WorkStaff 360 snipped-for-privacy@workstaff360.com wrote
Given how few pad manufacturers there are, the price and location you buy brake pads from is completely meaningless in terms of performance.
What matters most (other than fitment) are the hot and cold coefficients.
What are the friction coefficients of the pads you put on the vehicle? And what are the OEM hot/cold friction coefficients to compare against?
Every passenger vehicle brake pad sold in the United States must (by law) say on the pads/package what the friction coefficients are.
The main rule is never buy a pad with a lower friction coefficient than OEM where hot/cold friction is the fundamental decision metric.
- You buy by fitment first and foremost (as it has to fit the calipers).
- Then you buy by cold/hot friction coefficients (never lower than OEM).
- After that, all the fluff can be considered (but you have no metrics).
The non-measureable situation-specific fluff is whether or not they put a grain of sand in the mix so they could advertise it as "ceramic" or whether or not they put an atom of copper in the mix so they could advertise it as "metallic" or whether or not the epoxy will dust a black color or tan, etc.
NOTE: All brake pads dust (where do you think the pad goes?). What matters is the color of the dust (and whether it sticks or blows off).
Same with noise. All pads make noise - but you care about "loud noises" which is vibration specific and very often fitment specific (e.g., springs & plates, etc.).
But if the pad has the wrong coefficient of friction for your needs, then it's the wrong pad - so it's the first thing (after fitment) you look for.
If you don't know the answer - then you have no business discussing anything else as it's like caring about the color of your girlfriend's hair (which is something you think about well after the essentials are covered).