The lifespan and performance of your car’s braking system is significantly impacted by the brake pads you use. Brake pads are very important for your car, which is why you cannot afford to choose the wrong ones. Not all brake pads are the same, as some offer more comfort and safety than others. They also come in different types. Before you start looking at brake pads for sale, you need to learn which brake pads are best suited for your vehicle. Keep reading to learn how to pick a suitable product.
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Consider the Type of Brake Pad
Each brake pad will be made from a specific material. The three types you will stumble upon include ceramic, metallic, and semi-metallic brake pads. Ceramic ones last very long and don’t make too much noise, but they cost more. Meanwhile, metallic ones have better stopping power, but also cause more noise. Semi-metallic ones are pretty durable while being a less noisy version than their metallic counterpart.
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Think About the Road Conditions
The road conditions are one of the main things to think about when selecting brake pads. Think about what the weather is like where you live. Do you have variable weather, or is the weather mostly cold or hot? If it’s variable, then metallic pads may be a suitable choice for when you’ll deal with snow and rain.
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Pay Attention to the Warranty
Don’t purchase brake pads without checking the warranty first. Since you never know what might be wrong with the pads until you’ve tried them, you need a warranty that covers enough miles. You’ll find varied options, with some going from 12,000 to 36,000 miles. However, some warranties even offer coverage all the way to 50,000 miles. The warranty is a guarantee of product quality from the manufacturer, which is why you shouldn’t ignore it.
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Match to Your Driving Style
Where are you driving your car and what are you driving it for? You may not think about it at first, but your driving style has a great influence over the type of brake pad your vehicle needs. If you’re someone who participates in track days, you need pads with high fade resistance and good heat management. Semi-metallic ones are usually okay for this. For street driving, ceramic or premium organic pads are ideal, as they have lower noise and dust features and offer more comfort.
But if you use your car for multiple things, you need high-performance brake pads. Aggressive semi-metallic or high-temperature ceramic pads work the best in this scenario.
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Look at the Price Tag
If price matters a lot to you, just keep in mind that ceramic pads tend to be very expensive. However, they deliver lower dust emissions and have a longer lifespan. Meanwhile, organic pads are much cheaper, but you’ll need to replace them more often.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right brake pads can be challenging. Follow the tips in our guide and you will have an easier time selecting the right ones for your vehicle.
