Cheap brakes are a big mistake. Low-quality brake pads can make your pedal feel soft and squishy and can cause warpage in your rotors. I recommend using OEM pads, but this does not mean that aftermarket pads aren’t good.
There are plenty of good aftermarket brake pad manufacturers, and Duralast is one of them. They are considered to be a premium brand. Also, this is a brand that offers a lifetime warranty on its products.
So, how do they fare against aftermarket brake pads? Is Duralast a good brand for brake pads?
Duralast manufactures calipers, rotors, and brake pads. If you use their parts in combination with one another, you can get some really good results.
Their brake pads are sure to improve the braking performance of your vehicle. You can easily expect aggressive stopping power and quiet performance from their brake pads.
Contents
Key Features Of Duralast Brake Pads
Here are some of the key features of the Duralast brake pads that can be found on all of their models.
- All You Need
With purchase, you will get only the application-specific stainless-steel hardware inside the box. These parts are required by OEM, and they include everything you need for a proper installation.
- Corrosion Resistant
You can get tough corrosion with these OEM-style brake pads from Duralast. The backing plates on these brake pads are powder-coated to ensure superior rust prevention and also prevent corrosion. These pads are also designed to deliver OEM fit.
- Reduced Noise & Vibration
There are three layers of OEM matching shims that help to eliminate noise and also neutralize vibrations. These are the strong and silent types of brake pads that will work hard but won’t make any noise.
- Improved Performance
These silent and strong type brake pads have OEM matching chamfer and slot designs that improve braking performance and also reduce noise.
- Rough & Tough
To match the performance of original equipment pads, these brake pads are available in both ceramic and semi-metallic friction formulations.
Product Lineup
Duralast offers the following brake pads to match different driving conditions and vehicle types.
1. Duralast Standard Brake Pads
The first one is their standard brake pad that is considered a suitable OE replacement for light-duty vehicle applications. To match OES and OES-style slots, these brake pads are designed with both ceramic and semi-metallic friction formulations.
The chamfers are also designed to restore the original OEM quality braking performance of your vehicle. The standard brake pads come with two layers of shim to reduce noise. The backing plates are powder coated to prevent rust buildup.
2. Duralast Gold Brake Pads
The gold brake pads are the upgraded version of the standard pads. Instead of a two-layer shim, these pads feature 3-layer OEM style shims. This eliminates noise and neutralizes vibrations. The backing plates are also powder coated to make the pads rust-resistant.
The gold brake pads are ideal for application-specific use. Thanks to their factory-matched design, these pads offer an OEM fit, as well as OEM, matched chamfer design, slots, and formulations.
3. Duralast Elite/Max Brake Pads
The Duralast elite brake pads are designed for luxury and import vehicles. These pads offer premium stopping performance at a premium price. The backing plates feature a patent-pending coating that is a lot better than any other aftermarket painted metal strips.
Thanks to the application-specific ceramic formulation, these brake pads have three times longer lifespan, low dust buildup, and ultra-quiet performance. The elite pads feature an OEM-style chamfer and slot design to improve performance and eliminate noise. The pads are manufactured using copper-free material.
4. Duralast GT Street Carbon Fiber Brake Pads
They are designed for those looking for exceptional stopping power regardless of rotor temperature. This line of brake pads is able to minimize brake fade. Police pursuit vehicles, track and street racing, and other extreme sports event vehicles should use these brake pads.
5. Duralast Pursuit Brake Pads
Up next, we have Duralast’s new specialty brakes. The Duralast pursuit is designed especially for law enforcement vehicles and also for vehicles that make repetitive high-speed stops. These brake pads are designed to provide superior stopping power consistently.
This is possible thanks to the new advanced application-specific friction formulation that reduces brake fade. Also, the shims have 35% thicker steel than normal brake pads. These are professional-grade four-layer shims that have galvanized backing plates.
6. Duralast Severe Duty Brake Pads
The severe-duty brake pads are designed for 1/2-ton to class-6 trucks and other delivery vehicles. If you are looking for brake pads for heavier trucks and hauling, these are the ideal replacement brake pads for you.
