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Technical difference between different brands of discs and pads?

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Technical difference between different brands of discs and pads?

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hollister

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Following on from my thread about changing discs and pads on my 2005 4x4, I'm now faced with which ones to order and see huge difference in the prices...

The main dealer wants £48 each for front discs, £33 each for rear discs.
Pads are £70 front set, £74 rear set all inc VAT.
So, £303 total from main dealer.

I've come across 'NK' brand discs each at £19 front, £12 rear inc VAT, but are they any good?
Pads, 'EBC" at £32 front, £14 rear.
So, £108 total from online shops.


Also Brembo complte 4 wheel sets online work out £137 Total Ebay.

Can the difference in prices be right!!! Are they made out of the same materials do you think?
 
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In terms of discs there's not much difference.

If you want my advice I'd take the Brembo's, my 1.2 500 had horrible brakes from new, far too grabby which made it impossible to brake with any level of feeling at all. Replaced the front pads and discs with Brembo items and now I've got a nice progressive pedal rather than an on/off switch.
 
306maxi said:
In terms of discs there's not much difference.

If you want my advice I'd take the Brembo's, my 1.2 500 had horrible brakes from new, far too grabby which made it impossible to brake with any level of feeling at all. Replaced the front pads and discs with Brembo items and now I've got a nice progressive pedal rather than an on/off switch.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

The big difference between genuine FIAT parts and their aftermarket equivalents is the price. All brake parts sold for road use in the EU have to be made to at least OEM standard by law so there's at least a minimum guarantee of quality with anything you choose, but as Maxi says, Brembo's have a good reputation.
 
Although they're not very exciting, brakes and tyres are the only things between you and death/disfigurement/disability.* They really aren't worth skimping on, however, just because something is expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

But, as jrkitching has already stated, they all now have to be made to OEM standards as do tyres, although personally I have trusted my safety to Avons made in China I wouldn't do the same for Chinese brands simply because I believe they are as good as the British made rubber, and Avon do make OEM tyres for the like of Aston Martin and Rolls Royce (in the UK) so have a reputation to uphold.

Although I have "Italian" cars i do try and make up for that by using British parts, hence my Panda has just had a QH (Quinton Hazel) front strut fitted. Ferodo and EBS are both British manufacturers and make their components in Britain and supply many UK car makers. Pagid are a German company who also supply OEM pads and shoes. I'm not sure whether Ferodo make discs as well but EBS certainly do and have a very good reputation for both cars and 'bikes.

* Delete as applicable.
 
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The Beard said:
Although they're not very exciting, brakes and tyres are the only things between you and death/disfigurement/disability.* They really aren't worth skimping on, however, just because something is expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

But, as jrkitching has already stated, they all now have to be made to OEM standards as do tyres, although personally I have trusted my safety to Avons made in China I wouldn't do the same for Chinese brands simply because I believe they are as good as the British made rubber, and Avon do make OEM tyres for the like of Aston Martin and Rolls Royce (in the UK) so have a reputation to uphold.

Although I have "Italian" cars i do try and make up for that by using British parts, hence my Panda has just had a QH (Quinton Hazel) front strut fitted. Ferodo and EBS are both British manufacturers and make their components in Britain and supply many UK car makers. Pagid are a German company who also supply OEM pads and shoes. I'm not sure whether Ferodo make discs as well but EBS certainly do and have a very good reputation for both cars and 'bikes.
Click to expand...
Agreed.

Personally I trust Brembo as they've got a good rep and wouldn't put their name to crap :) I can say from experience that their pads for the Panda/500 are good too :) The Panda pads are the same as 500 ones just without the wear sensor. Loads of stopping power if you need it but you can just put a little pressure on the pedal and get a tiny bit of retardation.

Tbh i'm pretty sure that anything would have been an improvement over standard. They were pretty awful
 
Careful of some Ebay brakes, there have been a lot of fake stuff on there, cheap pattern parts sold as quality branded.
Also, there are sellers selling a quality pad with tinfoil discs, but you think you're getting a complete quality set.

Mintex do brake box kits, axle sets of discs and pads. Quality is very good for price.
http://www.mintex.co.uk/index.html

If you've got shiny alloy wheels, EBC do their Redstuff pads, very low dust and work very well., though their discs have been noted for rusting up quick.
http://www.ebcbrakeshop.co.uk/

Eurocarparts have a discount code for brakes, 30% off.
Use code DP30 at checkout. Full set front and rear £105.80
http://www.eurocarparts.com/car-parts
They sell a lot of Pagid which are German and OE on a lot of cars.
 
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Great advice, especially follow the bit about NOT buying brake components from Ebay! I'd never fit Mintex, but that's a personal choice, go with the others and save a fortune.
 
Goudrons said:
Eurocarparts have a discount code for brakes, 30% off.
Use code DP30 at checkout. Full set front and rear £105.80
http://www.eurocarparts.com/car-parts
They sell a lot of Pagid which are German and OE on a lot of cars.
Click to expand...

This is a very good deal. Full set of Pagid brakes for that price is excellent.

I've run EBC on my last couple of cars. Also recommended.
 
I've never had any bother with Mintex.
As stated the EBC discs do tend to rust up quickly, that's my only gripe with them.

I'd be off to Eurocarparts, £105 for a full set of German quality, delivered free!
Can't grumble at that.

I'd be weary of fitting super sporty hot running pads and discs to your car, you may not get enough heat in them with your everyday driving, plus grooved and slotted discs can be noisy.
 
I've used TRW pads and NK/SBS discs on the MJ with great results, really positive and progressive brake feel.

On my bike I have EBC discs and sintered metal pads (HH grade), I've been extremely sastisfied with this combo. I'll be putting EBC brakes on my next car.
 
I've got EBC Greenstuff pads on my Land Rover, & had a set on my previous small car.
No guessing what will be fitted to the Panda very soon.(y)
 
im running MINTEX on my mjet panda..
im happy..

ran tarox G88 before ... load of crap.. i think .. good thing they cost 3times as mutch NOT!!
 
a lot depends on how you use the car, in everyday use theres little difference in using economy brands, but qulaity ones have less brake fade under continuous heavy braking

hope this helps
john
 
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