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Brake pads are designed to wear out. How fast they wear is dependent on the driver and the vehicle more than the pad’s friction material formulation. While there are pads on the market that promise more miles, it is difficult to say if it will last longer than another pad.

What can make a brake pad last longer is replacing the hardware and resurfacing the rotor with the correct finish. These two items can increase the life of the brake pad more than any other factor.

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Like golf club manufacturers, brake pad manufacturers are always looking for new space age materials to improve their products. These materials names may be throw around like buzzwords in a boardroom, but knowing what these materials can do can help you to make a more informed decision.

A The best source of information is a shop. A repair shop will buy more brake pads in two days than most people will buy in a lifetime.
With this experience, the person at the front counter can help you select the right brake pad for you and your vehicle. Brake pads are one item that most shops will not take a chance on because they have a vested interest in making your vehicle as safe as possible.

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The friction material is usually molded onto the backing plate using heat and pressure. In some cases, the friction material is forced through holes in the backing plate as it is molded. Also, the backing plate is coated with an adhesive that can withstand high temperatures. These two methods help to keep the friction material from shearing off the metal backing plate.

On some premium brake pads, the backing plate will have a mechanical method to secure the friction material to the backing plate. The systems can use small hooks or other attachment devices that become embedded into the molded friction material. This can give an extra sense of security to the driver.