The Best Brake Pads

With an endless amount of brake pad options available, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact right ones for your vehicle. When looking for the right pair of brake pads, we recommend focusing on how responsive and sensitive the pads are to ensure you can stop on a dime. Plus, durability and longevity are also key factors as well. Luckily, we’ve already examined all these things and made a list of the best brake pads online. Keep reading to see which brake pads will keep you safe and secure.

ACDelco Brake Pads

Robust and responsive

With its durable ceramic design and easy installation, we’re confident that these are the best overall brake pads on the market.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

Turn in your old screeching brakes for these high-end brake pads. First off, since these pads require no curing or machines, they can be instantly installed right out of the box. Plus, the ceramic makeup provides a reliable and quick response. This allows you to stop short while maintaining total control over your car. Additionally, these brake pads also feature multiple shims, slots, and chamfers, which help reduce any rattling, squeaking, and vibrations. And not only do the shims and slots prevent these annoying noises, but they also protect the braking harshness to increase the longevity of your new pads.

Pros:

  • Removes any brake dust from your wheels keeping them nice and clean
  • Made with thick ceramic material which provides durability
  • The chamfers block out any irritating noises and reduce the wear and tear of your brakes

Cons:

  • Not compatible with certain vehicles

Shimano Brake Pads

Take a brake

If you're on a tight budget, these brake pads are tough to beat, as they provide consistent and noise-free braking power for an affordable price.
Best Value

Find on Amazon

Always have your mind at ease with these reliable motorcycle brake pads from Shimano. They are built with high-quality aluminum cool fins and tough resin, which gives them dependable and consistent braking power. What’s even better is that these pads can completely cancel out any squealing noises coming from your brakes. Not only do they minimize sound, but they also maximize your modulation. Now you can enjoy quiet and peaceful joy rides around town. Plus, they also come included with two retaining clips making for an easy installation.

Pros:

  • Made with durable resin to provide effective stopping power
  • Cooling fins reduce any squeaking noises from your brakes
  • The two springs and retaining clips allow for a quick assemble

Cons:

  • They are a bit pricey compared to other options

ACDelco Brake Pads

No wear, no worries

With their ability to prevent corrosion and premature wear, these brake pads are long-lasting workhorses.
Most Long Lasting

Find on Amazon

These brake pads from ACDelco will give you a safe and secure ride to work in the morning. Firstly, they are engineered specifically to combat corrosion and premature wear and tear. Plus, the ceramic design uses significantly less metal which enables a higher quality stopping power. Aside from enhancing your car’s performance, these brake pads also provide noise reduction shims for a more quiet ride. Lastly, the stamped backing plate allows for flexibility and pad movement which helps prevent brake pulsation.

Pros:

  • Premium slots cancel out any noise or vibrations
  • High-quality braking power allows you to stop on a dime
  • The ceramic design uses less metal which provides a more quiet braking function

Cons:

  • The assembly could be a bit easier

Power Stop Brake Pads

No rust or dust

The reliable braking power and dust-free formula show why we consider these the most versatile brake pads.
Most Versatile

Find on Amazon

These brake pads from Power Stop live up to their name, as they provide high-quality stopping power. This is mainly due to their carbon-fiber ceramic material which allows for heat dissipation. This gives these brake pads a reliable and fast response time enabling you to stop short with ease. Plus, the stainless steel shims remove all rattling noises or vibrations coming from your brakes. What’s even better is the powered coated plate which protects your pads and increases their longevity by preventing rusting or corrosion. Finally, these brake pads also keep your tire squeaky clean as they feature a dust-free design.

Pros:

  • Ideal for high horsepower cars and big wheels
  • Thermal scorched pads allow for quick and stable braking
  • Comes included with brake grease to ensure these brake pads continue to function efficiently

Cons:

  • These pads can overheat a bit from time to time

Wagner Brake Pads

Peace and quiet

With the noise-canceling shims and long-lasting stopping power, these brake pads win extra points for convenience.
Most Convenient

Find on Amazon

These brake pads from Wagner will allow your vehicle to stop on a dime. Since these pads are crafted with a carbon-based friction formula, they provide both long-lasting and high-quality stopping power. This makes them great to use for gear-hauling and heavy payloads. Plus, because these pads are built tough, they function very efficiently for vehicles that brake frequently or are under extreme heat. They’re perfect for fleets, Ubers, and police cars. Finally, the shims and slots on these pads eliminate the grinding and squeaking noises coming from your brakes.

Pros:

  • Chamfers help reduce the brake pedal pulsation
  • Made with premium stainless steel which makes them great for towing applications
  • Optimal braking performance allows for quick and frequent stops

Cons:

  • Includes front brakes pads but no rear pads

Frequently Asked Questions

Do front brakes wear faster than the rear pads?

Yes, it’s very common that your front brake pads will get worn out faster than your rear brake pads. This is primarily because the front of your vehicle deals with a lot more weight transfer than the back of your vehicle. Plus, heat and friction over time will also have an impact on your front brakes more so than your rear brakes.

How do I tell if my brake pads are worn out?

Typically if you hear a deep low screeching or grinding sound, that’s a key sign that your brake pads are worn down. Your vehicle may also shudder when the brakes are applied. Also, these noises could be a result of your brake pads making contact with the drum or discs. In either case, it’s highly recommended that you replace your brake pads shortly after hearing these grinding noises coming from your vehicle.

Why Trust Us

With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.