Disc Brake Pads

Originally developed for racing in the 1950s, disc brakes appeared on production cars soon afterward. By the 1970s, all cars and light trucks had front disc brakes, and today most of these vehicles have them at all four wheels. Disc brakes run cooler than their drum counterparts, making them more resistant to fade, they’re self-adjusting, and less prone to pulling. The friction created by the disc brake pads against the brake rotors stops the vehicle.

Brake pads are composed of friction compound molded and bonded or riveted to a metal backing plate. The friction lining naturally wears with use and the pads must be periodically replaced. Vehicle manufacturers have minimum pad thickness specifications. Many vehicles have wear sensors that alert the driver when the lining is approaching minimum thickness, and some pads have wear indicators that contact the rotor and make noise when replacement is needed.

Although there are many formula variations, friction compounds can be broken down into 3 basic classifications: non-asbestos organic (NAO), semi-metallic, and ceramic. NAO pads are constructed from a combination of organic fibers. In general, NAO pads are gentle on rotors and provide quiet operation, but they wear faster than other types and do not perform well at high temperatures. Semi-metallic pads contain a mix of steel, iron, copper and other inorganic fibers. They provide excellent high temperature performance and fade resistance, but at the expense of more noise and rotor wear, and brake dust creation.

Ceramic pads are a type of NAO pad, but contain ceramic and copper fibers that enable them to work well at high temperatures, with less fade, but at the same time operate quietly and create less rotor wear and brake dust. Look over our selection of brake pads and you’ll see we’ve assembled a wide variety of compounds, so you can get the pads that best suit your wallet, your vehicle, and the way you drive. Whether you’re looking for affordability, long pad life, the best pads for severe duties like towing or hauling, or the least brake dust to preserve your wheels, we have the brake pads you need.

But the brake pads are only part of a complete repair. Quite often noise and uneven pad wear are not the fault of the pads but caused by worn hardware. Parts like clips, springs and shims ensure that brake pads function properly, quietly, and wear evenly. We offer pad sets that come with hardware, as well as individual hardware components and hardware kits that will help you get the job done right so you get the best performance and longest life from your brake pads. In most cases you have to remove these parts to install the pads anyway – install new hardware and get the most benefit from your time and money.