GM Brake Pads

As you know, your brakes stop your vehicle. They do that by pressing the brake calipers and the brake rotors together. The resistance, or friction, created by this is what slows your wheels. Press long and hard enough, and you come to a complete stop.

Why Are Brake Pads Important?

Your calipers and rotors are both made of metal. The force generated by their friction would damage both if not for the brake pads. The brake pads serve as a buffer in that they're the actual part making contact with the rotors. There are four types of brake pads: organic, ceramic, metallic, and carbon fiber. Organic are most common and don't create much dust. Ceramic handle bad weather better. Metallic feel firmer and are better at withstanding the high heat caused by braking. Carbon fiber are the strongest and have the best heat tolerance of the four. Most cars and SUVs are equipped with either organic or metallic brake pads.

When Should You Replace Your Brake Pads?

You can expect to get between 40,000 and 50,000 miles out of your original GM brake pads. However, your driving style and conditions do affect that number. You'll want to pay attention to any signs like the following:

• A vibrating brake pedal
• Loud noises when you brake
• Taking longer to come to a stop when braking

The good news is that you usually don't need to replace the pads on all four tires at the same time. You do, however, want to make sure to replace them in pairs, either front or back, to ensure consistent performance. You also want to make sure to use the best brake pads available. For your model, those are genuine GM. We have plenty in stock in our auto parts center, and ordering online is a snap. Buy yours today and we'll send them out right away!