OEM Spec Brake Pads and Discs?
Discussion
OEM Pads without fail, unless I want an upgrade. I've learned my lesson with inferior pattern pads. Discs? Less fussy. Anything with a vaguely reputable name on the box.
Here's me in an old thread trying to explain why OEM pads;
Here's me in an old thread trying to explain why OEM pads;
HustleRussell said:
Herein lies the problem. What a lot of people neglect to realise is that pad manufacturers work in collaboration with OEMs to come up with a part fitment and compound that will meet the exacting requirements of the OEMs, in terms of friction co.eff, service life, dust production, noise supression, included accessories etc etc. The pad manufacturers often supply this particular compound exclusively to OEMs. The pad manufacturers will also make a number of alternatives of the same pattern in their normal range of generic compounds which will be cheaper. Lots of other pad manufacturers will make replacement pads to the same fitment and pattern too, with varying levels of cheapness and performance, but few/none of which will match the original pad manufacturer's compound characteristics. Don't get me wrong, they'll do the job and many casual drivers won't notice much difference (unless they're noisy which is a verycommon complaint in aftermarket pads).
Brembo are a good make, yes. But which compound from their extensive range of compounds will you be getting?
This is why my road cars get OEM brake pads, either from the manufacturer themselves or from one of the many companies which specialise in supplying genuine OEM parts which are new old stock etc. I've never paid more than about £75 for a set.
My race car used to get Mintex pads. Not any old Mintex though, after much trial and error I settled upon Mintex MGB533 in 1155 compound
In summary, saying "brembo are a good make" is like all the people here who say things like "Kumhos are great tyres" when they might have tried one of Kumho's range of hundreds of different tyres to reach that conclusion.
Brembo are a good make, yes. But which compound from their extensive range of compounds will you be getting?
This is why my road cars get OEM brake pads, either from the manufacturer themselves or from one of the many companies which specialise in supplying genuine OEM parts which are new old stock etc. I've never paid more than about £75 for a set.
My race car used to get Mintex pads. Not any old Mintex though, after much trial and error I settled upon Mintex MGB533 in 1155 compound
In summary, saying "brembo are a good make" is like all the people here who say things like "Kumhos are great tyres" when they might have tried one of Kumho's range of hundreds of different tyres to reach that conclusion.
Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Tuesday 25th March 14:37
BritishRacinGrin said:
OEM Pads without fail, unless I want an upgrade. I've learned my lesson with inferior pattern pads.
Not always the case. Standard practice with V6 Jaguar X-Types to ditch the original brake pads and never use OEM type again as they are shockingly inadequate (although probably fine for the 2.0 Mondeos they were originally spec'd for).Even dealers would fit EBC greens as a minimum replacement.
Better still - fit disc, calipers and pads from a Focus ST.....
Edited by r11co on Tuesday 25th March 14:52
I would always fit what other owners of your particular car recommend.
With the large aftermarket choice out there, it's easy to choose the 'wrong' pad because certain pad materials (like certain tyres) suit different weights of car.
So go with actual experience of other petrolheads - that's what the internet is good at.
But as far as OEM goes, who knows what your manufacturer is supplying today for your car.
Remembering that TMD Friction make nearly all of the pads, and may or may not keep manufacturing the same pads to the same specifications for every car as they did (say) four years ago in their many factories.
On top of all that, for instance, Subarus always benefit from a different quality pad over OEM. That's 'always'.
With the large aftermarket choice out there, it's easy to choose the 'wrong' pad because certain pad materials (like certain tyres) suit different weights of car.
So go with actual experience of other petrolheads - that's what the internet is good at.
But as far as OEM goes, who knows what your manufacturer is supplying today for your car.
Remembering that TMD Friction make nearly all of the pads, and may or may not keep manufacturing the same pads to the same specifications for every car as they did (say) four years ago in their many factories.
On top of all that, for instance, Subarus always benefit from a different quality pad over OEM. That's 'always'.
P-Jay said:
As long as they're a known make why an earth not?
It's not like Honda / BMW / Merc / Ford or whoever make their own anyway.
What a very strange post. It's a bit like saying there's no need to stick with decent supermarkets because they don't make all the food themselves.It's not like Honda / BMW / Merc / Ford or whoever make their own anyway.
The whole point is who's doing the quality control, not who made what.
IMO buying brake parts from cheap sources is not worth the risk - there's too much rubbish and too many counterfeits out there. I always buy from the dealer or alternatively a reputable brand from a reputable supplier.
By the way - same applies to oil filters. IMO you have to be bonkers to risk engine destruction from buying a cheap one.
Ozzie Osmond said:
P-Jay said:
As long as they're a known make why an earth not?
It's not like Honda / BMW / Merc / Ford or whoever make their own anyway.
What a very strange post. It's a bit like saying there's no need to stick with decent supermarkets because they don't make all the food themselves.It's not like Honda / BMW / Merc / Ford or whoever make their own anyway.
Ozzie Osmond said:
P-Jay said:
As long as they're a known make why an earth not?
It's not like Honda / BMW / Merc / Ford or whoever make their own anyway.
What a very strange post. It's a bit like saying there's no need to stick with decent supermarkets because they don't make all the food themselves.It's not like Honda / BMW / Merc / Ford or whoever make their own anyway.
The whole point is who's doing the quality control, not who made what.
IMO buying brake parts from cheap sources is not worth the risk - there's too much rubbish and too many counterfeits out there. I always buy from the dealer or alternatively a reputable brand from a reputable supplier.
By the way - same applies to oil filters. IMO you have to be bonkers to risk engine destruction from buying a cheap one.
Some of this misses the point. OEM pads are designed to work with the disc part of the job is to dissipate heat away from the braking area. Where does that heat go in a disc that is not quite right. I see examples every day of where that heat goes into the hub and damages the hub/bearing or cracks the hub. Also see where the disc cracks due to poor heat dissipation
Often the question is how do I know that non genuine brakes are not as good, well I don't know but I know for sure that OEM are.
There is more counterfeit product out there than you would know and often this is bought by factors believing it to be good. Think about if somebody is prepared to copy a £300 handbag then they for sure will copy / counterfeit car parts
I remember back in the 70's seeing mk3 cortina pads made from compressed grass (part number DP50)
Often you will see people like TMD who supply OEM that has a patent on and an after market pad both same supplier but different pads with different characteristics
Often the question is how do I know that non genuine brakes are not as good, well I don't know but I know for sure that OEM are.
There is more counterfeit product out there than you would know and often this is bought by factors believing it to be good. Think about if somebody is prepared to copy a £300 handbag then they for sure will copy / counterfeit car parts
I remember back in the 70's seeing mk3 cortina pads made from compressed grass (part number DP50)
Often you will see people like TMD who supply OEM that has a patent on and an after market pad both same supplier but different pads with different characteristics
BritishRacinGrin said:
How much from VW? Are VW parts available cheaper from any other suppliers?
You could try Trade Parts Specialists http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/. I've always found them good for VAG parts. E.g, 6" length of flexible fuel pipe on a Skoda. Skoda, price approx £160 as they only supply the full kit. TPS- flexible fuel pipe cut to size, cost approx 50p. DAVEVO9 said:
magooagain said:
Carbotech XP10 front pads on the front,Mtec discs, Brembo 4 pot calipers. All on my Fiat coupe 20vt track car. Pagid rs 29 for public road use.
+ 1 for the XP10'sRun them all round 6 pot GT3 RS calipers up front 4 pot rears
Comical braking performance
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