If you are looking up Ford F150 brake pads and have stumbled upon more choices than you expected, it can be quite tricky to make a selection. The best way to go about doing this, like with most purchases, is by doing a little research. Brake pads are not the same and their performance depends on how they are made, and what they’re made of. It’s also quite common for brake pad manufacturers to claim that their pads are a lot more capable than factory ones.

This can make it even more difficult to make a choice. Let’s also not forget that getting subpar brake pads can make the vehicle a lot less safe. Even more so on heavier vehicles such as the F150. While other safety features continue to do their job, there’s nothing that can replace a good set of brake pads. Continue reading to find out which Ford F150 brake pads are the right ones for you. 

Understanding Brake Pads

Braking systems are quite simple in their operation. There are a few main components that work together to bring some incredibly fast and heavy machines to a halt. Cars and trucks of yesteryear used drum brakes, but they have mostly been replaced by disc brakes. These brakes feature three main components — the calipers, rotors, and pads. While the calipers require a rebuild from time to time, the rotors and pads are consumables.

Both, the rotors and pads, are designed to wear themselves out while creating the stopping force required. Of the two, it’s the pads that need replacing more often. Despite their basic nature, brake pads have a considerable amount of science behind them. They can be made up of several different materials, and it is these materials that dictate factors like high-temperature performance, longevity, and more. 

When it comes to trucks, they are designed keeping things like the weight and towing capacity in mind. It’s quite common for trucks and trailers to have a combined weight of over 15,000 lbs. The stopping power doesn’t only have to suffice for the substantial weight. Speed is another huge factor. When these weighty machines are making the cross-country trips they usually do, it is being done at highway speeds. At that point, there’s an incredible amount of energy and momentum that has to be dealt with when the brakes are applied.

That’s not all, now imagine the force behind a hefty truck and trailer set up going downhill while at highway speeds. It’s thousands of pounds of metal barreling down that has to be brought to a stop. Brake pad manufacturers know this and have kept things like this in mind while designing the pads. With that out of the way, as mentioned earlier, we will take you through the best Ford F150 brake pads available today.

Types of Ford F150 Brake Pads

While the exact makeup of the brake pad material differs according to the manufacturer, they can be divided by the primary substance being used. Brake pad technology has evolved quite a bit since they were first created. In the early days, asbestos was the main material. While they performed better than drum brakes which were phased out at the time, they can’t be compared to the pads of today. The latest brake pads use several different compounds that work together to deliver the best performance needed for the application.

In the brake pad world, these applications are referred to as performance profiles. The brake pad manufacturer considers many requirements. It’s not only the best stopping performance that they are after, and they also have to make sure it meets the noise and vibration levels required.

Ceramic Ford F150 Brake Pads

The first option for Ford F150 brake pads is of the ceramic type. As its name suggests, it uses a type of ceramic for its composition. While the nature of the element is similar to the ceramic found in cookware, it’s significantly more durable in this application. Most ceramic brake pads also use copper fibers to improve their potential, particularly when it comes to friction and heat management. 

If you are considering getting ceramic Ford F150 brake pads, it’s important to know that it has their advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, the ceramic option ensures a reduced noise level. This means they work without producing any displeasing sounds. Another benefit comes in the form of less dust. What this means is that you won’t have to deal with a layer of brake dust on your shiny wheels.

Other benefits include stronger performance across varying temperatures. What this means is that unlike with some other materials, performance will remain similar whether it’s cold or warm. Moving on to the negatives, they are expensive. Brake pad manufacturers are forced to price them higher as they are more expensive to make. These are the priciest Ford F150 brake pads. Lastly, ceramic brake pads aren’t as capable as the others listed below in extreme conditions. Extreme weather or even driving conditions will bring out the limitations of these pads.

Akebono, Brembo, ACDelco, and Bosch offer ceramic Ford F150 brake pads. You can find them in our catalog!

Low Metallic Ford 150 Brake Pads

Low metallic brake pads feature parts or fillers of metal elements. These types of brake pads are quite popular because they offer a good balance of performance and comfort. While ceramic pads have their focus on comfort, fully metallic brake pads are aimed at offering the best possible performance. Low metallic brake pads, meanwhile, fall between the two in terms of overall performance. 

These low metallic brake pads can feature between 30% and 70% metal in the material. Metal in this case usually refers to a compound made up of copper, iron, steel, and others. The fully metallic brake pads feature much higher levels of metal which makes them suited only for extreme driving conditions, like track use. These low metallic ones stand out because they offer the performance you would need while towing heavy loads, while also not being too aggressive for daily usage.

Low metallic Ford F150 brake pads will certainly be the best option if you are looking at towing heavy loads quite often. It would also be a good choice if the majority of your driving is on the highway. These pads are capable of stronger performance because metal is a good conductor of heat. They are also known to cool down much quicker. As far as disadvantages are concerned, low metallic brake pads can make more noise than the other types mentioned here and wear out quicker. It also goes without saying that it produces more brake dust.

Considering their popularity, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that top brands like Akebono, Brembo, ACDelco, and Bosch make low metallic brake pads. These brake pads are also known as semi-metallic by some of these companies. Check our offering for low metallic Ford F150 pads.

Organic Ford F150 Brake Pads

When asbestos brake pads were discontinued, they were replaced by organic brake pads. These pads are also commonly known as NAO or non-asbestos organic brake pads. The majority of vehicles (around 67 percent) come equipped with organic brake pads from the factory. These brake pads are made from many materials including glass, rubber, and carbon.

In terms of advantages, these brake pads make less dust than the low metallic ones which means a cleaner affair. They also cost a lot less than ceramic and low metallic brake pads. However, they aren’t as capable as them. Organic Ford F150 brake pads fall between the ceramic and low metallic ones in terms of braking performance, whereas the low metallic ones are the best. Similarly, it also falls between low metallic and ceramic ones in terms of overall comfort.

While they do a decent job, we wouldn’t recommend organic Ford F150 brake pads for towing. As mentioned earlier the brake pads take on a tremendous amount of friction to slow down something as heavy as an F150 and a trailer. To make sure they are capable of it, your best choice would be to get the low metallic ones listed above.

We Sell the Best Ford F150 Brake Pads

We hope our guide made selecting brake pads for your Ford F150 easier! However, before you leave this page, we recommend heading to our Shop and taking a look at the brake pad options we have for your specific Ford F150. Within a couple of minutes, you should be able to look at options from some of the biggest names in the business. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions.