There are truck brake pads of various materials and brands on the market. How to choose the right brake pads correctly? This is a headache for many car owners. Don't worry, today we will teach you a few simple tips. First, we need to understand the basic structure and material of brake pads. Brake pads generally consist of a steel plate to withstand pressure, a thermal insulation layer (to prevent heat transfer to the piston) and a friction block. The friction block is composed of friction material and adhesive. When braking, it is squeezed on the brake disc to generate friction, thereby achieving the purpose of decelerating and braking the vehicle. Friction materials can be divided into four types based on basic materials: asbestos, NAO type (that is, asbestos-free organic type), semi-metal and special fiber.
So, what are the differences, advantages and disadvantages of these materials? Let's take a look:
Asbestos type brake pad: This is the earliest brake pad material used. Because asbestos fiber has high strength and high temperature resistance, it can meet the requirements of brake pads, clutch discs and pads. However, it is now discovered that most asbestos is potentially harmful, and asbestos has been confirmed by the medical community to be a carcinogen. In addition to the health hazards, there is another important problem with asbestos-based brake pads. Since asbestos is insulating, its thermal conductivity is particularly poor. Usually, repeated use of the brake will cause heat to accumulate in the brake pads. When the brake pads become hot, their braking performance will change and the same friction and braking force will be generated. More braking cycles will be required, a phenomenon known as "brake atrophy". If the brake pads reach a certain level of heat, they will cause brake failure. Therefore, very few manufacturers now produce and use asbestos-based brake pads.
NAO type brake pad: This is currently the most common brake pad material. It is composed of inorganic substances, glass fiber, carbon fiber, etc. and does not contain harmful substances². NAO brake pads have the advantages of high temperature resistance, low noise, and low dust, but they also have disadvantages, such as unstable friction coefficient and poor wear resistance.
Semi-metallic brake pad: This is a brake pad material that adds metal powder to the NAO type. Its friction coefficient and wear resistance are higher than the NAO type, but it also has disadvantages, such as louder noise and more dust. , greater wear on the brake disc, etc. Special fiber brake pad: This is a brake pad that uses special fiber (such as carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, etc.) as friction material. Its performance is better than that of semi-metallic type, and it has high temperature resistance, low noise, low dust, low wear, etc. It has advantages, but it also has disadvantages, such as higher price and complicated manufacturing process.
Based on the above introduction, we can draw a conclusion: the better the material of the brake pad, the better its performance, but the higher the price. So, how should we choose the right brake pads according to our needs and budget?
Here are a few tips:
If your car is a low-end or mid-range car, you don't usually drive very fast, and you don't often drive on highways or mountain roads, then you can choose NAO or semi-metallic brake pads. These brake pads are relatively cheap and can meet your needs. daily needs.
If your car is a mid- to high-end or high-end car, you usually drive fast and often run on highways or mountain roads, then you can choose special fiber brake pads. Although these brake pads are more expensive, they can provide better braking performance. dynamic effect and safety.
