When you are driving something as heavy-duty as a Dodge Ram 1500, you need to install the perfect high-performance brake pads. These brake pads are designed to perform under stressful situations and can make it easy to tow trailers, haul heavy goods.
The brakes on your vehicle need to be top-notch. You never know when you may need to apply brakes out of the blue. Weak brake pads can disbalance the truck and lead to accidents. That’s why you need powerful brake pads when driving a heavy-duty truck down a slope or a rough terrain.
Table of Contents
The List: The best brake pads for Dodge Ram 1500:
1. Power Stop Z36 Truck & Tow Brake Pads
If driving through hills, hauling heavy loads, and towing trailers is your jam then consider Power Stop Z36. These fiber ceramic brake pads offer extra stopping power that’s ideal when carrying or towing heavy loads.
The coefficient of friction on this brake pad is 17% higher compared to other OE pads.
Features
Carbon-Infused Ceramic: These brake pads are constructed through a thermally stable carbon ceramic that not only provides strength to the compound but also offers an immediate brake hit.
They’re durable and can sustain high temperatures.
Noiseless Braking: The stainless steel shims on the brake pads ensure that heat is dissipated properly and there’s no squeaking or cracking noise when you apply the brakes.
Dust Protected: Unlike other brake pads, this one will not let dust accumulate around it thanks to the chamfered and slotted surfaces on it.
Downsides: The drilled slots are only to regulate heat. They do not improve brake performance.
Pros
- The pads are extremely durable.
- Brake lubricant and hardware kit included.
- No overheating.
- No brake fatigue.
Cons
- Expensive
Recommendation
Power Stop Z36 is ideal for truck owners who love to tow, haul or traverse on steep terrains, mountainous hills etc. It comes with a 60-day hassle free warranty and is quite reliable.
2. EBC Yellow Stuff Brake Pads
If you like to race your vehicle then you need high-end brake pads such as the EBC Yellow Stuff. This one offers immediate and powerful stopping power even when you’re going at a fast pace.
Since it is designed for fast vehicles and heavy use, it can withstand high temperature and doesn’t fall-off due to heat.
Features
True Performance Pad: EBC Yellow brake pads are tested on both Japanese and German cars and their performance speaks volumes. The pads were tested in Japanese cars with low friction FF rated pads and German cars with GG. The performance of the brake pads remained superior in both the cars, offering powerful stopping and no heat issues.
High Friction: The highlight of this brake pad is improved friction. You can use these pads in racing cars, fast-moving police vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks such as Dodge Ram 1500 as well.
It resists heat and makes sure that no extra pressure is required to apply the brakes.
Extremely Durable: The pads are constructed with heavy-duty aramid fiber. It’s the same fiber that’s used in the making of bulletproof vests and helmets.
Less Wear And Tear: It contains center line slotting which helps prevent thermal cracking that can lead to excessive wear and tear.
Downside: They are not low dust pads.
Pros
- Rotor vibration resistance.
- EBC brake-in coating.
- Fade resistant.
- Chamfered, slotted and shimmed.
Cons
- Might generate a bit of dust because they are not low dust pads.
Recommendation
This brake pad will do good on both racing vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs and trucks such as Dodge Ram 1500. It can handle heavy loads and offer quick and powerful stopping power.
3. Power Stop Z23 Evolution Brake Pads
Power Stop Z23 is almost the same as the Z36 with a few differences. While Z36 had steel shims to dissipate heat faster, this one has softer rubber shims which are not as good as Z36 in handling the heat but still does quite well.
Features
Carbon Ceramic Constructed Pads: These are made up of a thermally stable carbon ceramic that lasts longer and offers tremendous stopping power.
Powder Coated Back Plate: The back plate on the pads are coated for protection against rust and corrosion.
Noiseless Braking: The rubber shims are durable and will nullify braking noise.
Dust Protected: The slotted and chamfered surfaces keep the dust from accumulating on the surface and affecting the performance.
Downside: The only downside of this pad is that it is not suitable for heavy hauling due to the rubber shims. If you want to tow then Z36 is a more appropriate choice.
Pros
- 20% more stopping power than OE pads.
- Uniform friction density controls wear and tear.
- 3-year warranty.
