How to Choose Disc Brake Pads

Everyone knows that owning an automobile requires ongoing maintenance, but brakes are particularly important to maintain. The brakes help you stop in day-to-day driving conditions, but you'll appreciate the importance of good disc brake pads when faced with an emergency. In addition to making it difficult to stop, poor brake pads smoke, are noisy, and can damage the hubs of your car. If you follow a few simple guidelines, you'll find choosing disc brake pads an easy process.

Instructions

Instructions

1

Decide what type of disc brake pads you need. For instance, you can select from four types of brake pads: semimetallic, fiber, low-metallic, and ceramic. Semi-metallic pads get their stopping power from mixing iron or other alloy particles with adhesive. At prices ranging from $15 to $25 per pad, semi-metallic pads cost less than other pads, but they wear down quickly and make noise. Fiber pads consist of a variety of materials including glass, metal, or rubber. They do not create much noise, but they do emit dust. Low-metallic pads consist of copper or steel alloys. They can create noise and dust. Ceramic pads brake well under pressure, create little noise, and cost about as much as other pads.

2

Look for Brake Effectiveness Evaluation Procedures (BEEP) certification. BEEP certification ensures the brand of brake pads have passed independent, third-party performance testing. BEEP certification does not provide ratings per se, but a BEEP certification label on the package ensures quality disc brake pads.

3

Compare prices. Prices for brake pads range from $25 to $65 per pad. Even a modest 5% or 10% discount adds up.

4

Look for a type of pad that dissipates heat well. When you apply the brakes, heat from friction builds across the surface of the disc brake pad. This heat can cause glazing, which makes the pad slick and unable to stop the car. Disc brake pads that dissipate heat well absorb the heat and keep the pad from glazing. Semi-metallic pads work worst. Ceramic pads dissipate heat the best.

5

Look for quiet pads. Noisy brake pads screech under pressure, especially if they get wet. Ceramic pads consistently perform silently. Semi-metallic pads make a lot of noise.

6

Look for a reputable dealer. For instance, many chain automotive shops will not use customer-purchased parts. Consequently, you never actually see the product you purchase. Shady dealers sometimes use worn brake pads.