Rating of the best brake pads 2020

How was the brake pad rating compiled?

It is worth noting right away that our rating will not feature specific brake pad models. This is explained quite simply: today there is a huge variety of cars with different designs, purposes, and driving characteristics. Therefore, there are simply no universal brake pads that suit everything equally well.

In addition, there are different types of brake pads:

Metallic – expensive, distinguished by their effectiveness when working in extreme conditions. Due to their high hardness, they wear out the drum or brake discs more;

Ceramic – the most wear-resistant pads that perform well at high temperatures;

Composite or semi-metallic – consist of a metallic powder alloy with graphite and other inorganic materials (65\35%). Durable, but noisier and unstable at high temperatures;

Organic (asbestos-free) – made from fibers of glass, carbon, Kevlar, or rubber and high-temperature resin, which acts as a binder. They wear out quickly and produce a lot of dust during friction. They provide soft braking.

When compiling the rating of the best brake pad manufacturers, the general indicators of their products were taken into account, namely:

Quality of manufacturing, presence of defects and damage in new pads;

Friction coefficient;

Operating temperature;

Cost;

Area of application – city driving, extreme driving, off-road, etc.

Which brake pads are best to choose for aggressive driving?

By the term “aggressive driving,” we mean high speed, sharp turns, and braking. Usually, pads for aggressive driving are installed on sports cars, muscle cars, and premium-class cars capable of accelerating to 100 km\h or more in a matter of seconds.

ATE

The leader in our rating of brake pads for aggressive driving is rightfully the German company ATE, founded in 1958. Despite its solid experience, the main principle remains unchanged – constant development and improvement of production technologies and products.

This company is famous for its metallic pads, for the manufacture of which high-quality alloy steel is used. As a result, we get extremely hard and durable pads. The problem of increased disc wear was solved by ATE employees through the development of friction pairs.

In addition, the company's calling card is ceramic pads, which are made specifically for sports and premium cars.

The product range includes brake pads in different price categories, from premium class to products for budget cars.

Otto Zimmermann

Another manufacturer from Germany that produces high-quality brake discs for various cars. In addition to participating in retail markets in more than sixty countries, Otto Zimmermann products are supplied for Volkswagen Group cars.

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Like the previous participant in the rating, the company constantly improves production technologies, improving the geometry of pads, materials, etc.

For aggressive driving, the following series should be highlighted:

Sport (metallic and semi-metallic);

Fusion and Formula (bimetallic).

The only drawback of this manufacturer is the lack of budget solutions, and as a result, the high cost.

Brembo

An Italian company that is the official supplier of brake pads for Ferrari. This fact alone indicates that Brembo products are intended for premium-class cars and sports cars. Their products are often used for cars participating in races.

Among the latest models, the Xtra concept, made from the composite BRM X L01, should be especially highlighted. This material is made from 30 components that provide wear resistance, excellent friction, and minimal dust emission during operation.

According to the manufacturer, Brambo Xtra pads should reliably last for 150,000 kilometers.

In total, the model range includes more than 1,500 items.

Ferodo

This company from the UK has been cooperating mutually beneficially for many years with firms involved in the development of brake equipment. It was Fedoro that initiated research on pad wear resistance, thanks to which, eight years ago, a unique friction material was created. Its use made it possible to increase the service life of basic models by one and a half times.

Despite the high quality, Fedoro products can be purchased at reasonable prices, which is why they are sometimes mistakenly classified as the middle price segment.

Which brake pads should you choose based on price and quality ratio?

Of course, the vast majority of car owners drive mainly in the city and suburbs. Accordingly, they need brake pads that can perform standard tasks for a long time in relatively comfortable conditions. Of course, consumable parts should have an affordable price.

TRW

An American corporation whose products are sold on the European market under the LUCAS brand. The main advantage of this manufacturer's brake pads is very even wear results. Maximum resource from 80 to 100 thousand kilometers, without deterioration of working indicators.

TRW actively cooperates with many car manufacturers and pays special attention to targeted development of the most vulnerable places in the design of brake pads.

The main drawback of this manufacturer is that pad production plants are scattered across different countries, and in some cases they are forced to use local materials and production technologies. This affects the quality of products.

Jurid

This brand is a division of Honeywell Inc. An important point is that the model range is divided into premium-segment brake pads and budget ones.

The best brake pads from this company can last more than one hundred thousand kilometers. For inexpensive options, the norm is from 10 to 30 thousand.

Premium models are produced at Jurid factories, while budget ones are produced at Bendix enterprises. At the same time, in the names, the difference between the two segments is reflected in the last characters of the marking, which sometimes leads to confusion.

On average, brake pads are distinguished by a good price-quality ratio, smooth and stable operation. But for their cost.

Sangshin

A company from South Korea that has managed to earn a good reputation both among ordinary consumers and car manufacturers. They regularly update and refine their assortment, improving the design of brake pads and the materials used.

All Sangshin products are divided into three segments:

Hi-Q - universal;

Hardron – premium class;

Hagen – for those who value minimal noise levels, soft and smooth braking.

There is also a separate series of brake pads for modern and already discontinued models of Russian cars.

Akebono

Already from the name it is clear that we are dealing with a Japanese manufacturer. The main advantage is excellent working performance of brake pads, regardless of the model. Standard composite pads can successfully last 50 thousand kilometers, and more wear-resistant ceramic models even 200.

Of course, the cost of Akebono products cannot be called low. Nevertheless, high prices are more than compensated by excellent service life, which allows it to occupy leading positions in ratings.

Hella Pagid

A German brand cooperating with Chinese enterprises. Hella Pagid products amaze not so much with quality as with the diversity of the model range – more than 23,000 different brake pad models.

According to company representatives, their assortment includes pads for any car, adapted to a wide variety of conditions.

Also, the company's engineers are actively developing new models, experimenting with materials and pad shapes.

Production in China allows for low product costs, and quality control with stress tests guarantees the absence of defects.

Rating of manufacturers of inexpensive brake pads

Let's be honest, in the budget segment we will not meet companies with their own developments and innovations. Also, do not hope that a budget brand has its own production. As a rule, we are talking about cooperation between a large auto parts dealer and one of the Asian factories.

That is why we present all participants in one list.

Rating of budget brake pads: