When you’re towing a vehicle, be it a truck, a cart with your bicycles in it, or a fancy RV because you’re going on a holiday, it’s important to make sure it’s secure and working properly so that you can drive safely and without having to worry about it constantly.
When you’re towing a vehicle, the overall weight that you’re driving along with increases massively, which is an added danger on the road. It’s important to leave a larger distance for emergency braking, as it will be a lot harder to stop abruptly with all that extra weight, and it’s vital to ensure you have a good set of brake pads.
Brake pads are often considered expendable and overlooked, but having a good brake system in place is highly important, and having it installed will reduce the probability of having a brake-related accident.
Because we know that not everyone knows exactly what a brake pad is, or isn’t as experienced in what to look for when buying them, we’ve compiled a list with the top best picks on offer for you to choose from, that way you will definitely get a good quality product.
In a hurry?
Towing a vehicle adds an added braking time, due to the weight. It’s a big strain for your brakes, and therefore, it’s important to take a little extra care and ensure that everything is working safely. Installing brake pads is a very good option and highly recommended for those towing, especially people that aren’t as accustomed to driving with a towed vehicle behind, as they might not be as used to the differences.
So. Before you jump into your vehicle to drive off, we recommend you check out our top number one option for best brake pads for towing: the Bosch BC905 Brake Pad.
This product is a customer favorite, with a huge number of positive feedback and reviews. It’s made entirely from premium materials to ensure the highest quality, with a patented copper-free ceramic that also makes it environment friendly. It uses a semi-metallic friction formula to make it more durable and resistant to friction.
A rubber core multilayer insulates any noise, making these brake pads not only super smooth but quiet! Coated with anti-rust and anti-corrosive, they’re a high-quality choice that will last a long time.
Here are the main features:
- Quiet braking
- Made from high-quality premium materials
- Copper-free and environment friendly
- Friction formula to ensure smoothness
- Anti-rust and anti-corrosion for enhanced durability
OUR TOP PICK
The Boch brake pads are the best overall option if you want to ensure that extra safety for your towing vehicle when braking. With a big amount of positive reviews and satisfied customers, Bosch is fast becoming a bestseller.
These brake pads have been engineered with premium quality materials to ensure exceptional stopping power, as well as being quiet and low dust. A rubber core multilayer is what allows for this insulation from noise, making them soundless, as well as providing increased strength in the braking.
Made with a patented copper-free ceramic which uses an advanced aerospace alloy, and a semi-metallic friction formula, allowing for great durability and excellent performance.
They’re also coated with a layer of powder to avoid corrosion and rust, further increasing the lifespan of this product!
PROS:
- Quiet braking
- Made from premium materials
- Environmentally-friendly and copper-free
- Friction formula
- Anti-rust and anti-corrosion
CONS:
- Clips could be sturdier
EDITORS CHOICE
The ACDelco Advantage Brake Pads are a favorite among those with more knowledge on the importance of brake pads, as they are extremely reliable and safe.
It has great capabilities with a wide range of towing vehicles, working just as well for larger ones. It’s made from an organic and semi-metallic ceramic construction, giving it excellent braking power.
It might look simple, but it’s also highly effective at reducing noise during its use. It’s a low dust, which will keep your wheels mostly clean, but it’s recommended to give it a wipe down every now and then.
The installation doesn’t require any curing or special machines, making it a very easy addition to your towing vehicle, which will add a huge amount of added safety any time you step on those brakes.
PROS:
- Extremely safe and reliable
- Fits a wide range of different vehicles
- Easy installation
- Organic and semi-metallic ceramic construction
CONS:
- Not completely quiet
BEST VALUE
If you’re towing a larger or heavier vehicle, you’re going to need a stronger brake pad. Power Stop is a brand that specializes in stronger braking, and the K6268 product is an excellent choice.
This stronger braking power is provided through carbon-fiber ceramic materials, for enhanced braking and an added factor of smoothness.
It’s been designed to be resistant to the high heat that emerges from the friction, by having drilled and slotted performance rotors that allow for cooling and air circulation.
The shims are made from premium stainless steel, which means the braking is noise-free and smooth.
These brake pads are also conveniently low dust, so you won’t have to clean them too often.
PROS:
- Excellent for heavier towing vehicles
- Carbon-fiber ceramic material
- High heat resistant
- Noise-free and low dust
CONS:
- Brake calipers not included
RUNNER UP
Another excellent choice for brake pads from Power Stop is the Extreme 1274.
Made from carbon-fiber ceramic, just like the other product we’ve listed from Power Stop, they have a greatly effective braking power, effective even with heavier towing vehicles, therefore ensuring a maximized safety.
These brake pads also feature a thermal scorched pad surface, to increase the braking response, and to allow the brake pads to be noise-free in the process.
Durability is ensured by a layer of powder coating to avoid rust and corrosion, which in turn also helps the braking be smooth in its performance.
