Carquest brake pads are made by several well-known manufacturers, including Akebono, Wagner, Raybestos, and Bosch. These companies are experts in brake technology and supply Carquest with high-quality brake pads designed to meet or exceed OEM specifications.
Who Are The Manufacturers Behind Carquest Brake Pads? If you’re looking to change your brake pads, then knowing who makes Carquest brake pads is a big deal. Carquest is a distributor, so while they are partnerships with some brake manufacturers, they do not do these in-house. Their partners are Akebono, Wagner, Raybestos, etc. and they are big in their making of brake products. It is no surprise their products are good considering the partnerships they have to make Carquest branded products.
In this article, we are going to explain the manufacturers of Carquest brake pads, the types and features of Carquest brake pads, and how Carquest Brake pads compare with competing brands.
Contents
What Are Carquest Brake Pads?
Carquest brake pads are replacement brake pads that are designed not only to replace but to provide better performance than the OEM pads. Each Carquest brake pad provides a variety of performance at varying price points. These brake pads provide varying degrees of performance offered for different driving styles. This includes performance driving and everyday commuting. Carquest brake pads can be found at Carquest Auto Parts and Advance Auto Parts.
Types of Carquest Brake Pads
Carquest offers three different types of brake pads.
- Organics
- Ceramics
- Semi-metallics
Who Makes Carquest Brake Pads?
Carquest brake pads are made by multiple reputable manufacturers that are well known for producing higher quality components. This is why Carquest is known for the brake pads but the components are actually produced by a third-party contractor. Some of the major manufacturers of Carquest brake pads are:
1. Akebono Brake Industry Co. Ltd.
Akebono is one of the leading manufacturers of brake components in the world and is recognized for its innovation and high-performance products. One of the company’s products includes the ceramic brake pads, which has made Akebono one of the leading suppliers of Carquest. Akebono’s ceramic brake pads stand out due to the low dust, quiet braking, and high durability. Akebono’s premium brake pads such as those found in the Carquest Professional Platinum series, are made to provide seamless braking and low noise.
- Benefits: Long life , low dust, quiet, and reliable.
- Source: Akebono is a world leader in brake pads and one of the best in ceramic formulations.
2. Wagner Brake
Like Akebono, Wagner is one of Carquest’s suppliers for brake pads. Wagner is known for making high-quality brakes, and one of its specialties is in brake components for OEM and aftermarket. Carquest obtains most of its Premium Gold line of brake pads from Wagner, which is one of the most reliable and high-performance pads. Wagner also uses advanced technology in braking systems and high-quality materials in making sure that the brake pads provide OEM standards.
- Benefits: Reliable stopping power, durability, and high performance.
- Source: Wagner ensures that they focus on both high quality and affordable products, and that is why they are a trusted partner for Carquest.
3. Raybestos
For many years, Raybestos has been a pioneer of the braking industry, providing a diverse range of braking products, and including, but not limited to, pads, rotors, and shoes. Because of Raybestos’s reputation for high industry standards and for the overall safety of the end user, it provides a wide range of Carquest brake pads that are both semi-metallic and ceramic.
It is not uncommon for pads that are made by Raybestos to be incorporated in the Carquest Professional Platinum series. These pads are made to high standards of both endurance and performance, and thereby are particularly great for the everyday user.
- Benefits: Con-self standard and performance vehicles.
- Source: Raybestos’ long history of producing high-quality brake components positions them as a trusted supplier for Carquest.
4. Bosch
Bosch is a global and well known automotive part manufacturer and they are a major contributor to the brake pad industry. Bosch’s name is more known in the industry for the development of engine management and electronic components, however, they also make great ceramic brake pads which are supplied to Carquest, and Bosch’s are the best in the market. Bosch’s QuietCast and Evo Premium ceramic brake pads are the perfect choice for Carquest’s customers who are looking for optimal braking performance and wear.
- Benefits: Superior braking performance with low dust, extended lifespan, and quiet operation.
- Source: Because of Bosch’s reputation for groundbreaking technology, they easily partnered with Carquest.
5. Other Manufacturers
Carquest also sources from other reputable companies, like Centric, Federal-Mogul, and Brembo, based on the specific brake pad line and vehicle application. These companies give Carquest a variety of options for brake pads designed for diverse vehicle types and driving conditions.
