As a counter professional, you likely have customers inquiring daily about why they should purchase one brake pad over another. Our expert techs at ADVICS have compiled the following guide to help you with these conversations.
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What is the Correlation Between Brake Pad Cost and Quality?
When considering the wide array of brake pad options in the market, discussing both cost and quality with your customers is essential. There is a direct correlation between cost and performance, and significant differences between &#;cheap&#; and &#;expensive&#; brake pads, primarily due to the variations in the raw materials and production methods used.
The raw materials not only determine the overall quality of the part, but also directly influence the performance of the brake pads. Understanding the customer&#;s driving conditions and budget is especially crucial when advising DIYers, given that brake pads play a critical role in the safety and driving characteristics of a vehicle.
While there&#;s no definite answer for how much a high-quality brake pad should cost, counter professionals like you are here to help educate customers on what&#;s best for their vehicle, based on their driving conditions and budget. Counter professionals should be able to explain the differences between OE-equivalent parts, such as ADVICS ultra-premium quality brake pads, which are built to ensure optimal safety and performance on the road, and &#;cheap&#; replacements.
What Are Brake Pads Made of and Why is it Important?
There is no question that brake pad composition significantly affects performance. Typically, brake pads fall into one of three categories:
- Ceramic/Non-Asbestos Organic
- Semi-Metallic
- Low Steel
Because the brake system plays such a critical role in vehicle safety, selecting the appropriate brake pad and material is essential. Finding the perfect fit for your customer&#;s vehicle can significantly enhance performance and extend the lifespan of their braking system.
Ceramic brakes are often used on passenger cars and light trucks that are typically daily drivers and are known for being very durable, long-lasting, quieter, and producing less dust. However, ceramic brake pads are usually the most expensive.
Semi-metallic (or often referred to as just &#;metallic&#;) brake pads contain approximately 50% steel fiber, and often a graphite lubricant as well as other durable resin material to complete manufacturing. Semi-metallic brake pads are typically selected for heavy duty trucks or vehicles that are often towing. They are also selected for performance vehicles that are driven on the street or performance driving events.
Low steel brake pads contain 10-30% steel fibers and softer metals. These brake pads are typically lower in price compared to semi-metallic brake pads but will wear faster due to the use of softer metals. Low steel brake pads align with semi-metallic brake pads with regards to vehicle applications.
Vehicle type, driving conditions and cost will be the determining factors in selecting what&#;s best for your customers.
Are Aftermarket Brake Pads the Same As OE?
While OE parts are custom-made for specific vehicles, rest assured that aftermarket brake pads can match or even exceed OE performance. The key difference between OE and aftermarket brake pads lies in materials, cost, and production methods. This creates a wide array of options to cater to a customer&#;s unique needs.
Concerns often arise over the relation of cost, quality, fit, and performance of an aftermarket product, though these variations are typically linked to differences in materials or production, rather than the actual quality of the part. Giving customers a clear understanding of the difference can instill confidence in their selection.
Do Brake Pads Come with Hardware?
When DIYers gear up to replace their brake pads, a common question arises: Do brake pads come with installation hardware? The answer to this question will vary depending on the brand or product that your customer chooses, although, in many cases, hardware is included.
Hardware that is typically included consists of abutment clips, caliper guide pins and anti-rattle clips.
While not entirely necessary, it is best practice to stress the importance of changing all hardware while performing a brake job, regardless of whether it is included in the kit. Doing so helps to ensure OE-level performance.
Do Rotors Need to Be Replaced with Brake Pads?
When DIYers are shopping for brake pads, it&#;s common for them to consider the status of their rotors, too. At ADVICS, we advise customers to replace brake rotors alongside brake pads.
While the wear and tear on pads and rotors may slightly differ, it&#;s generally safe to assume that if the brake pads need replacement, so do the rotors. However, the frequency or replacement varies based on wear and tear. Opting to replace pads and rotors simultaneously ensures optimal performance levels and stopping abilities. You can read more about the importance of rotor replacement here.
&#;Braking&#; It Down for Your Customers
Here at ADVICS, our goal is to keep counter professionals equipped with the knowledge and expertise to confidently address common consumer inquiries about their brake pads. Whether it&#;s clarifying the misconceptions about aftermarket pads or delving into the importance of rotor replacement, we believe keeping your customers informed is essential. By doing so, we empower both professionals and consumers alike to make informed decisions, creating trust and customer satisfaction in every interaction.
