The Main Issues to Choose Brake Pads

Someday, all parts of the car wear out and require replacement, and it doesn’t matter how expansive and up-to-date your car is. Brake Pads aren’t an exception, what is more, they should be replaced before they were worn out completely, as this unit is a really an essential car element. Somehow, your life depends on them.

You should know this before continuing

Brake pads are part of the braking system, which is responsible for stopping or slowing down the vehicle. The pads press against the rotor (or disc) and create friction that slows the wheel's rotation and brings the car to stop. Since this component is constantly subjected to friction, it wears down over time and becomes less effective. Modern pads are typically made from a semimetallic or ceramic material. But, what is the best brake pad material? We will discover it below.

If you are an amateur mechanic, remember that this is a system and several components need to be replaced for reliability. For example, you will need to replace the gaskets. Brake system gaskets are thin plates installed between the pads and the caliper to reduce noise, vibration and protect against overheating.

To continue reading the article, you will also need to know the term chamfer. This is a bevelled edge (30–45 degrees) on the edge of the brake pad material. The purpose of this small element is to distribute the wear of the brake pads evenly and make braking comfortable.

How the type of brake pads changes your driving experience

The modern market offers four types of brake pads based on material. This brief brake pad comparison will help you understand the main differences and choose exactly the pads that your car needs.

1. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

They are highly wear-resistant and have good heat transfer properties, as they contain up to 65% metal. Disadvantages: reduced service life of the brake disc (rotor), inefficient operation at low temperatures and increased noise levels.

2. Organic Brake Pads (NAO)

The advantages of these pads are their quick response (‘grip’). They ensure low noise levels thanks to the materials they are made of: rubber, glass, resins and Kevlar. However, the composition is responsible for the main disadvantage of these brake pads - rapid wear and the formation of microscopic dust.

3. Nonmetallic brake pads

They are more wear-resistant and have an even higher heat transfer coefficient than semi-metallic pads. In these pads, the copper or steel content does not exceed 30%. However, this also causes dust formation and high noise levels.

4. Ceramic Brake Pads

These pads are made of ceramic fibres with the addition of copper, sometimes this material is called ceramic metal. They have turned all the previous disadvantages into advantages. They work well at high temperatures, produce less dust, and it settles less, and are the quietest of all those described above. Their main disadvantage is their high price. They can be ineffective under certain driving conditions. They absorb heat less efficiently, so they transfer thermal energy to other components of the system.

When do you need to replace brake pads?

The brake system is one of the most important components in the car. Therefore, the choice of its components should be approached with considerable attention. Firstly, to find info when to change brake pads, you can read the car manual. Usually, the recommended brake pad replacement is on every 30 000/40 000 miles. As for brake rotors, you can replace them every 100 000/120 000 miles. There are two symptoms, which inform you that something has gone wrong with the brakes.

To understand that it is the time to replace brake pads, pay attention to vibrations, noises and fuel efficiency. 

❖ Maximum Operating Temperature. Yes, the MOT of brake pads may change as they wear out, but not linearly.
❖ Friction Response to Temperature. Worn pads have less material to absorb and spread out heat. This causes faster temperature rise, especially during hard or repeated braking.
❖ Pads and rotors lifetime is over
❖ Noise and Vibration. At least once, you have heard an unpleasant screech when a car stopped somewhere on the street. Be aware that this is caused by worn brake pads. In addition, its thinning occurs unevenly, so when braking, due to friction between the rotor and the pad, the driver may feel vibrations transmitted to the steering wheel.
❖ Braking time is increased. The car brakes more slowly or does not respond immediately when the brake pedal is pressed.

What do good brake pads look like?

1. Thick fractional material of the pads.
2. A brake pad slot is a groove cut into the center or surface of a brake pad’s friction material. In some designs, slot depth can serve as a visual indicator of pad wear.
3. Chamfered edges comply with the standard 30–45 degrees
4. Does not contain oil, grease or brake fluid, which can reduce efficiency.
5. Presence of certified marking. Presence of certified marking. Types and diversity of certification may vary, so check this information online to ensure it corresponds to the car manufacturer and country.

Buy the best brake bads

How to know what brake pads to buy?  Brake pads can be attributed to the highly loaded elements of the car. Depending on the manner and driving conditions, the temperature of the working material of the pads reaches 300 – 350 °C in normal operation and rises to 800 – 900 °C in sports and extreme driving. 

The tactic: "The most expensive is the best"  - does not always work. In this case, ceramic pads are not suitable for heavy-duty vehicles and sports cars because these pads are less effective in extreme temperatures. Owners of light vehicles in cold climates should also not spend money on ceramic models.

Organic brake pads are well suited for drivers of cars within the city limits with moderate or frequent use of the car.

Semimetallic brake pads. Recommended for freight transport, off-road vehicles and trucks. They withstand aggressive and frequent braking well.

Nonmetallic brake pads are used in passenger cars (fuel, hybrid and electric cars).

Purchase of brake pads from the original equipment manufacturer is the best way to get high-quality car units. On the other hand, there are many specialized companies that produce quality products. When choosing brake pads, as well as any other spare parts, it is important to pay attention to the brand itself (what users say about it), check the certificates (their compliance in the country of manufacture and sale) and check the warranty.

Tips for maintaining brake pads for safe and effective use

We hope, the issue: "What kind of brake pads do I need?" is solved. For safe driving, keep an eye on the dashboard indicators and respond to signals. You can perform computer diagnostics of the brake system using the inCarDoc app and the ELM327 adapter. C-codes indicate brake system faults. Some brake-related faults might show up with U-codes.

To get the most out of your brake pads, avoid sudden braking, have your car inspected at least once a year, and clean the brake system. Also, to prevent the pads from souring and skewing, regularly lubricate the guides with special grease. Pay attention to noises and vibrations. As the pads wear out, you may feel that the brake pedal has started to ‘sink’ — do not ignore this signal. Regularly check the brake fluid level.

Therefore, use advanced solutions for confidence on the road