Choosing Brake Pads

[irishwalleye]

I was looking through the options on the local auto parts HSOforum and I had what I hope is a really simple question. They had 4 different "grades" of pads. The first two "grades" were close in price and the next two "grades" of pads were about double the initial price.

Does it really matter what brake pads I choose?

[1968]

Depends on how well you want them to work/last. Not made in China influences my decision too. I've been finding most pads below top of the line are "offshore".

Sometimes OE isn't that much more than a premium set.

[mnviking28]

I worked at a parts store for 20+ years. Yeah, it does matter. They should be able to tell you at the parts store what original equipment was on your particular vehicle. Unfortunately, a lot of your bigger chain stores that have guys that make barely over minimum wage and are about as sharp as a cotton ball. That being said, if you do any towing at all with the vehicle or do a lot of in town driving, at bare minimum you want a good quality semi-metallic pad. In a lot of cases, they also offer a ceramic. Ceramic tend to be the most expensive and last the longest, but they can be so hard that they tear up your brake rotors. The cheaper pads often times tend to hold heat longer and are softer, which will transfer into your brake rotors causing noise and warping. Wagner Thermoquiet is probably my favorite one that isn't the most expensive, but isn't the cheapest either. I would guess that they would be the grade below the "top" on that HSOforum. I have had a set in my Chevy for about 4 years, 75k miles, still in great shape.

[Catfish46]

Remember, these could be the things that stop or dont stop you when that deer is in the middle of the road. Please dont be skimpy