The braking system is an important part of the car and is directly related to the life safety of the drivers and passengers, and the brake pads are important components in the braking system. Many car owners don’t know what brake pads are, nor do they know how to tell when it’s time to replace them. This article briefly introduces the knowledge about brake pads, I hope it will be useful to everyone.
What are brake pads?
Automobile brake pads are composed of steel backing, friction blocks, bonding insulation layers and other parts. The friction pad is the core component of the brake pad and is composed of friction-resistant materials and adhesives. When braking, friction occurs with the brake disc or brake drum, reducing the vehicle speed. Friction materials gradually wear out as the car is used, so the brake pads must be replaced in time when they are worn to a certain extent.
How often do you need to replace brake pads?
For ordinary private car brake pads, the front brake pads are generally replaced every 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers, and the rear brake pads are replaced every 60,000 to 80,000 kilometers. The replacement cycle of brake pads and brake discs is not a fixed value and depends on the wear and tear of the brake pads. The road conditions are different, each car owner’s driving habits are different, the intensity of braking is different, and the wear of the brake pads is also different. Regardless of whether the car is in a 4S shop or a repair shop, if it is time to replace the brake pads, the staff will tell you.
If you are a veteran or know a lot about cars, you can also judge by yourself whether the brake pads should be replaced. On the one hand, it is the driving feeling. In case the brakes are soft and the braking distance is obviously long, the brake pads should be replaced in time. If you hear an obvious metal friction sound when you apply the brakes (the steel backing is in contact with the brake disc), it means that the brake pads have been exhausted. In case the repair shop is nearby, drive slowly to the repair shop. If the repair shop is far away, it is recommended to find a tow truck.
How to check the wear degree of brake pads?
Generally, the thickness of new brake pads is about 1.5cm. When you step on the brakes while driving, the brake pads will gradually become thinner. If the thickness of the brake pad is less than 1cm, check the brake pad frequently. For insurance purposes, it can be replaced in time. If the brake pad thickness is less than 0.5cm, there is a risk of brake failure at any time. Brake pad thickness can be judged with the naked eye without using a caliper.
How to choose brake pads?
1. Choose a brand
Try to choose brake pad brands that are well-known and have a large market presence, such as TRW, Bosch, ATE, Brembo, ADVICS, Believe, Ferodo, Tamington, Jura, Galfa, and Akipolo , NBK, Sailong, Astamo, Xinyi, Greili, Shuanglian and other brands are quite good.
2. Look at the materials
Brake pads are made of three materials: semi-metal, less metal, and ceramic. Semi-metallic brake pads are the most common, generally used in ordinary family cars, and are relatively cheap. Brake pads with less metal perform better and are usually found in mid-range cars. Ceramic brake pads have the best performance, but are also the most expensive. They are generally used in high-end cars.
3. High temperature resistance
In a high-temperature environment, the friction coefficient of the brake pads will increase, affecting the braking effect. So when choosing a brake pad, you must see whether it can be material stable at 350 degrees.
Brand brake pad recommendations
1. Bosch brake pads
Bosch is the world’s largest automotive technology provider, covering gasoline systems, automotive chassis, braking systems, electronic drives, transmission and control technology, industrial control, etc. Brake pads are just one component of a car’s braking system. Bosch brake pads cover more than 90 models of European, American, Japanese and Korean car series, and domestic car series. So as long as you recognize the quality of Bosch brake pads, you can basically buy brake pads that match your car.
2. Brembo brake pads
This company specializing in the design of high-tech brake systems and component factories. Brembo is recognized as an innovator in automotive disc brake technology. Brake system components include brake calipers, brake pads, brake discs, and brake discs. Liquids, etc. Brembo brake pads have more than 2,000 part numbers, covering 96% of vehicle types on the market. Especially the NAO ceramic series has excellent overall performance, good stability, good braking performance, high comfort, good reliability and low noise. When purchasing, pay attention to the front and back pieces.
3. Philodo brake pads
FERODO was founded in the 1880s. The founder HERBERT FERODO invented the brake pad, and the FERODO brand was born. Ferrodo is the sponsor of the World Friction Materials Standards Association and FMSI. For more than 100 years, brake pads have been Ferodo’s main business, and Ferodo brake pads have performed well in many events. Philodo is resistant to high temperatures, has low noise and low dust. Ferodo provides original matching accessories for more than 400 models, including Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Chevrolet, Peugeot, Volvo, etc.
4. Tamington brake pads
TEXTAR is a German company founded in the 1870s with a history of 150 years. It mainly develops and produces braking systems and braking system materials. It is the world’s largest supplier of friction materials for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Taimington has many joint ventures in China, providing original equipment for Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Maserati, Land Rover, Volkswagen, General Motors, SAIC, FAW, BAIC, BMW Brilliance and other automobile manufacturers.