Caliper disc brakes are incredibly versatile. They can slow, hold, and stop very heavy and/or fast-moving units quickly. For this reason, they are well-suited to applications that require high torque, high energy stopping, and/or tensioning. Caliper disc brakes absorb the generated energy of the braking process, then dissipate that energy as heat. Here is an overview of each type of brake and what it does best, to help you in selecting the right kind for your application.
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Pneumatic Brakes
Pneumatic brakes are powered by compressed air. Because many industrial spaces have &#;shop&#; air available, these are a popular option. Pneumatic industrial caliper disc brakes are often used to slow, stop, or hold rotating or linear moving parts. They usually operate around 70-120 PSI and max out at 200 PSI, as opposed to hydraulic brakes which operate at higher pressures. W.C. Branham offers many pneumatic brake options to fit a wide range of braking force requirements.
Hydraulic Brakes
Hydraulic brakes are powered by compressed fluid &#; hydraulic oil in the case of most industrial equipment. Hydraulic brakes are designed to withstand higher pressures, which allow for maximum braking force, so they are ideal when you need to stop, hold, or tension equipment with higher torque. Hydraulic brakes are standardly used in mining, agricultural, or similar heavy duty equipment. As a standard, W.C. Branham brakes are designed with seals to be used with hydraulic oil, but we do offer options where automotive brake fluid is used.
If you have shop air but need the higher pressure capability of hydraulic brakes, you can purchase air/oil intensifiers that convert shop air into hydraulic pressure. This cost-friendly solution allows you to use hydraulic industrial caliper brakes even if you have no hydraulic pressure source.
Pneumatic or Hydraulic Spring Applied Brakes
Spring applied brakes work differently. Instead of directly-applied pressure, internal springs apply braking pressure. The springs maintain tension until the spring is pressurized. The actuating power source can be either hydraulic or pneumatic. W.C. Branham carries one of the widest selections of both in the market.
These types of brakes are best for emergency stop applications and are often referred to as &#;fail-safe&#;or &#;E-stop&#; brakes in industrial settings. There are many combinations of pneumatic and hydraulic spring applied brake options.
Mechanical Brakes
Mechanical brakes operate with a simple lever and require no external power source. This series of brakes exerts braking force effectively to objects in rotary or linear motion and are often used in manufacturing applications where air or hydraulics are not available or not needed. A good example is an industrial cart that requires manual braking with a lever. We offer several mechanical brake options that feature cast or extruded aluminum construction, hard coated housings, and replaceable, non-asbestos friction pads.
Which industrial caliper brake is right for your application?
In an earlier blog article we talked about how to choose the right size caliper disc brakes, but prior to sizing the brake it is important to determine the right kind of brake. To do that, you need to know your:
- power source: pneumatic,hydraulic or manual;
- braking needs: stopping or holding (or both), emergency stopping, tensioning;
- application: breaking linear rail or rotor;
- potential space constraints or mounting requirements.
Brake Sizing Can Determine Braking Power
In most cases, you can vary the disc diameter, number of calipers per disc, and actuating pressure to achieve your application&#;s specific stopping or holding requirements. Increasing caliper piston size increases clamping pressure, but overly-large pistons can cause the brakes to lock up.
You can mount calipers in a fixed position, in which case the caliper will operate using opposing inner and outer pistons to apply pressure equally from both sides. Calipers can also float, mounted on a pin that is attached to the spindle.
Options are particularly important when it comes to industrial caliper brake design, because optimum braking ensures safe, reliable, and efficient equipment operation. You can learn more in this product guide.
Right-sizing your brake will assure braking power and performance without sacrificing cost-effectiveness. You need the right diameter disc as well as the right brake. The larger the diameter, the greater the braking torque. We&#;ve pulled together all the data tables and formulas you&#;ll need to do the calculations, plus some helpful tips, in this caliper disc brake sizing guide. Download the guide and keep it handy for future reference. It&#;ll help you get the braking force you need without overspending.
Every Design Starts with a Need &#; and an Idea
At W.C. Branham, tech support doesn&#;t start after the sale, it starts the moment you have a question or need a detailed consultation regarding options. While detailed specs for all our products are available online, our engineers and manufacturing experts are also here to help. So why not take advantage of their experience and insight?
You can run your idea by us to get specific recommendations. We can modify nearly all our standard products to fit your specs, but we are also the go-to-resource when you need a unique design. We respond quickly, and we use the latest 3D software. Our goal is to help you create the most efficient, cost-effective solution, no matter the application.
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