Among the very important components in your vehicle’s braking system are the brake pads. The brake pads are the parts of the braking system that take care of the impacts of the frictional forces generated to stop your entire vehicle. In a disc brake system, the brake pedal activates a hydraulic line which squeezes calipers against the rotors in the vehicle’s wheels. The brake pads are positioned between the calipers and the rotors to absorb the energy and the heat and provide enough grip to stop the vehicle.

The brake pads were originally made with organic ingredients such as asbestos and carbon held together by a strong resin. The use of asbestos was eventually banned by the government, but some other non-metallic or organic brakes are still being sold today. However, only vehicles designed for organic brake pads can use them. Most brake pads today are considered semi-metallic.

Manufacturers have their own respective formulas for crafting the parts, but they generally use copper, brass, and steel wool shavings held together a special resin. And since the parts are part metallic, you can be sure that they will considerably last for a long time. But the drawback is the presence of a grinding noise. Some aftermarket brake pads are marketed as quieter than standard ones. The Ford Racing Brake Pad Set is one example of this highly functional and highly durable aftermarket part. In general, the Ford Racing Brake Pad Set features aggressive pads that improve stopping distance and reduce pad fade. This particular performance aftermarket part is very much recommended for the racing class and not for use on pollution-controlled vehicles.