In addition to the improved stopping power under heavy loads, friction block reduces heat buildup for greater heat dissipation.
With professional-grade four-layer shims and 35% thicker steel, it allows for quieter braking and more dampening. Improves brake performance by spreading braking load better with the premium burnishing strips.
About Duralast
AutoZone created Duralast in 1986 to provide performance, quality, and durability on par with or better than the parts from original equipment manufacturers. Duralast has earned a reputation in the US as one of the leading aftermarket brands due to its commitment to excellence and competitive pricing.
Duralast is committed to providing aggressively priced brake pads that serve both performance-oriented and budget-oriented needs. The brand has honored its principles with its brake lineup.
What Sets Duralast’s Brake Pads Apart From Its Competitors?
It is “their commitment to excellence” that sets their brake pads apart from the rest.
Most aftermarket parts makers engineer their products based on both field tests and laboratory tests. During the test phase, they use production vehicles.
Due to its experience as a NASCAR sponsor, AutoZone went one step further and developed the Duralast specifications based on its constant quest for excellence.
Thanks to accumulated experience in the race tracks, Duralast brake pads have been continually improved so as to meet the optimum performance requirements of different driving conditions.
Duralast Brake Pads: Why You Should Choose Them
After getting a new car, it’s possible to have to search for aftermarket brake pads just a few months later because of the limited life expectancy of OE parts.
In addition to offering smooth, noiseless braking, Duralast’s ceramic and semi-metallic brake pads produce very little dust. Moreover, they dissipate heat efficiently, and they are not prone to corrosion.
Instead of using standard OE brake pads, it is much better to use Duralast Max or Gold brake pads. In addition, each model from both these series will take your road safety to the next level.
In addition to their durability, corrosion resistance, and lower cost, Duralast brake pads offer excellent performance.
Duralast Brake Pads Alternatives
The brake pads manufactured by Duralast stand up to the high expectations of even the most demanding drivers.
Duralast brake pads are distinguished by their high-quality materials, excellent low noise levels, and stopping performance, making them a great option for aftermarket use.
If you’re looking for Duralast brake pads alternatives, you might consider Bosch, Akebono, or ACDelco.
Furthermore, if you want brake pads you can use on sports cars or trucks, brands such as Power Stop or Hawk can be a good choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who makes Duralast brake pads?
Ans: Duralast brake pads are manufactured by third parties, as well as their brake rotors are. The majority of people, however, argue that BOSCH, not AutoZone, produces Duralast’s premium lines (Elite, MAX, and GT).
Q: Where are they made?
Ans: Many auto parts retailers like AutoZone tend to keep the location of their parts a secret, making it more difficult to figure out where the parts are made. This is the case with Duralast brake pads and rotors.
In reality, AutoZone contracts with third parties to make their rotors and pads. Duralast rotors are built in several global countries, including Mexico, Taiwan, and the US. This provider has changed multiple times over the years.
Q: What about the warranty?
Ans: All of their brake pad will have a limited lifetime warranty. This means, if you purchase your pads from Autozone, the warranty will last for the lifetime of your vehicle.
Generally, AutoZone offers replacement brake pads or full refunds for brake pad failures, as long as your pad hasn’t violated any warranty exclusions.
There are some exclusions within the warranty, such as damage caused by misuse, abuse, other defective parts, incorrect installation, off-road usage, and even in the marine environment.
Q: Are they expensive?
Ans: The answer is no. The prices of models offered by other manufacturers are similar to those of Duralast brake pads. In fact, Duralast offers highly competitive pricing.
Q: How often should I replace my Duralast brake pads?
Ans: It depends on a lot of things like how frequently you perform maintenance checks and also your style of driving. These pads expected life could range from one to five years.
Final Words
It is our recommendation that car and SUV owners use Duralast aftermarket brake pads because they are among the best alternatives available to them.
These brake pads are not intended for off-road driving or sports cars, so if you require high-end performance under all conditions, you may want to consider other brands. You can even check out their premium lineup of brake pads.