Having good brakes is just as important as having an engine that can propel you down the road. If we had to choose between braking power and horsepower, we’d choose braking power hands down. Being able to slow down or stop is one of the most important functions of your car. If you can’t do either adequately, you shouldn’t be on the road.
With that said, when it comes to brakes, there are tons of options and brand names out there to choose from. With so many options it can be tough to decide which one to buy. It’s difficult to know what brands are the best or if one is better than the others at all. Is a name just a name or does it really make a difference?
It’s true that most high-performance vehicles have Brembo brakes for a reason. The company makes excellent brake pads. So does EBC, Wagner, Bendix, and Bosch. While some are certainly better than others, what’s really more important is the type of brake pad, not the name. There are several different types of brake pads out there.
Most brands produce a couple types, so while you may have EBC brake pads on your car, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better than the Bosch pads on your neighbor’s ride. If however, you both have the same type of brake pads (ceramic pads or semi-metallic pads), then you can start to look at performance differences between comparable products. That’s when the brand name can actually mean something.
There are essentially three types of brake pads: organic, semi-metallic, and ceramic. Within these categories, there are numerous different makeups of pads from a wide variety of manufacturers. Each one has its uses, and you need to think about how you plan to use your vehicle and go from there when shopping for brake pads. Remember, name brands are important but only if they fall into the same category outlined below.
In regards to which one you should get for yourself, it’s always smart to look at what the manufacturer put on your car. If your car came with ceramics, put new ceramics on it. If it came with semi-metallic, put new semi-metallic brake pads on it. You can always put better brakes on your car but stick with the same type. This is where brand names come in.
Brembo, EBC, and Wagner all rank near the top in terms of which is the best brand. If you’re not sure what’s best for your car, talk to your local mechanic, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction and tell you what brands or what specific pads will give you improved performance over your previous pads for a reasonable price.