Do Brake Pad Brands Matter? Advice For Wholesalers, Distributors & Mechanics

As premium brake pad suppliers, we are often asked how our brake pads compare to other brands and whether brake pad brands truly matter when purchasing wholesale. Distributors will often source brake pads from a range of suppliers to enable them to maintain stock levels across different locations, so there will naturally be some variation in the products. See our FAQs below to find out more.

Do brake pad brands or manufacturers matter?

While the brake pad brands themselves do not matter, the manufacturer certainly does and so does the type of brake pad. We have a guide for distinguishing brake pad types on our blog already, but to quickly recap: the three main types of brake pads available on the market today are semi-metallic, low-metallic, and ceramic. Each type has its own characteristics that make it suitable for specific types of vehicles, and it’s important to ensure the type you are using suits the terrain and the class of vehicle you are servicing. 

As manufacturers will often allow buyers to add their own branding to a product (this is a service we also offer – enquire to find out more about getting your brand name on your brake pads), it can be very difficult to distinguish differences in quality from brand to brand. 

However, manufacturers will often have their own set of standards when it comes to their manufacturing process, and this will make a difference between low-quality brake pads and high-quality brake pads. At Frontech, we are TUV certified for quality and our products follow the same production process and strict guidelines as many OEM brake pads. (As our products are suitable for a range of vehicles, full details and individual product specifications can be provided on request.) 

Is it OK to have different brands of brake pads?

While it’s okay to mix brake pad brands, you should definitely avoid mixing brake pad types as they will wear differently and may not be suitable for the vehicle you are servicing – always check the type of brake pads on the vehicle already and if replacing one set (front or rear), it’s best practice to replace all brake pads at the same time to avoid uneven wear over time as it may affect the handling of the vehicle.

As we mentioned before, brake pad brands could actually be manufactured by one or more manufacturers per brand, so instead, it’s best to ensure your supply comes from the same factory or is created to the same quality standards. If you are purchasing from different factories, always get full paperwork for the products and ensure they at the very least match the quality supplied by the existing manufacturers within your network. A reputable brake pads manufacturer will always be able to supply paperwork and testing data for their products so you can make a more informed decision. 

Are aftermarket brake pads better than OEM?

The most common question we get asked is whether OEM brake pads are better than aftermarket brake pads and we have a full post on the pros and cons of each on our blog already, but to summarise: OEM (original equipment manufacturer) brake pads are made by the same brand as the vehicle itself, whereas aftermarket brake pads are made by a different company that specialises in manufacturing one or more different types of vehicle parts across a range of brands.

OEM brake pads tend to be much more expensive as you’re paying for the premium brand name alongside the product (so if you are a distributor, this may result in lower profit margins), however, they are popular amongst clients as they’re a recognisable brand name. Aftermarket brake pads, however, will not carry the name of the vehicle’s make so they are an excellent cheaper alternative as the quality of the product itself can be very similar to the OEM part. 

Frontech’s parts all go through stringent testing and follow the same production process as many OEM brake pads to ensure buyers are not compromising on quality by going for an alternative brand. We pride ourselves on producing brake pads that are just as good (and sometimes better) than some OEM-manufactured brake pads – so you’re in safe hands when purchasing in bulk or wholesale from us.

Do aftermarket brake pads void the vehicle’s warranty?

Always check a vehicle’s documentation and insurance/warranty documentation (or ask the owner) to ensure brake pads are not included as a modification that can void the warranty of a vehicle. Generally speaking, warranties do not provide cover for consumable parts that are expected to be worn or replaced during the lifetime of the vehicle, so switching to aftermarket brake pads shouldn’t be an issue. However, some warranties or insurance policies will stipulate that upgrades to the brake system as a whole may affect the agreement, so it’s important to make the owner of the vehicle aware of this prior to making changes (it will be on the vehicle owner to declare any modifications to the appropriate parties). 

Contact The Frontech Team

We’re a trusted wholesale supplier with a 5* rating on Google and Alibaba (as well as having a 100% on-time delivery rate!). Contact us any time via our contact form, via email at sales@frontech.com, or by sending us a message on WhatsApp at +86 1531 832 9151 where a member of our team will be happy to assist. We are open from 8am to 5:30pm Monday – Friday and aim to get back to all enquiries within 24 business hours.