John ButlerIf you’re looking to upgrade your vehicle’s stopping power, choosing the right replacement brake pads is essential. Your first step is deciding between OE brake pads and aftermarket brake pads. While OE pads might seem like the obvious choice, the grip power you get from high-quality aftermarket brake pads will likely surprise you. Aftermarket brake pads offer better stopping power, reduced brake fade, and longer-lasting durability – and when you order them online from BuyBrakes.com, you can often find (depending on your make/model) better-than-OEM replacements for less-than-OEM prices.
Let’s dive into this brake pad comparison and learn how EBC aftermarket brake pads often outperform OEM brake pads in stopping power, durability, and versatility. Read on to find the best brake pads for your driving style!
What To Expect From OEM Brake Pads
Let’s start with the basics. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) brake pads are the standard issue pads your car came with from the factory. Auto makers design factory brake pads to be a ‘happy medium‘ that will meet the needs of the average driver. Not too much grab, not too much give. They’re designed for everyday driving, offering reliable vehicle braking performance for city commutes or light highway use.
The downside to OEM brake pads is that they aren’t built for anything outside of mid-range use. If you ever do any high-performance driving, heavy towing, or driving in rugged conditions, they won’t be up to the task. They tend to produce more brake dust, wear out faster under stress, and can lack the stopping power needed for spirited drives or demanding loads. Plus, they often carry a hefty price tag that doesn’t always match their performance.
What Makes EBC Brake Pads Better Than OEM?
EBC takes the quality of their brake parts very seriously. In their own words:
“EBC has strongly pursued its philosophy that brake pads and rotors are safety products, and are best hand crafted to maximum focus on high quality rather than price savings and are designed and researched on an on-going basis in our own facilities rather than turning a high safety product into a commodity marketed price point product.“
– EBC Brakes
We stock a huge selection of only the best brake brands – and EBC Brakes definitely makes the cut. EBC tailors their brake pads specifically for the needs of each driver or vehicle – whether it’s a daily driver, performance vehicle, sports car, truck, or SUV. No one-size-fits-most designs with EBC.
If you’re ready to upgrade to EBC brake pads over OEM brake pads for your vehicle, the guide below will help you learn about the specialized pads they offer. We’ll dive into some of the most popular EBC brake pad lines, comparing their stopping power, durability, and overall value against standard OEM pads.
EBC Ultimax Stock Replacement Brake Pads
Ultimax brake pads are EBC’s OE replacement easy button. They’re an affordable replacement brake pad that’s ideal for daily driving. There’s no heavy or semi-metallic metals used in the manufacture of these pads – that means they dust a lot less than OE brake pads but deliver the same fantastic stopping power.
EBC Yellowstuff Brake Pads
EBC designed this brake pad line for race track use. That means it’s an ideal product for racing vehicles and high performance street vehicles
EBC Yellowstuff brake pads feature a high friction formula that:
- Improves your vehicle’s stopping power by 15%
- Doesn’t require warmup for safe braking, but gets even stronger as they heat up
- Doesn’t fade
- Creates great pedal feel due to medium hardness material
Yellowstuff pads do create moderate dust. For lower dust pads that are better suited to street only vehicles, read on.
EBC Greenstuff Brake Pads
If you have a light Asian and European sports car, a set of EBC Greenstuff brake pads is what you need. They’re ideal for hard driving (as well as daily driving). This line of brake pads is proven to perform better than OE pads. To be more specific, EBC Greenstuff brake pads:
- Give your car 15% more stopping power than OE pads
- Can handle repeated heavy braking without brake “fall-off”
- Creates better friction and fade resistance than OE pads
- Offer better initial bite than OE pads
Greenstuff pads are relatively soft pads, which means that they extend the life of brake rotors. The pads wear, but the rotors only wear minimally.
EBC Redstuff Ceramic Brake Pads
This line of brake pads is set up for heavier, higher powered performance cars. EBC Redstuff pads have a special fiber and ceramic friction material that:
- Improves bite
- Minimizes dust (60%-90% less dust than OEM pads)
- Provides very long pad life
- Tolerates a higher heat range
If you engage in moderate performance driving, this is the ideal brake pad for your vehicle. It’s also great for daily driving.
EBC Brake Pads Outperform OE Brake Pads
The colors don’t stop there – check out the list below for more info on EBC’s Bluestuff pads, Orangestuff pads, RP Racing pads and more. Like we said before, EBC has a great selection – you’ll find a brake pad line for every driving style or need.
- EBC Redstuff Ceramic Brake Pads
- EBC Yellowstuff Street and Track Brake Pads
- EBC Greenstuff 6000 Series Truck / SUV Brake Pads
- EBC Ultimax Stock Replacement Brake Pads
- EBC Orangestuff Pads Truck – SUV – Jeep Brake Pads
- EBC Greenstuff 2000 Series Street Brake Pads
- EBC Bluestuff NDX Race Brake Pads
- EBC Extra Duty Red Pads for Light Truck, Jeep & SUV
- EBC RP-1 Racing Brake Pads for Lighter Track Cars Friction
- EBC RP-X Racing Brake Pads for Heavier Track Cars Friction
To sum it up, when you upgrade to EBC pads you’ll get:
Less Dust: EBC’s low-dust pads (Greenstuff, Redstuff) keep wheels cleaner vs. OEM’s dustier performance.
More Stopping Power: EBC offers stronger, more consistent braking vs. OEM’s average grip.
Longer Lifespan: EBC pads last longer with better heat resistance vs. OEM’s faster wear.
Reduced Noise: EBC’s low-noise design beats OEM’s tendency for squeaks.
Lots of Versatility: EBC’s range of pads suits all drivers vs. OEM’s one-size-fits-all approach.
Great Price: EBC brakes from BuyBrakes.com can be found at prices often lower than OEM pads.
How Much Do EBC Brake Pads Cost?
EBC’s wide range of brake pad styles are each engineered for a particular need and driving style. Prices vary greatly from simple OEM replacements starting under $40 per pad to specialty racing brake pads that run $100-$300 per pad. No matter the type you choose, EBC brake pads are a worthy investment.
Can I Install EBC Brake Pads Myself?
Yes, replacing brake pads is definitely a DIY job that you can do on your own. We recommend you order EBC brake pads online from BuyBrakes.com to save big on the parts, and then install them yourself to save even more on labor costs.
EBC Brake Pads From BuyBrakes
OE brake pads are well designed for the average driver and the average lifespan. However, for the price you pay for OEM, you can get higher-quality specialty pads from EBC with benefits that far exceed OEM.
Ready to upgrade to a quality brake pad set that matches your driving style? We offer the best brands like PowerStop, APP and DFC, and more – all at the best prices. Here’s why you should grab your EBC brake pads from us:
- Free Concierge Team: Our brake experts are a call or text away to answer installation questions or help you with your order.
- Large Selection: From daily driver to performance pads, we’ve got EBC options for every vehicle.
- Price-Match Guarantee: We’ll beat any competitor’s price – you can upgrade to premium brake pads without breaking the bank.
- Fast Shipping: Most orders ship same-day, so you can get back on the road quickly.
Shop today to find a quality set of EBC brake pads that match your driving style. Our experts are a call or text away to help you pick the right EBC brake pads or answer installation questions.
Rick Carlton
Spork Marketing