Your car’s brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle, helping you stay safe – and keep others safe too. Just like other components, they need replacing every now and then. If it’s time to buy brakes, you may notice that there’s a price difference between types. So, what’s the difference between cheap and expensive brake pads?

Material

One big factor behind the price difference in brake pads is the type of material the brake pads are made of – ceramic, semi-metallic, or organic.

• Organic brake pads are typically very inexpensive and put little wear on your brake system. However, the materials they are made of (fibers, fiberglass, Kevlar, and others, bound together with resin) means that they aren’t the most durable. This makes them good options for drivers with short commutes, or who don’t generally put a lot of miles on their car.
• Semi-metallic brake pads are made of metal and other materials and are generally in a mid-range price, offering good durability and effectiveness. These are great for urban commuters who sit in stop-and-go metro Atlanta traffic regularly.
• Ceramic brake pads are the most expensive type of brakes due to the materials used in their manufacturing, as well as their durability and effectiveness. This type of brake pad is great for high-performance vehicles.

Performance

Are you planning on taking your car to the track and racing it? Or are you more of a city driver who sits in a lot of stop-and-go traffic? Although all three types of brake pads will make sure your car stops, you’ll want to consider performance in conjunction with your driving habits as you make your decision.

• Organic brake pads offer the lowest performance, so you wouldn’t want to choose these if you’re a driver who needs to use your brakes heavily.
• Ceramic brake pads offer the best performance, so unless cost doesn’t bother you, you wouldn’t typically need this kind of brake pad for everyday driving.

Durability

When you press the brake pedal, you want your vehicle to slow down – especially if it’s urgent! Worn brake pads aren’t as effective at stopping your car when you need it, and durability refers to the lifespan of your brake pads and will be influenced by your driving needs. The more durable your brake pads, the more expensive they are, right? Well, not quite.

• Organic brake pads are the least durable of the three types.
• Ceramic brake pads may be quite effective, but they don’t last as long as semi-metallic brake pads.
• Semi-metallic brake pads offer the longest lifespan.

Noise and brake dust

The material of your brake pads will also influence how much noise you hear when you brake, as well as how much brake dust you can expect to see accumulating on your wheels.

• Ceramic pads are typically very quiet and produce little to no brake dust because of their materials.
• Organic brake pads are also very quiet and produce little brake dust. They also put less strain on your braking system as a whole.
• Metallic brake pads are the noisiest option of the three. They will also put out the most brake dust, meaning more frequent wheel washes in order to keep your wheels nice and shiny.

Which Should You Choose?

In the end, the difference between cheap and expensive brake pads isn’t all about cost, and unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect brake’. If you’re in the market for brake pads, your best bet as to which to choose is to assess your driving habits and choose the tradeoffs you’re most comfortable with.

Service Your Car At T3 Atlanta

Whether you need routine maintenance or more significant repairs, T3 Atlanta can help. With our two convenient metro Atlanta locations, we can help keep your car in top shape for the life of your vehicle. Give us a call to book an appointment today!