Selecting the Right Brake Pad

StopTech® and Centric Parts® offer several different types of street and high performance brake pads to fit both OEM calipers and StopTech Big Brake Kits. Selecting the ideal pad requires finding the proper balance between noise, dust, bite, pad life, fade resistance and other factors.

Choosing the correct brake pad starts with an honest assessment of the driver's typical driving conditions.  For example, if the vehicle is driven 80 percent in highway commuting conditions, 20 percent on canyon roads, and zero percent on the track, then a PosiQuiet "street" pad will likely offer the best combination of stopping performance, low dust and low noise.

If the vehicle is frequently used for track days but also as a daily driver, it might be better served by the StopTech 309 series Street Performance pad - provided that an even transfer layer of pad material on the rotor is maintained by periodically re-bedding in the pads. For track days, StopTech bolt-in caliper bridges make swapping over to dedicated track/race pads for the day of the event even easier. 

High performance doesn’t necessarily just refer to high speeds either. In the automotive world, high thermal loads come in many shapes and sizes. 

For emergency, pursuit or rescue vehicles, or simply a pickup truck or van that handles towing and hauling duties, Centric 306-series Fleet Performance pads are designed to give the ultimate fade resistance and long rotor and pad life with consistent brake performance. 


For daily driver vehicles that see little or no high performance driving duty, Centric offers the best-selling PosiQuiet line of brake friction. Centric Parts has recognized that the leading causes of customer complaints with brakes are noise and vibration. That’s why the PosiQuiet line is designed to specifically address these issues. Three different formulations of PosiQuiet brakes are available – Semi-Metallic, Ceramic and Extended Wear. Each offers unique braking characteristics to suit a particular driver and vehicle application.

Semi-Metallic 104-series pads, for instance, offer longer rotor life and higher dust abatement. Ceramic 105-series pads, on the other hand, offer greater initial bite and higher resistance to noise issues. Extended Wear 106-series pads, meanwhile, offer the greatest pad and rotor life as well as fade resistance.

For dedicated race vehicles that are never operated on the street, StopTech is developing its own line of race pad formulations that factor in vehicle type, caliper type, and racing conditions.

Whatever pad you choose, proper bed-in is critical to ensure optimal performance.


StopTech® Street Performance Brake Friction (prefix 309)
  • Para-aramid composites provide linear response regardless of pad temperature.

  • 100% positive molded for uniform friction material density.

  • Low dust formulation is rotor friendly and leaves wheels cleaner.

  • Scorched to raise initial cold effectiveness and ease bed-in.

  • 100% Asbestos-free formulas.

 

 

Centric Parts® Fleet Performance® Brake Friction (prefix 306)

  • Para-aramid composites provides linear response regardless of pad temperature.

  • 100% positive molded for uniform friction material density.

  • Specially engineered for pursuit, rescue and emergency driving.

  • Scorched to raise initial cold effectiveness and ease bed-in.

  • 100% Asbestos-free formulas.

Centric® Posi Quiet® Street Friction

Posi Quiet® brake pads are manufactured using the same positive molding process utilized by Original Equipment suppliers. Positive molding uses extreme pressure to compress the friction material and bond it to the backing plate. This process assures consistent friction material density throughout the pad, resulting in even wear and performance characteristics throughout the life of the brake pad.

Centric Parts® has recognized that the number one cause for customer returns are noise and vibrations. Centric Parts® is constantly improving its products to eliminate these issues. Posi Quiet® brake friction features either precision cut or shaved backing plates and mechanically attached shims - these small details ensure proper fitment in the caliper and virtually eliminate noise associated with pad vibration. In addition to these features Centric Parts® has added a scorching process to all of its Posi Quiet® brake pads. This additional process forces any impurities out of the friction material and pre-burnishes the pads to provide a greatly accelerated the break-in process. 

By offering a variety of friction compounds, the Posi Quiet® Brake Pad program boasts the widest application coverage in the automotive aftermarket.  The Centric® Posi Quiet® brake program has a brake pad for every vehicle and driving style.

All Posi Quiet® friction compounds have been specifically formulated to match original equipment. Centric® pays particular attention to matching the appropriate Posi Quiet® friction material to each application, based on exhaustive research of OEM samples, edge codes, materials and manufacturers. All Posi Quiet® brake pad friction formulations are asbestos free and are available in three application specific compounds.

Centric 104,105,106 Pads

Posi Quiet® Semi-Metallic Brake Pads  (prefix 104)

  • Long-Lasting wear characteristics

  • High friction level

  • Stable friction performance across wide temperature range

Posi Quiet® Ceramic Brake Pads  (prefix 105)

  • Longest wearing, most advanced material available

  • Lowest dust

  • Stable friction performance across wide temperature range

Posi Quiet® Extended Wear Brake Pads  (prefix 106)

  • Long wearing
  • Low brake rotor wear
  • Stable friction performance across wide temperature range, particularly higher temperatures
  • Excellent for fleet service and heavy duty applications

For more information on Centric Posi-Quiet Ceramic, Semi-Metallic, and Extended-Wear, please visit http://www.centricparts.com