Chaos And Technological Innovation Coexist in The Brake Pad Market, With Safety Issues Attracting Attention
Recently, topics related to brake pads have frequently attracted public attention. The market not only has worrying safety hazards but also sees technological innovations that promote the development of the industry. As a core component of the automobile braking system, the quality of brake pads is directly related to the lives and safety of drivers and passengers.
Inferior Brake Pads Become "Road Killers", and Safety Hazards Urgently Need Attention
Recently, the "iron sheet brake pad" incident has continued to escalate. Such inferior brake pads are produced by unscrupulous merchants to cut costs, made of cheap iron sheets, and even the key friction layer is omitted. According to the actual test by Dongchedi (a well-known Chinese automotive platform), the braking distance of vehicles equipped with iron sheet brake pads at a speed of 100 km/h is nearly 50% longer than that of normal vehicles. During emergency braking, they cannot provide sufficient braking force, which is very likely to cause rear-end collisions or out-of-control accidents. Moreover, due to material problems, iron sheet brake pads are prone to high-temperature deformation or even falling off during frequent braking or high-speed driving, further increasing the risk of brake failure. Their service life is only a few thousand kilometers, far lower than that of regular products.
Through big data analysis and user feedback from platforms such as Dongchedi and Toutiao (a major Chinese content platform), such inferior products mainly appear in low-cost vehicle models, illegal maintenance shops, and the second-hand car market. Some niche brands or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) automakers install inferior brake pads during the production stage to reduce costs; unqualified auto repair shops often pass off inferior products as high-quality ones to make price differences; some refurbished cars or accident cars may also be modified with inferior braking systems, which is difficult for consumers to detect after purchase. In the past year, the number of complaints about "iron sheet brake pads" has increased by more than 3 times, mostly concentrated in unauthorized maintenance points and second-hand car trading markets in third- and fourth-tier cities.
Technological Innovation Enhances Braking Experience, and Quiet Braking Becomes a New Trend
While the brake pad industry is actively addressing safety hazards, technological innovations are also bringing a better braking experience to consumers. Brembo (Nanjing) Auto Parts Co., Ltd. recently obtained a patent for a "brake friction pad" (Authorization Announcement No.: CN223399136U, Application Date: December 2024). This technology can effectively absorb noise below 4 KHz by designing a cantilever part and a mass part, significantly reducing the harsh noise generated during braking.
According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, more than 60% of car owners say they are very sensitive to brake noise, and brake noise has become one of the important factors affecting the driving experience. Quiet braking systems are gradually becoming standard equipment in high-end vehicle models. Brembo's this technological breakthrough is expected to promote the penetration of this trend into a broader market. By optimizing the structural design, this brake friction pad can accurately control the vibration frequency and effectively filter high-frequency noise. It not only makes driving more comfortable but also reduces fatigue caused by noise, which is especially suitable for users who often drive in urban areas.
Quality Supervision and Inspection Launched in Many Places to Protect Consumers' Rights and Interests
To protect consumers' rights and interests, market supervision and administration bureaus in various places have increased the intensity of quality supervision and inspection on automobile brake lining products. On September 22, the website of Wuxi Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau (Jiangsu Province) released the quality supervision and inspection results of automobile brake lining products. A total of 20 batches of products were sampled in 2025, and no unqualified products were found. However, the situation is not optimistic in all regions. The Shanghai Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau conducted quality supervision and inspection on automobile brake lining products. Among the 35 batches of sampled products, 1 batch was unqualified, and the unqualified item was friction performance. The unqualified product was a high-end ceramic brake pad, whose friction coefficient was not within the range specified by the standard, which may lead to safety hazards such as prolonged braking distance and brake noise.
Regarding the purchase and use of brake pads, relevant departments have also given consumer tips: Consumers should choose friction material products produced by regular manufacturers. The product packaging should be clearly printed with the CCC mark (China Compulsory Certification), set friction coefficient, implementation standard, etc. There should be a certificate of conformity, production batch number or date, and other information inside the packaging box; Select brake pads that match the vehicle model, and try to purchase supporting products from factory direct sales stores or large professional auto parts markets, or replace them at designated auto maintenance points; Friction material products on the same vehicle must be replaced at the same time and produced by the same enterprise to maintain consistent left and right braking force; Do not purchase brake pads with defects such as oil stains, cracks, blisters, and grooves on the product surface.
The brake pad industry is in a critical stage of development. On the one hand, supervision departments need to strengthen efforts to rectify market chaos and prevent inferior products from entering the market; On the other hand, enterprises should continue to promote technological innovation to improve product performance and safety. While paying attention to vehicle performance, consumers should attach more importance to the maintenance of the braking system, choose regular channels to purchase and replace brake pads, and ensure driving safety.