- Long lasting.
Cons
- Overheats a bit.
Recommendation
If you don’t haul heavy loads on your Dodge Ram 1500 then these pads can go a long way.
4. EBC Green Stuff Brake Pads 7000
EBC green stuff is designed to control and reduce dust which makes it a solid and long lasting brake pad. There’s little to no wearing on the rotors which is why this brake pad offers 15% brake improvement.
Features
Quiet Performance: EBC greenstuff offers silent braking thanks to the triple layer wolverine shims installed on them.
EBC Brake-In Coating: This coating offers gentle braking and also makes it a breeze to bed-in the brakes during installation.
Zero-Dust: The chamfered and slot surface on the brake pad makes sure that there’s no dust generation and the braking experience is smooth.
Downside: The coefficient of friction is 0.45mm and offers slightly above average stopping power.
Pros
- Fantastic pedal feel.
- Gentle on the rotors.
- Long lasting.
- ECE R90 Highway use approved.
Cons
- It begins to accumulate dust when worn it.
Recommendation
EBC Greenstuff is an ideal brake pad for Dodge Ram 1500 if you have no intention of towing, hauling heavy loads or driving on steep surfaces. It will do good for driving under normal conditions.
5. Hawk LTS Brake Pads
If you’re in search of a brake pad that can handle moderate towing then Hawk LTS is a good choice. It offers excellent stopping power and is also fade resistant.
This pad is good at reducing dust and noise, and can handle both cold and hot temperatures without sustaining damage.
Features
LTS Technology: This pad works on LTS (light truck and SUV) Ferro-carbon compound technology. This feature creates a combination of durability and performance, offering an additional 20% stopping power.
Low Dust/Low Noise: The pad is designed to reduce dust and keep the noise at a minimal level.
Downside: The brake performance stays good in light vehicles, trucks, and SUVs only. It’s not recommended for heavy-duty trucks.
Pros
- Fade resistant.
- Increased rotor life.
- Offers smooth engagement.
- Long lasting.
Cons
- It doesn’t offer immediate stopping power.
Recommendation
This one is suitable for light truck and SUV owners who want to get a smooth and powerful braking experience. Dodge Ram 1500 owners can use it but there are other, more suitable options on this list.
FAQS
Brake pads improve the efficiency of brake discs, improve braking power, and also enhance the life of your vehicle. Let’s have a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about brake pads:
- Which Type Of Brake Pad Is The Best For Dodge Ram 1500?
There are many types of brake pads which can confuse people when it comes to choosing one.- Semi-Metallic: They are constructed with 30%-65% metal and are durable and efficient. This type of brake pad is good at transferring heat but it’s noisy and not good at keeping dust away.
- Organic: These are softer pads with only 20% or less amount of metal in them. They are good at suppressing noise and dust but they wear out very quickly.
- Ceramic: Ceramic brake pads are excellent at reducing dust and noise. Moreover, they are the right fit for handling heavy loads. Therefore, ceramic brake pads can do wonders for your Dodge Ram 1500.
- How To Know If My Brake Pads Require Replacement?
Pay attention to the following signs:- Brake Light: If you have a modern vehicle, you will most probably see a warning light under the dashboard. It tells you that there’s something wrong with the brake pads.
- Squeaking/noise: If you hear severe screeching and cracking noise when you apply the brakes then it might be a sign of worn out brake pads.
- Vibration: If you note a hard vibration when to apply the brakes then there could be something wrong with the pads. Usually, it happens when brake pads get overheated due to wearing out.
- How Long Will The Newly Replaced Brake Pads Last?
This depends from driver to driver and product to product. Most units come with a warranty or “mileage” that determine the life. It is usually between 50,000 to 70,000 miles.
The Conclusion
All in all, we’d say that Power Stop Z36 is the best choice for a Dodge Ram 1500 if you are looking forward to a lot of hauling, towing, and rough use. This brake pad is super durable and is meant to offer high stopping power.
For entry-level performance pad, go with Power Stop Z23. They don’t only dissipate heat faster and avoid overheating but also prevent the metal from corroding and getting rusted.
In the end, we’d say to weigh your requirements and see which brake pad is the most suitable for your vehicle.
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