Best Car Brake Pads (2023 Guide)

James Kiefer has been writing about automotive products on Motor1 since 2021 and has assessed hundreds of products. He’s reviewed everything from the best headlight restoration kits to OBD2 scanners to dash cams, giving him an in-depth knowledge of products that can fit into any driver’s lifestyle. Outside of auto products, James is an award-winning action photographer and writer with content creation chops that stretch back to the heart of NASCAR country. Highlights from his portfolio range from shots of record-setting foot races to the carnage of demolition derbies. When not lugging a camera around or writing auto product reviews, James can be found at classic car shows seeking the perfect Chevelle.

A set of front brake pads with a long warranty.

A brake pad set for heavy-duty cars.

Brake pads for high performance vehicles.

Rear brake pads that are safe for the environment.

Front brake pads that reduce heat, sound, and more.

Brake pads are a necessary safety component, which is why you should be sure that you’re using the best car brake pads for your vehicle. While the OEM brake pads included with your car are likely adequate, all car brakes and brake pads wear down over time. The article below can help you with your research once it’s time to find replacement brake pads.

To select the brake pads featured in this buyers guide, we consult our network of experts for their thoughts on brakes. These experts have over 100 years of combined experience in aftermarket auto fields ranging from detailing to accessories to tires, and everything in-between. These experts helped us identify the qualities that would be most important to someone looking for a brake pad and the standout brands in each category.

Our team then combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer and brake-specific websites, instruction manuals from manufacturers, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability.

We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as notable customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility. We did the research so you don’t have to.

Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.

When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

When shopping for the best car brake pads, there are several factors to consider. You’ll want to decide which type of brake pad is best for your needs and to pick a brake pad that fits your specific car.

The brake pads you purchase must be designed for your vehicle’s make, model, and year. You can read the description of the brake pads to see if your car is listed or you can input your vehicle’s information into the window that pops up on Amazon, and Amazon will tell you if the pads work for your car.

There are two types of car brake pads: drums and discs.

Drums were the first type of brake pad created for vehicles. The braking components are housed in a drum that spins along with the wheel. When the brake pedal is pressed, components called shoes are pressed against the drum to slow the wheel.

The major downside to this type of pad is that they heat up quickly. The hotter the drums are, the less friction they can produce, which decreases how well the pads can slow the wheels. This is called brake fade.

Discs are a modern alternative to drums. When you put your foot on the brake pedal, the discs come into contact with the brake rotors. This amount of pressure and friction on the rotors causes the wheels to stop moving, which stops your car.

Disc pads expand when hot and contract when cold. This means they can lose contact with the rotor in high temperatures, causing the car to move again, which is why this type of pad isn’t the most reliable choice for parking.

This factor ties into the type of pad. Because each type has its strengths and weaknesses, most modern cars use both. They will have disc pads in the front and drum pads in the back. High-performance cars sometimes have all disc pads for better braking and an emergency drum brake, and classic cars will have all drum pads.

The key takeaway is to make sure you know whether you’re buying brake pads for the front or rear of your car because they may be different.

Your brake pads will either be made of semi-metallic or ceramic materials.

Semi-metallic brake pads are usually 30 to 60 percent metal with added organic or mineral components. This type of brake pad works well in situations that require heavy braking and they function in all weather conditions. These brake pads also last a long time. However, they wear down the rotors faster, are noisier, and create more brake dust.

Organic brakes are a softer version of semi-metallic brakes. They contain fewer metals which means they aren’t as rough on your rotors. That also translates to less brake noise and less brake dust.

Ceramic pads are made from a material that is fired in a kiln. Ceramic brake pads have the opposite qualities as semi-metallic pads, meaning that they do not function well for heavy braking and wear down faster. Similar to organic pads they manage heat well, create less brake dust, and offer quiet operation. They also tend to be more expensive than other options.

Brake pads are a matter of safety, which means you don’t want to choose the cheapest ones you find. For high-quality brake pads that last longer and have better stopping power, opt for well-known brands that may cost a little more.

Drivers with a general knowledge of cars often change their own brake pads. Even if you don’t have general car knowledge, you can easily learn how to change brake pads with the instructions that come with them or from YouTube videos. If you want to save money by installing brake pads yourself, look for a brake pad kit that includes all of the hardware necessary for installation.

