There are brake pads for cars, trucks, SUVs as well as motorcycles. As the rotors of your vehicle’s disc brakes come into contact with these pads, friction is created.
It is this friction which allows the vehicle to slow down and be able to stop when you step on the brake pedal that makes the vehicle able to stop.
Due to the fact that we step on the brake pedal so many times each day, it naturally causes the brake pads to gradually wear out over time.
As far as the performance, longevity, noise, dust, and price of brake pads, they can vary quite a bit so the best brake pads for one vehicle may not necessarily be the best for another.
The brake pads on your vehicle are one of the most important maintenance items you need to pay attention to when it comes to your vehicle’s maintenance.
You might be able to avoid getting into an accident if your brake pads are of high quality, and should be replaced at regular intervals.
There are hundreds of options available in the market that cover a wide range of prices, which unfortunately can make shopping for the best brake pads difficult and tedious.
In order to help simplify your shopping experience, here’s a breakdown of some recommendations for you. Keep in mind that most brake pads for the front and back of your vehicle are sold separately, so it is important to get the right product for your needs.
As we get into our list of the best brake pads out there, it is important to understand the three main types of brake pad materials available. They do not all have the same advantages and drawbacks, and each will deliver a different performance level.
ACDelco Advantage Ceramic Rear Brake Pads (14D698CH)
The ACDelco Advantage Ceramic brake pads for the rear offer great performance for a reasonable price. Using a ceramic formulation that uses less metal, these pads provide quality braking power in a quiet and low-dusting package.
Available for nearly all makes and models, these pads use basic shims, slots, and chamfers to help diminish noise, vibration, and braking harshness.
Featuring a wide range of performance, especially at a price this affordable, these pads are easy to install right out of the box.
The earphones are relatively quiet, easy to wear, and make very little to no noise at all. The brake pads of a few owners have cracked, however, which causes them to stop working.
Bosch Quiet Cast Premium Ceramic Rear Brake Pads (BC905)
As you might already be aware, rear brake pads are a highly competitive industry, so if you’re thinking about buying a pair, please think about Bosch’s Quiet Cast Premium. It is no small surprise that Bosch is among the most popular brands when it comes to automotive replacement parts.
It is a trusted manufacturer of original equipment (OE) parts. There are several reasons why these brake pads provide exceptional stopping power, a quiet operation, while producing as little brake dust as possible.
It is no coincidence that these brake pads feature a shim design that is heated and pressure cured between 2 layers of steel, thus providing a quieter operation as well as increased strength and corrosion resistance.
The Quiet Cast Premium uses a metal alloy which is the same one used in aerospace engineering for delivering a high level of performance. This is a copper-free brake pad that meets all of the requirements of the legislation that will be enacted in 2025.
Akebono ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pad Set (ACT1089)
One of the top options on this list is the Akebono ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pad Set, even though it is a bit more pricey than some of the other options on this list. These pads are available for both domestic as well as Asian vehicles.
You can be sure that you are getting an OE-quality product from Akebono, which is our premier supplier of OE pads for North America’s automakers, so you can be sure that you are getting the best disc brake pads available on the market.
The brake pads are designed with vehicle-optimized friction formulations with a focus on eliminating noise, vibrations, and harshness, while limiting the amount of brake dust to the utmost. As replacement brake pads for OE ceramic pads, they’re a great upgrade from conventional pads, but they’re also a great upgrade from traditional brake pads.
Power Stop Z23 Evolution Sport Front Brake Pads
The Power Stop Z23 Evolution Sport brake pads are your best option if you’re looking for the highest level of performance and are willing to pay the price. As a result of an enhanced ceramic synthesis infused with carbon fibers, these brake pads offer superior braking power and performance.
An innovative powder coated backing plate helps to extend the life of these brake pads by resisting rust and corrosion, while premium rubberized shims improve braking noise-free performance. Besides being chamfered and slotted like the original equipment pads, these pads are also designed to reduce noise.
These high quality brake pads are designed to perform well at much higher temperatures than the standard OE units. In addition to ceramic brake lubricant, each set of brake pads will also include premium stainless steel hardware kit and bin bushings for certain applications.
Wagner Thermo Quiet Ceramic Rear Brake Pads (QC1304)
There is also Wagner’s Thermo Quiet line of brake pads which is another option from the company. It is Wagner’s low copper OE21 technology that enables these pads to mimic the functions of copper but enhance their NVH control, stopping power, abrasion resistance, and dust resistance, while also increasing the durability.
The company claims that these new ceramic pads offer 35% quieter operation than Wagner’s previous ceramic pads, while providing 15% more braking power than their previous ceramic pads. The company also claims that these new ceramic pads will provide 40% longer wear.
This is one of the best options you can go with if you are concerned about noise. Despite the fact that these are pricier than standard ceramic pads, they do last a bit longer, which is why they are worth the investment in the end. While some owners do complain, there are still a fair number of complaints regarding the amount of brake dust these pads generate.