Tamington brake pads have more than 200 different raw materials and 250 friction formulas. They have the advantages of strong braking performance, comfort and quietness, low dust and environmental protection. The models are complete and can cover most models on the market.
5. Honeywell brake pads
This is a diversified high-tech and manufacturing company and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. Honeywell has a wide range of operations, and automotive products are one of Honeywell’s businesses.
A subsidiary of Honeywell, is the world’s leading provider of friction materials. It owns two brake pad brands: Bendex and Youli. Honeywell provides brake pads to Honda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Citroen, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen and other automobile manufacturers. Whether it is Honeywell, Bendex or Unix brake pads sold in China, they are all produced by Honeywell’s companies in China.
Honeywell brake pads are made of environmentally friendly ceramics, scientifically proportioned, and fired at high temperatures. They have the characteristics of high friction coefficient, high temperature resistance, low noise, low dust, and long service life.
6. Galfa brake pads
GALFER was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Turin, Italy. It is a professional automobile brake pad manufacturer under the ITT Group and provides original equipment for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo and other automobile manufacturers. In 2021, ITT invested and built a factory in Wuxi, China, and Galfa also provided brake pads for many domestic automobile manufacturers.
7. JURID brake pads
JURID was once a high-end brand of Honeywell, and was later acquired by Federal-Mogul, which was acquired by Tenneco. Tenneco combined Ferrodo, Wagner and Jura to form a new company called Drew, so Jura’s official website states that Jura is one of Drew’s brands. Juri provides original accessories for high-end vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Land Rover, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Rolls-Royce.
Jura brake pads use precise mixing proportions and advanced pressing & curing processes to ensure good brake pad performance. The price of Jura brake pads is relatively expensive. The main reason is that Jura brake pads are imported from Europe. They are expensive but very durable. Jura brake pads are not well-known in China.
8. TRW brake pads
This TRW is a global automotive safety system provider and one of the top ten auto parts dealers. TRW produces braking systems, suspensions, automotive steering wheel systems, seat belt systems, automotive engine components, reinforced standard parts and components, Vehicle body control systems, etc. are all well-known. Trina brake pads are made of ceramic materials, scientifically proportioned, and have experienced high temperature and high pressure burning. They have excellent heat resistance and good wear resistance, soft texture, low wear coefficient and low noise. TRW provides supporting equipment to many automobile manufacturers.
9. Xinyi brake pads
Xinyi is a domestic brake pad brand founded in the 1990s. It mainly develops and produces brake pads, brake discs and brake assemblies. It is the largest brake system provider in China. Xinyi brake pads are made of ceramic raw materials and are integrally pressed and molded. They have a compact structure and strong pressure resistance. Chamfer design makes the brake pads and brake discs fit better. The grooved design of the brake pad dissipates heat quickly and slows down the performance degradation of the brake pad. High temperature resistance up to 650°C. At the same time, Xinyi brake pads have a high cost performance.
10. Jin Qilin brake pads
Jin Qilin was founded in 1999 and mainly produces friction materials and automobile brake pads. The company has 211 brake friction formulas and can produce more than 6,000 types of brake pads and 3,800 types of brake discs, covering most commercial vehicles and passenger cars on the market. , providing supporting equipment for Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BYD, Geely, Changan, Suzuki, Citroen and other automobile manufacturers.
Jin Qilin brake pads adopt ceramic formula, scientific proportion, stable braking, high temperature resistance of 650°C, low dust, comfortable and quiet.
Brake pad related
1. Should the brake pads be replace individually or together?
The replacement cycle of the front and rear brake pads is different, so the brake pads of the front and rear tires do not need to be replace entirely, but the four brake pads of the front wheel need to be replaced together, not just one. Whether the brake pads need to be replaced mainly depends on the wear and tear. If the brake pads are worn below 0.5cm, the brake pads must be replaced in time to avoid safety accidents.
Is ceramic or low metal brake pad material better?
Ceramic brake pads are better than metal ones. Ceramic brake pads have good stability, small thermal attenuation, and will not deform when the temperature is as high as 350 degrees Celsius. They still have excellent braking performance. Ceramic brake pads have a long service life and lower noise. It can be said that apart from being expensive, ceramic brake pads have other advantages.
Can the brake pad still be used with 3mm left?
The thickness of new brake pads is about 1.5cm. Generally, if it is less than 0.5cm, it should be replaced in time. If it is less than 3mm, it is very dangerous. Don’t be careless and replace the brake pads in time.
Is it necessary to go to a 4S shop to replace the brake pads?
It depends on your own thoughts. If you don’t trust the repair shop, you can enjoy better service at a 4S shop, but the price is a little more expensive. If you want to save some money, you can replace the brake pads at a repair shop, or you can order branded brake pads online and go to a designated location to replace them. Brake pads are like engine oil and transmission oil. They can be delayed for a while, but they must be changed.