Carquest Brake Pads
Carquest has a variety of different brake pads to accommodate different types of drivers and vehicles. Here’s a breakdown of the different options for Carquest brake pads:
1. Organic Brake Pads
Organic brake pads are a mixture of natural fibers, rubber, and resin. These brake pads are quiet when compared to semi-metallic brake pads; they are also less abrasive on rotors. The drawback is that they do not last as long as the other types of brake pads and they don’t handle heat as well compared to other types of brake pads.
- Best for: Daily commuters, light vehicles, and budgeters.
- Pros: Quiet and smooth brake pads.
- Cons: Brake pads that wear out quickly, and brake pads that handle heat poorly.
2. Ceramic Brake Pads
The materials in ceramic brake pads include ceramics, fibers, and resin. These pads last longer, create brake dust less frequently, and operate more quietly than many other pads. Carquest has ceramic pads available in the Premium Gold and Professional Platinum lines, and they perform excellently in both regular and high-performance vehicles.
- Best for: Drivers who prefer brake pads for their dust-free, quiet, and long-lasting performance.
- Pros: Durability, dust-free operation, quiet operation
- Cons: More costly than organic pads.
3. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
Semi-metallic brake pads contain metals, including steel, copper, and iron, and other friction materials. These pads have great stopping power and high-temperature resistance, so are best used for performance vehicles and heavy-duty applications. Semi-metallic pads create more dust and noise than ceramic pads.
- Best for: Performance vehicles, trucks, and heavy-duty applications.
- Pros: Stopping power, heat resistance.
- Cons: Increased noise and dust.
Steps in Making Carquest Brake Pads
The first step in the Carquest brake pads manufacturing process is obtaining quality raw materials. This includes ceramic compounds, metal fibers, and different types of resins. These materials are thoroughly combined and shaped with the use of heat and pressure. The molded pads go to curing to make sure the bonded friction materials are secure. The pads are tested to ensure quality performance, durability, and safety before they are distributed.
- Raw Material Selection: The quality of each raw material involved in manufacturing Carquest brake pads affects the overall performance and durability of the product.
- Molding and Curing: To achieve uniformity and exceptional durability, the raw materials of the brake pads are molded and cooled under extreme high pressure. Once molding is done, the materials are treated under extreme high temperatures to achieve complete solidification of the combined materials.
- Testing: Carquest brake pads are subjected to extreme friction resistance, heat insulation, and noise reduction to ensure maximum wear longevity.
- Packaging and Distribution: Once the brake pads pass all the tests, they are packaged and sold to Carquest stores and other online retail stores.
What Makes Carquest Brake Pads So Great?
If you’re looking for a decent replacement for OEM brake pads, Carquest brake pads is a good option for you. Here are some advantages to going with Carquest:
Affordable Options: Carquest bring pads are designed to meet OEM specifications, ensuring drivers get solid performance, longevity, and peace of mind, no matter how low the price.
Choice for Everyone: From budget-friendly replacement pads to premium performance pads, Carquest offers brake pads for everyone.
Long Lasting and High Quality: Carquest brake pads are built to high quality standards, and with their partnerships to manufacturers like Akebono, and Wagner, and Raybestos, they are tested to be reliable for high performance, long life, and low noise.
Wide Availability: Finding Carquest brake pads is very simple, since they sell their products at Carquest Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, and online. Their numerous locations throughout the U.S. make it simple for people to get brake pads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions regarding Carquest brake pads –
1. Are Carquest brake pads any good?
Yes, Carquest brake pads are good. They have been shown to perform well, are made to match or exceed OEM standards, and are less expensive than the majority of competing brands.
2. What pads does Carquest make?
Carquest makes organic, ceramic, and semi-metallic pads, so consumers have options and can choose the type of pads that best fit their driving style.
3. Where can I get Carquest brake pads?
You can find Carquest brake pads at your local Carquest Auto Parts or at Advance Auto Parts locations as well as a variety of other online auto part retailers.
4. Are Carquest brake pads better than OEM?
No, but they are made to meet or exceed the same standards as OEM when it comes to performance, safety, and reliability.
Final Thoughts
So, who makes Carquest brake pads? Carquest collaborates with companies like Akebono, Wagner, and Bosch, who they trust to make brake pads that will meet or exceed the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) criteria. Carquest offers various types of brake pads including ceramic, semi-metallic, and organic brake pads. For brake pads with solid and long-lasting performance, Carquest pads are very affordable.
