can wear out slightly faster than other brake pads, which means they aren’t ideal for heavy-duty use like off-roading. Instead, their most common use is in compact hatchbacks and mid-sized sedans for smooth, city-driving conditions.
Semi-metallic brake pads
Semi-metallic brake pads — also just called metallic — have 30 to 70% metal in their material composition. It’s often mixed with other materials like graphite, iron, copper, wool, or steel in varying ratios and configurations. Thanks to their effective braking performance, you’ll find these brake pads in commercial vans and even tractor-trailers that are used for transporting heavy loads. That’s because they’re durable, relatively wear-resistant, and they have good heat dissipation capabilities.Their downsides include high dust production, being harsh on your brake rotors causing them to wear out more quickly, and bad winter performance. As the temperatures drop, so does the usability of metallic brake pads, which means you shouldn’t get them if you live in northern areas.
What Brake Pads Should You Get for Your Vehicle?
Now that we’ve gone over the major types of brake pads, let’s find out which one fits your vehicle for sharp braking performance and maximum safety on the road. Before we discuss different categories of vehicles and their brake pad compatibility, consider what type of brake pads your vehicle already has. If you’re replacing them for the first time on your new car, then they currently have OEM stock pads, which means you can simply inspect their type and material to find a similar replacement. It’s a time-saving and surefire way to make sure your new brake pads are ideal for your vehicle. But if you bought your car used or if you’re replacing the pads for the first time, here’s a run-down of different car categories to help you out.
Sedans or compact hatchbacks
If you drive a compact car, you can go with semi-metallic brake pads for great overall performance. You can also get non-asbestos organic brake pads as they’re better for the environment, although they may not be as durable. As an incentive, you can also expect quieter performance if you go organic!
Mid-size vehicles
In the case of mid-sized vehicles, organic brake pads will simply wear out too quickly to be considered a practical choice. The ideal choice for a long-wheelbase luxury sedan or a crossover SUV is a semi-metallic brake pad set. These offer reliable performance with desirable levels of heat dissipation and wear resistance while still being cost-effective. If you’re looking for optimal braking performance even in the harshest weather conditions, you might want to consider investing in a set of ceramic brake pads.
High-performance vehicles
If you have a high-performance coupe or a sporty sedan, you need a ceramic braking system. Those are best equipped to handle rough racetrack use without wearing out quickly and they offer sharp braking performance to help you out in those clutch situations at high speeds. Keep in mind that despite their high price, even ceramic brakes will offer compromised performance in extremely cold weather.
Heavy vehicles
If you have an off-roading truck or a luxury SUV, you need a set of heavy-duty metallic pads to offer sufficient levels of stopping power without wearing out quickly. Since these vehicles can quickly heat up brake pads, they need a braking system that doesn’t melt or wear in those situations and quickly dissipates heat into the atmosphere. Metallic options fit this description pretty well.
Factors To Keep In Mind
Aside from the type of car you own or the several kinds of brake pads available on the market, pay attention to the following variables before finalizing your brake pads decision.
Climate
As we’ve discussed above, certain types and materials of brake pads can offer significantly worsened performance in different weather conditions. Most of them do well in the summer, but you can’t expect the same from them all in cold and wet conditions. Metallic pads, for instance, still do well in wet and slightly cold conditions but they aren’t ideal for extreme winters. Ceramic brakes are your best bet in chilly conditions, but even their performance takes a massive hit in extremely cold conditions.
Traffic
Do you have lots of intercity highway travel in your daily driving routine or do you regularly drive in city traffic? For highway use, you’re better off with more robust brake pads like ceramic or metallic ones since you’ll be stopping at much higher speeds, putting lots of pressure on the pads. For city use, you can get away with organic or low-metallic brake pads.
Hauling and towing
If you often have to tow or haul heavy loads, you need pads that offer immense stopping power without wearing out quickly. These qualities are only available in ceramic and metallic options.
Quietness
If you’re a fan of silent brakes (who isn’t?) and you don’t want them to start squeaking a few months down the line, you’ll need ceramic or organic brake pads. Metallic options are relatively noisier, especially when they start wearing out.
Pollution quotient
If you’re conscious about your carbon footprint then you’ll need brake pads that produce the least amount of brake dust. For that, steer clear of metallic options. The brake pads with the lowest impact on the environment are organic and ceramic ones.
After how many miles should I replace my brake pads?
Depending on several factors like the material and type of your brake pads, you need to replace them after 25,000 to 65,000 miles.
Should I get ceramic or metallic brake pads?
You can use both of them in mid-sized and heavy vehicles, although ceramic pads are much more expensive than metallic ones. For a higher price tag, you can expect, sharper, and longer-lasting performance from ceramic pads.
What type of brake pads should I get for extremely cold weather?
If you get extremely low temperatures where you live, your best bet is to go with ceramic brake pads. While all brake pads experience a drop in performance in extremely cold conditions, ceramic brake pads are the most effective in these conditions.