Brake pads can be specific to the vehicle, which means there are no best car brake pads for everyone. You’ll want to be sure you pick a brand that works with your particular car and driving conditions. Based on our research, we think the following are good products and a place to start any search for a new set of brake pads:

This set of front brake pads comes from a trusted name in the car industry, ACDelco. Because these pads are discs not drums, they have a better stopping ability. They also have slims, shots, chamfers, and a stamped backing plate to reduce noise, vibration, and braking harshness. When it comes to basic brake pad needs for the average car, it is hard to do much better than these.

These brake pads also come with a warranty. If they stop working as advertised in the first 24 months, you can contact the company for a new set.

Average Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 after more than 700 ratings

Customers are satisfied with the installation and performance of these brake pads. They claim the kit comes with everything you need for installation. These appear to be one of the best car brake pads if you want a product that is quiet and leaves little braking dust.

Some customers feel like ACDelco charges too much for these considering they are made in China.

Power Stop’s Z36 brake pads are designed for heavy-duty vehicles, like trucks. They have chamfered slots to reduce noise and a powder-coated backing plate to prevent rust and corrosion.

The brake pads also come with grease and hardware for installation. If you don’t like their braking performance within the first 3 years or 36,000 miles, you can contact the company for replacements.

Average Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 after more than 500 ratings

Customers say these brake pads work better than the ones they normally bought from their local auto parts store, especially when it comes to reducing the amount of brake dust.

Some customers have issues with the clips arriving broken. When they asked for a replacement, the replacement set also had broken clips.

Another set of brake pads from Power Stop meant for high-performance vehicles, these pads are less suited to heavy-duty trucks than other options. These brake pads contain similar technology to the other Power Stop set, which promotes faster, noise-free braking and prevents rust and corrosion.

Like with the Z36 model, you get brake grease, stainless steel hardware, and a 3-year/36,000.0-mile warranty.

Average Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 after more than 800 ratings

Customers say that these fit like the original brake pads for their car, but are much quieter and produce less brake dust. Some customers say that the pins that come with the kit don’t work well, so you’re better off saving the pins from your previous set and reusing those.

There are some complaints from customers who received the wrong parts or didn’t receive the entire kit, which is a similar complaint to the other Power Stop brake pads. This suggests that the company has a poor packaging process that may result in packing errors.

Bosch is a great brand for the environmentally conscious driver. Most brake pads contain copper, which has been proven to be harmful to the environment. However, Bosch’s QuietCast pads are copper-free.

These brake pads also produce little noise and brake dust and have a longer life due to their rust and corrosion resistance.

Average Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 after more than 3,200 ratings

Customers say that these brake pads work best when paired with Bosch’s QuietCast rotors. With the noise-reducing technology on both the pads and rotors, users can’t hear braking at all. These are some of the best car brake pads for silent driving.

Several customers complained that Bosch and Amazon claimed these pads would fit their car, but they didn’t.

This ceramic brake set acts as a replacement for your disc brake pads in the front of your vehicle. They dissipate heat, which decreases brake fade and increases friction and braking power. These car brake pads also create a smoother ride with less sound and vibration.

The Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads also come as a kit with all of the necessary stainless steel hardware needed for installation.

Average Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 after more than 1,000 ratings

Customers like these brake pads because they come from a trusted car brand. Reviewers say that these brake pads come with all of the necessary hardware for installation, and after installation, braking is smooth and quiet.

Some customers complain about the brake pads not fitting their vehicles, and others say that they make a squeaking noise.

Getting the best brake pads for your car takes a bit of research. It involves knowing what is appropriate for the vehicle you drive, and also being aware of your own driving habits. People who mainly drive in cities versus highways should consider something that will last after heavy braking. Additionally, if you drive specialty or utility vehicles, it can be worth investing in something built to handle the added weight.

Here are a few signs that it is time to replace your brake pads:

A pair of ceramic brake pads usually costs $30-$50, while semi-metallic ones cost $60-$100. For high performance or large vehicles, you will usually pay about $100-$150 for a set.

On average, brake pads last about 50,000 miles, but that number could be higher or lower depending on the driver’s habits, the location, and the pads themselves. If you mostly drive in a city where you hit a lot of red lights and you stop abruptly, you may need to change your brake pads as frequently as every 25,000-30,000 miles. However, if you live in the country and gradually slow down, your brake pads can last up to 70,000 miles.

You usually don’t need to. Because the front of your car does most of the braking, your front brake pads will wear faster than your back ones. As long as you change both of the pads in a set at once (either both front or both back), your braking system will continue to function properly.

Our pick for the best brake pads are the ACDelco Professional Ceramic Discs. We like the dual-material construction and added design elements to increase comfort.

*Data accurate at time of publication.