Replacement Brake Kits

There’s no “close enough” when you’re working on brakes. They’re your vehicle’s most important safety system, and everything must function perfectly after servicing them. So, if you encounter a defect like a leaky caliper or a below minimum thickness rotor during the job it has to be made right. At the same time everyone has packed schedules these days, so whatever time you have to make the repair should be spent wrenching, not wasted chasing all over after parts. And what happens when it’s Sunday, you can’t get what you need, and you have to drive your car to work the next day? The solution is to anticipate possible problems and have the parts on hand, and you can do it with one of our replacement brake kits.

Sure, you could just buy brake pads or shoes and hope for the best – that those are all that the job will require, but doesn’t it make more sense to be prepared? Especially when you consider the other advantages of using a brake kit. First, the components in a brake kit are engineered by the manufacturer to work together, and thoroughly tested to ensure they do. Second, you can get components that are best suited to your preferences, your vehicle and the way you drive, whether you want stock replacement, better braking performance with low dust, or parts made especially for performance or muscle cars, or trucks and 4x4s. And, you can get your brake kit delivered right to your door so you can do the job at your convenience and devote your time to completing the repair, not shopping for parts.

While content can vary according to manufacturer, a basic brake kit for disc brakes consists of brake pads, rotors, and new hardware and lubricant to ensure even brake pad wear without brake noise. Brake pad friction compound varies according to manufacturer and application. Stock replacement pads may consist of non-asbestos organic compounds but in some cases may be semi-metallic or ceramic. Ceramic pads are specified when quiet performance and low dust are desired. Performance pad formulations include semi-metallic as well as metallic and ceramic compounds that also include ingredients like aramid fibers, carbon fiber or Kevlar.

Standard replacement brake rotors generally have a plain friction surface, but many rotors for high-performance and truck & 4x4 applications are drilled or slotted, or have a combination of the two features, to cool the rotor, allow water and pad gasses to escape, and provide better pad contact. Drilled and slotted rotors may also have advanced metallurgy, for a greater upgrade in performance and durability. Most brake kit rotors are coated to prevent rust. Various coating methods are used including zinc plating, electroplating and proprietary chemical coatings. Coating the rotors will help keep them looking good, an important consideration with today’s large diameter, thin spoke rims, but they’ll also prevent rust from forming on the backside of the rotor and inside the cooling vanes, which can reduce braking performance.

You can also opt for disc brake kits that include rebuilt, original equipment brake calipers. These calipers have been thoroughly cleaned, inspected, rebuilt using high-temperature piston seals and boots, new hardware, pins, and bleeder screws, and pressure tested to ensure you won’t have any leaks. Some calipers are also powder coated to prevent corrosion and provide an attractive appearance behind your wheels. Finally, we haven’t forgotten those of you with drum brakes. Our drum brake kits are available for standard duty and for heavy-duty truck and towing applications. They include coated drums, precision cam ground, application specific friction compound brake shoes, and new hardware. Replacement brake kits come with the parts needed to service the brakes on one axle or with components for the brakes at all 4 wheels.