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Summary
  • SureStop, AutoSpecialty, Centric Select, and StopTech Street are some of the best brands that manufacture brake parts.
  • Material and design are important considerations when buying brake disc and pad kits. Brake discs can usually be grooved, slotted, vented, drilled, or flat.
  • Brake pad materials can be organic, semi-metallic, or ceramic.

Once the discs and pads of your vehicle’s brake system have become worn or damaged, they should be replaced right away. Degraded components can make it difficult for the brake assembly to generate the needed friction to effectively stop your vehicle⁠.

When replacing your brake assembly, it’s advisable to get a brake disc and pad kit. This typically includes all the replacement parts and hardware that you would need.

mechanic installing brake disc and pads
When replacing your brake assembly, it’s advisable to get a brake disc and pad kit for convenience.

Need brake discs to go with the pads? Check out SureStop® front and rear OE replacement brake disc and pad kits. SureStop® is a leader in high-performing yet affordable replacement brakes that meet strict OE quality standards for the ultimate in safety and performance. These brakes are bolt-on ready and provide premium, low-to-no-dust stopping power.

4 Best Brake Disc & Pad Kits

For quality brake disc and pad kits, here are some brands to consider:

SureStop OE Replacement

SureStop makes use of state-of-the-art technologies to produce top-quality automotive parts and accessories that meet the original equipment (OE) repair and replacement requirements of a wide range of vehicles

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Surestop’s OE Replacement brake disc and pad kits feature semi-metallic friction materials with a high friction coefficient. Also, rather than steel, the shims use dual layers of rubber, which dampen noise when braking.

Meanwhile, the discs are made of cast iron, which is resistant to wear, deformation, and oxidation damage.

surestop aftermarket brake disc and pad kit
Surestop’s OE Replacement brake disc and pad kits feature semi-metallic friction materials with a high friction coefficient.

Key features:

  • Pads treated for fast break-in
  • Designed with low-dust formula
  • Offers six times less noise due to shims with dual rubber layers
  • Manufactured to meet factory specifications

Our Score: 10/10

Autospecialty By PowerStop

For over two decades, PowerStop has been providing premium quality brake pads and other related components. PowerStop brake disc and pad kits are designed to meet application-specific requirements that range from daily to performance driving.

The Autospecialty By PowerStop series includes G3000-grade brake discs, ceramic brake pads, and stainless steel hardware. The G3000 standard of the Society of Automotive Engineers means that the brake disc material has a tensile strength of 30,000 pounds per square inch.

Meanwhile, the ceramic friction material on brake pads is meant to ensure dust- and noise-free braking. Also, their stainless steel hardware offers superior corrosion-resistance.

powerstop brake disc and pad kit
PowerStop brake disc and pad kits are designed to meet application-specific requirements that range from daily to performance driving.

Key features:

  • Precision cast and machined
  • Meets original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications
  • Discs meet G3000 metallurgy standards
  • Offer 20% increase in stopping power over competitive brake pads
  • Pads have a higher friction coefficient than competing brands
  • Shims with dual rubber layers instead of steel for 6 times less noise
  • Pad surfaces are thermal-scorched for fast break-in

Our Score: 9/10

Centric Select Axle Pack

Centric continuously strives to improve its brake technology through research and development. It has been recognized for its innovations in the field, receiving 14 consecutive awards for friction identification from the Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI).

With hundreds of thousands in brake and chassis products, Centric aims to provide the right parts for almost all types of vehicles, even from those made as far back as 1937.

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Centric Select Axle Pack kits feature pairings of brake pads and discs that serve as direct-fit replacements to stock components. They also include top-grade discs and Centric Premium street pads, which are designed to reduce noise and resist fading.

Intended to restore OEM-standard level of braking performance, Centric brake disc and pad kits are available for a wide range of vehicles, from street cars to light trucks.

centric replacement brake disc and pad
Centric Select Axle Pack kits feature pairings of brake pads and discs that serve as direct-fit replacements to stock components.

Key features:

  • Provides dependable performance
  • Precise and secure fit
  • Easy installation

Our Score: 9/10

StopTech Street Axle Pack

StopTech is geared for armored, production, performance, and racing vehicles. StopTech is ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 16949:2009-certified for the design and production of automotive parts, which allows it to directly supply car assembly plants at a Tier 1 level.

The StopTech Street Axle Packs include the brand’s brake discs from its Sport line and brake pads from its Street series. While these StopTech brake disc and pad kits are made for daily driving and touring applications, they are engineered to enable performance-level stopping.

The discs feature either slots or drilled holes, both of which improve brake bite, while the pads are designed to provide high-friction, low-dust braking.

stoptech brake disc and pad kit
While these StopTech brake disc and pad kits are made for daily driving and touring applications, they are engineered to enable performance-level stopping.

Key features:

  • Coated discs for better corrosion resistance
  • Hard-wearing pads
  • OE-style design

Our Score: 8/10

Our Recommendation

We recommend SureStop brake disc and pad kits because they have the same quality and performance as products from major manufacturers but at much more affordable prices. Installing these brake components will be easy because they are guaranteed to fit right out of the box. Since these kits contain all the parts you need, you can start the replacement job right away.

What to Consider When Choosing a Brake Disc & Pad Kit

It is important to ensure that the replacement brake discs and pads are able to deliver the vehicle’s required stopping power. Some of the things to consider in getting brake disc and pad kits are:

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Material and Design

The friction force that resists motion and ultimately stops the vehicle also generates heat, which is not ideal. As such, discs and pads are made to better manage heat while producing the necessary stopping power. Brake discs are usually made of iron and could be styled as grooved or slotted, vented, drilled, or flat. Meanwhile, typical brake pad materials could either be organic, semi-metallic, or ceramic.

brake disc and pad kit of a car
Some of the things to consider when shopping for brake disc and pad kits are material and design, fit, and inclusions.

Fit

Brake discs and pads should be mounted to the vehicle securely. Any looseness or misalignment could decrease the ability of the brake system to stop the vehicle. Basic details about the vehicle such as its year, make, and model would help ensure that the brake discs and pads are compatible with your application.

Inclusions

Ideally, a brake disc and pad kit should not just include the discs and pads but also all the related hardware. Also, the sets in the kit should match the number of wheels that require discs and pads. Some vehicles use disc brakes for all wheels while others use a combination of disc and drum brakes. Additionally, some kits also include supplemental products, such as brake lubricant.

Brake Disc and Pad Kits Recommended for:

About The Author
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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