Car brake system: how to buy pads, discs and calipers well
Brakes are not a place to save blindly
These are safety parts, so a cheap unknown maker is risky here. But paying extra for an “original” box is not always needed either: many well-known makers (for example, TRW, Brembo, Ate) make parts for car groups and sell them under their own name on the market. Ask not only for the brand, but also whether the part meets a recognised quality standard.
Pads, discs and calipers: together or separately
Pads wear faster than discs, but fitting new pads on worn or grooved discs is not a good idea: the new pads will sit unevenly. Usually discs are replaced as a pair on one axle and together with the pads. A caliper or a brake hose is bought when needed: if the piston sticks, fluid leaks or the brake pulls to one side. The front and rear axles have different parts, and on bodies with an electronic parking brake the rear pads are fitted in a special mode.
What to put in your request
- Which part — pads, discs, drums, caliper, hose, master cylinder, brake booster.
- Model and year — for example, Kia Sportage 3, 2013.
- Axle — front or rear (and the side, if the part is one of a pair).
- VIN — for an exact match, because one model can have different disc sizes.
- Original or aftermarket — or a brand: Brembo, TRW.
- Condition — new (almost always for pads and discs) or reconditioned calipers.
- Fitting at a workshop — if needed.
- City, delivery and a budget for the set.
Example: “I need front discs and pads for a Kia Sportage 3, 2013. New, TRW or an aftermarket of the same quality, disc diameter by the VIN. With fitting at a workshop in Sha Tin, budget up to HK$750 for the set.”
How ordering and comparing works
You write one request, and sellers of car parts reply in the chat with a price and terms. The platform puts the best-value offer first and shows seller reviews. Because sellers see their place, they often lower the price or add delivery. Still, compare like with like: a ventilated or a solid disc, with an anti-corrosion coating or without, pads with a wear sensor or not. Ask about the warranty and the return terms if the part does not fit. Your phone is hidden until you choose a seller. More about this is on the how it works page.
Common mistakes
Taking parts “for the model” without the VIN and ending up with the wrong disc diameter. Replacing only the pads on worn discs. Forgetting the anti-squeal plates and grease, which sometimes are not in the set. For related work see the suspension and the steering.
