Many people are surprised to find themselves being told that they need new brakes before the manufacturer’s warranty has even expired. Many more are surprised to find that they only need to replace the front brakes, while the rear brakes can be replaced later. Brakes are one of the most important aspects of vehicle performance–and one of the most misunderstood.
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Selecting the proper brake pads for your vehicle is a key step in the longevity of your braking system. Selecting substandard pads can cause premature pad wear.
When you are about the do a brake job on your vehicle, selecting the proper brake pads is an imperative part of the process. You do not want to overpay for premium brake pads if they are not needed. Yet you do not want to get the cheapest pads if you require premium brake pads. So how do you choose the right ones?
Choosing the best pads depends on a wide array of variables. Type of vehicle, driving conditions, and vehicle use all com into play when selecting the perfect brake pads. Selecting the proper pad will ensure your satisfaction with the job and longevity of your vehicle’s braking system.
Organic brake pads have a friction material made up of only non-asbestos organic materials. These brake pads are typically the cheapest ones in the store, but there are some shortcomings. The biggest problem is that they do not last too long, typically 10,000 to 20,000 miles.
They also create a lot of brake dust, so frequent washing of your wheels may be need. These pads also do not dissipate heat well, so material transfer on to the rotors is possible, giving them a “warped” feeling. Lastly, it is common to get a lot of brake noise from organic brake pads. These brake pads are great if you are replacing the pads on an older car that you do not need premium pads on.
Semi-metallic brake pads use a non-asbestos friction material that has metallic fibers mixed in. These pads typically are the mid-priced brake pads in a parts store. They also last longer than organic pads, typically 25,000 to 35,000 miles. The downsides to these pads are the same as organics but on a lesser scale. They are typically noisy, transfer material, and create a lot of dust. Semi-metallic pads are great for your average car.
Ceramic brake pads are typically the more expensive brake pads in a parts store, and they are well worth it. These pads have ceramic fibers in the friction material, so they dissipate heat much more quickly than organics or semi-metallic pads.
Due to the faster heat dissipation, they last far longer and prevent the material transfer to the rotors, reducing the “warped” feeling. They also produce gray dust, which is less noticeable on wheels. Ceramic pads are a requirement on many foreign cars — Nissan and Toyota have been using them as original equipment for nearly a decade.
Most cars use a front disc/rear drum brake setup, although most sports cars and most premium sedans use disc brakes at all four wheels. Disc brakes use a circular rotor (the disc) that rotates with the wheel.
When the brakes are engaged, a set of pads that are attached to a caliper clamps down on the disc to help bring the vehicle to a stop. Drum brakes use pads–called “shoes”–that are mounted inside a round “drum.” Those shoes push out against the rotating drum in order to provide stopping power for the car.
Because most of the vehicle’s weight shifts to the front during braking, that means that the front brakes have to handle most of the work. That also means the front brakes wear faster–sometimes as quickly as 30,000 miles.
Brake wear will also vary in different types of driving. Aggressive drivers who slam hard on the brakes will obviously wear their front brakes out faster than those with a more sanguine style. Also, drivers who spend a lot of time in stop and go urban traffic will wear their brakes out faster.
When worn-out disc brake pads are replaced, the rotors are usually machined or “cut.” This is because the metal goes out-of-round over time. This often causes the brake pedal to pulsate when the brakes are activated. This is a condition often described as “warped” rotors.
While the pads are being replaced, the rotors are resurfaced, to alleviate the “warped” sensation. However, rotors can only be resurfaced so many times before they become too thin for safety. At that point, they must be replaced.
Obviously, certain driving conditions can accelerate brake wear. Stop and go traffic creates the most wear, but there are other types of driving that cause premature wear. Aggressive driving certainly will cause more wear, as will unnecessarily riding the brake pedal during driving. It follows, then, that the best way to maximize the life of brake pads is to avoid aggressive driving and avoid stop and go situations when possible.
It’s also good to coast as much as possible, and to not rest feet on the brake pedal in non-braking situations.
Brakes will wear out eventually, but there are ways to make them last as long as possible. That’s a good thing since brake jobs are among the more costly of basic maintenance services, due mostly to the labor involved. Keeping brakes in good shape may be costly, but it’s worth it.
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