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Best Brake Pads: Ceramic vs Semi-Metallic vs Organic
Squeaking, grinding, or a soft pedal? It may be time for new brake pads. Here's how the three main types compare, so you can choose the right one for how you drive.
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#1 Best overall: ceramic brake pads
Top pickQuiet, very little brake dust, and long-lasting. The most comfortable choice for daily driving and stop-and-go traffic.
Key trade-off: quieter and cleaner, but they cost more.
#2 Best for trucks and towing: semi-metallic pads
Handle heat very well, so they're good for heavy vehicles, towing, and mountain driving.
Key trade-off: strong and cheaper, but noisier with more dust.
#3 Best budget: organic brake pads
The lowest price and soft on rotors. Fine for light, gentle driving.
Key trade-off: cheapest, but they wear out faster.
Before you buy
- Always search with your car's year, make, and model so the pads fit.
- Replace pads on both front wheels (or both rear wheels) at the same time.
- If you hear grinding metal, check your rotors too.
DIY: How to replace your brake pads
Safety first: Brakes are a safety part. If you've never done this before, watch the full video first, and if you're not sure, let a mechanic do it.
- Loosen the lug nuts, raise the car, and put it on jack stands. Never rely on the jack alone.
- Remove the wheel to see the brake caliper and rotor.
- Remove the caliper bolts and lift the caliper off. Hang it with a wire, and don't let it hang from the brake hose.
- Take out the old pads and compare them with the new ones.
- Push the caliper piston back slowly with a C-clamp, then put in the new pads and reinstall the caliper.
- Put the wheel back, tighten the lug nuts, and pump the brake pedal several times before driving. Test the brakes slowly first.
Ready to do it yourself?