These brake pads also come with a kit with brake grease included, as well as a first-class stainless steel hardware kit. This means that the installation should be easy, and you should also be able to maintain and upkeep the brake pads yourself for a longer lifespan at high quality.
PROS:
- Carbon-fiber ceramic
- Thermal scorched pad surface
- A layer of anti-rust and anti-corrosion
- Includes brake grease and stainless steel hardware kit
CONS:
- Not low dust
RUNNER UP
The Wagner Severe Duty brake pads are our practical choice, as they have a superior stopping power to most average braking pads, are extremely long-lasting, and are super easy to install.
A great overall option for those that are wanting to quickly up their braking safety on a towing vehicle. These brake pads have been designed with a tough build, so that they can endure in harsher or more demanding conditions, perfect if you’re planning on towing your RV on an adventure somewhere wild.
They’ve also been thoroughly tested with OE-style on-vehicle testing to ensure high-quality braking performance.
They’re easy to install and they come with a premium stainless-steel hardware kit for key applications.
PROS:
- Carbon-fiber ceramic
- Extremely long-lasting
- Tough build design
- OE-style on-vehicle testing approved
CONS:
- Not low dust
Best Brake Pads for Towing Buying Guide
Brake pads are an extremely important contribution to ensure proper safety and effectiveness when hitting those brakes and you’re towing a vehicle behind you. If your brakes aren’t fully effective, you’re an accident waiting to happen on the road.
When you’re towing a vehicle, the brakes are under a lot more strain, as they have to stop not only the vehicle that you’re driving but the one you’re towing as well, which is an important addition to the overall weight and time of braking.
Knowing which braking pads work the best requires a bit of technical knowledge regarding friction, reaction time, strength, and heat resistance (among other things), so unless you’re a professional that’s worked with vehicles, you’re not likely to know much about it. So, how do you know which brake pads to choose?
To make things a little easier, we’ve compiled this little buyer’s guide with the main features to look out for, so you’re at least familiar with the different terms and can buy the appropriate brake pads for your vehicle.
Materials
The materials used in the manufacturing of the brake pads directly relate to the levels of performance and effectiveness that they will have when in use, so it’s important to check that the brake pads are made from good and reliable materials.
Apart from the brake strength and performance, the type of material will also affect the amount of brake dust that is produced.
Brake dust is the result of iron from the brake rotor’s abrasion paired with the friction. It’s dark-colored dust that often stains the rig of the vehicle and the wheels.
The problem, however, isn’t the stains that might tarnish the appearance of your vehicle, but the long-term corrosion that it has on the surfaces of the vehicle. This is why it’s important to look out for brake pads that are low dust.
Efficiency and Quality
The stopping power of a brake pad is what determines its level of quality and its efficiency when in use. You should always aim to get the highest stopping power possible, as that is what ensures that the brake pads work for helping stop the vehicle safely and with good reaction time.
If you don’t know whether to get an average brake pad or a heavy-duty one, opt for the second. It’s better to have the capability of supporting heavier towed vehicles because this capability might also come in very handy with smaller vehicles that are being over-packed with things or belongings, something which happens often when packing for a longer holiday.
Also look out for heat-absorbing brake pads, as they will function much better when in use, and will also be able to cool down the braking system so that the friction doesn’t damage it as much over time.
Durability and Lifespan
It’s important to try and choose a brake pad with a good lifespan or enhanced durability because it’s always better to buy something knowing it will last a long time and will therefore be worth the money invested.
One of the things you should look out for is durability throughout different temperatures. If you’re towing an RV, likelihood is that you’re traveling across different regions or countries, meaning you’ll probably encounter different types of weather and temperatures.
If your brake pads aren’t able to handle the changes in that temperature, they could weaken and be rendered less effective.
You should also look out for resistance to vibrations and movement, as you can encounter rougher roads and the brake pads need to remain as efficient. Brake pads that have features for reducing noise, or that are completely noise-free, also tend to have quite a high resistance to vibrations and are therefore an overall good option to go for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a brake pad work?
The brake pads work by clamping onto the brake rotors of a vehicle and applying pressure that causes enough friction to stop the movement.
They apply less or more pressure according to how hard your step on the brake pedal, meaning they can either bring the brake motors to a sudden stop, or they can apply little enough pressure to lower the speed of the movement.
Are ceramic or metallic brake pads better?
Each type of brake pads has its advantages and disadvantages, and at the end of the day it comes down to the type of vehicle you’re using or your personal preference.
Ceramic brake pads are a lot more lightweight and are also a lot more durable than other ceramic materials. They’re a lot quieter, producing less noise when they’re being used. They also cause a lot less dust, meaning they’re easier to upkeep and they could signify a longer lifespan.
Metallic brake pads are better suited for heavy-duty and are needed for heavier towing vehicles. They’re better at absorbing heat, meaning they’re slightly more efficient and can also last a longer time than ceramic brake pads.