Variable quality pads – a warning.
Apec has received feedback from technicians about the variable quality of the cheaper brake pads they have bought and fitted. After conducting our own investigations, we can confirm that technicians should beware – these sub-standard pads are widely available in the marketplace and are causing problems for motorists and workshops.
The Problem
These inferior pads are sold cheaply, making them attractive in tough economic times. However, Apec arranged Europeanstandard AK-Master laboratory tests to see how the cheap pads performed compared with Apec pads.
The tests
Braking performance was checked using a number of sample pads, across a range of simulations including braking from cold and hot and at motorway speeds, evaluating pedal pressure, fade and recovery time.
The results
Pad performance for Apec was almost identical to OEM and easily met R90, the legal requirement for brake pads on sale in Europe. Yet the performance of the cheap pads was highly inconsistent, with some examples even failing to meet R90 standards.
Some samples had friction material that was very easily worn down; they wore out 13 times faster than Apec. By the end of the test, only the backing plate provided braking.