The brake pads are one of the most important parts in your car’s braking system and should not be treated lightly, because this is for your safety. Some people tend to be less interested in this and hand over this observation to mechanics and others who care less. As long as you are the one driving your car, you must know the various kinds of brake pads in the market because your knowledge of this can save your life.
Brake pads vary from car braking requirements, temperature of your location and the topography of the road you are driving on . These you must know before buying a replacement.
1.) Semi Metallic Brake Pads
These types of brake pads are made from about 30% to 65% metal, and are commonly made out of steel wool, wire, copper or other metal materials. These types of brake pads are considered to be very durable, but also may wear brake rotors faster. Also, semi-metallic brake pads may not function well in very low temperatures.
2.) Non-Asbestos Organic
This type of brake pad, commonly referred to as NAO, is made from organic materials such as fiber, glass, rubber and even Kevlar. These types of brake pads are usually softer and don’t create much noise, but they tend to wear faster and create a lot of dust.
3.) Low-Metallic NAO
These are made primarily from an organic formula mixture with small amounts of copper or steel added to help with heat transfer and provide better braking. Because of the added metal, there is usually a considerable amount of brake dust and these pads are often noisy.
4.) Ceramic Brake Pads
Ceramic brake pads are composed primarily of ceramic fibers and other filler materials. While ceramic brake pads are usually more expensive than other types of pads, they are cleaner and produce much lower noise levels. Also, they provide for excellent braking and don’t cause a lot of wear on the brake rotors. These are the best brake pads in the market.
Don’t forget your safety is of the up-most important, buy wisely and drive safely.