How to Choose Brake Pads

Let’s face it: the brake pad is arguably the most important safety feature of your car. The brake pad rubbing against the brake rotor is what provides the friction that slows your car to a stop. Most often nobody ever gives them a second thought unless the car isn’t stopping well or some sort of crazy noise is happening when stopping the vehicle. The type of materials that the brake pad is formulated from will directly affect stopping distance, rate of wear, noise level, and how much dust is created. It will also directly determine how often you will need to take your vehicle in for auto repair. Lets look at each type of brake pad materials in depth: Asbestos Brake Pads: The original brake pad material, due to asbestos ability to resist heat and making noise. Unfortunately, asbestos causes health issues (namely a form of lung cancer called mesotheliomia) and has been mostly fazed out over the last 30 years. Keep in mind though, brake pads containing asbestos are NOT banned in the US. Some brake pads still contain asbestos, so treat ALL brake dust with caution. Some brake manufacturers still sell brake pads made with asbestos, and the box will usually be labeled accordingly. Just remember, there are no labeling laws or restrictions. Organic Brake Pads: Made from organic materials such as glass, rubber, resins, and Kevlar. Low to moderately priced. Often softer than other brake pad materials which provides a quieter stop. Because of the softer material, these brake pads often wear faster and create higher amounts of brake dust. The materials that these are made of are more benign and don’t pollute the environment as much as other brake pads. Because of the design, organic pads aren’t suitable for heavier vehicles like trucks or high performance vehicles. Best suited for smaller vehicles that are driven modestly. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads: The most common type of brake pad found on vehicles sold in the US. Made of materials blended with small strands of metal, hence the name. Low to moderately priced. High durability - lasts longer than organic pads. Since metal is highly conductive of heat, the metal strands in the brake pad help pull heat away from the brake rotor and fiction surface, helping to keep the rotor from overheating. Unfortunately, because of the metal particles, the pad can wear away at the brake rotor more quickly than other types. Not the best choice for high performance vehicles, but suitable for most passenger cars and OK for heavier vehicles such as trucks. Ceramic Brake Pads: Good braking performance, wears well, and lightweight. Increasingly found on new cars sold in the US. So what's not to love? These pads are often expensive. Made from ceramic fibers with small amounts of metal filler. Good at dissipating heat even after repeated hard stops. Produces less dust so you don’t have as much wheel staining. Good for high performance cars that require frequent hard stops. However, for most drivers, the performance of ceramic brake pads isn’t worth the extra cost. Summary: Regular brake pads will offer a sufficient compromise between stopping performance, brake dust, and noise for most drivers. Spending over a $100 on a set of brake pads for a family sedan is probably a waste of money on needless auto repairs. Source:car-repaironline.com