There’s no clearly superior method for attaching the friction material, but bonding allows the brakes to last slightly longer because as the friction material wears down, the rivets make contact with the brake rotors or drums and squeal a bit when they’re nearly worn out. By the time you hear the squeal of rivets making contact with the rotors or drums during braking, it’s time to change the brakes anyhow. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/fa/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/fa/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet1-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} Bonded brakes wear down to the backing plate which usually ruins your rotors or drums if not changed promptly when the metal to metal grinding sound is heard when applying the brakes. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/58/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/58/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-1Bullet2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:307,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:486,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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How mountainous is your driving? How hot is the climate you live in? What are the traffic patterns you travel in? How tolerant are you to brakes that squeal a bit? Do you pull a trailer behind your vehicle ? Do you have to deal with deep puddles in the winter or rainy season?

Organic: Some cars come with brakes which are made from an organic material. This provides good life for the other brake components, but don’t offer superior braking when pulling a trailer or traveling long downhill routes. Additionally, organic brake material does lose a lot of braking capacity when they get wet. [3] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/79/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/79/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} Semi-metallic: A better braking material is called semi-metallic, in which a composite of soft metals are embedded in the friction material which enhances braking . However, this does wear out the rotors or drums a bit faster than the organic materials. [4] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/ce/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/ce/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} Fully metallic: The next step up in price, quality and braking efficiency is fully metallic brakes which offer great braking in almost any condition, but do wear the rotors/drums faster. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/26/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/26/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} Ceramic: These are more expensive than the other 3 choices but do offer the longest life and best warranty. Ceramic brakes tolerate very high temperatures with very little fading or loss of braking when wet. [5] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/cd/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet4-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet4-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/cd/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet4-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-3Bullet4-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Most newer vehicles come with semi-metallic pads or shoes, as these are what car manufacturers recommends. Even vehicle that have rotors made of harder metals tolerate the semi-metallic pads very well. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/a/ae/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet1-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/a/ae/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet1-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} However, if you regularly use your vehicle for more heavy-duty tasks — such as pulling a trailer up a mountainous path — you may be better off going for higher-end, fully metallic or ceramic brake pads. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/78/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/78/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} In other words, you need to seriously consider your regular driving conditions and how much stress will be placed on the breaks when choosing the right brake pad material — it’s a matter of safety. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/26/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet3-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet3-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/26/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet3-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-4Bullet3-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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The brake pads can be no more effective than the quality of the rotors they contact and the master/slave cylinders that move the pads in and out to perform their functions. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/0/05/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet1-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/0/05/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet1-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} It’s also wise to flush the old brake fluid out of the hydraulic system when if the vehicle or truck is over 8 years old just to keep the moisture levels low and brakes working at their peak levels. [7] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/5d/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/5d/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-5Bullet2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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When you actuate the brakes of your vehicle, the disc brake pads or brake shoes have to slow down the brake rotors or drums mounted between tire rims and the suspension. [9] X Research source The friction of the disc pads squeezing the rotors or pushing the brake shoes outward on the drums in order to slow the vehicle down causes the disk pads or shoes to get really hot. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/27/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet1-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/27/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet1-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} On long downhill runs, there is a lot more stress placed on the front brakes (and therefore the front brake pads) than on the back brakes. For this reason, a superior braking method is required for the front brakes in order to handle this extra stress. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/1f/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/1f/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-6Bullet2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Disc brakes were developed by race car and aircraft designers who wanted to find the best way of slowing down the machine without burning up the brake shoes. They were later introduced to the front axles of commercial vehicles in order to reduce the wear-and-tear on the front brakes. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/8f/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet1-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/8f/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet1-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet1-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:307,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:486,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} The rear axle, on the other hand, doesn’t have nearly as much force on it during braking, and since brake drums are cheaper and easier to manufacture, these are the more common form of brakes on the rear of most passenger cars and trucks. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/19/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/19/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet2-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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\n</p></div>"} However, more modern performance cars and heavy duty trucks usually have disc brakes on both axles (front and rear) because of their superior braking capacity. Disc brakes handle heat a bit better than drum brakes too, which means they still work well when they’re hot. Any braking system can develop fading from heat or water but disc brakes recover from those two issues quicker than drum brakes. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/f2/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet3-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet3-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/f2/Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet3-Version-2. jpg/aid4987458-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Brake-Pads-Step-7Bullet3-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:307,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:486,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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