Pads: it’s all about choice

In the “good old days” if you wanted aftermarket parts for your car you pretty much took whatever was on offer, mostly because there were few options in both vehicle models, and aftermarket parts brands.

However time moves on, and today’s most savvy automotive aftermarket parts distributors are aware that there are many different vehicles, budgets and driving styles in today’s market.

This has led to the development of different levels of quality, performance and price for the majority of fast moving service items available for workshops to purchase.

It was a desire to fully meet all their customer’s requirements that led Partmaster to develop three brake pad ranges which cover those different vehicles, budgets and driving styles. Whether it is called “good-better-best”, “entry-intermediate-premium” or a “three-tier offer”, Partmaster says it has a brake pad to suit the vehicle type, driving style and budget of most vehicles on the road today.

There are many different things to consider when supplying brake pads for a modern motor vehicle, and many arguments and counter arguments on which to base these considerations. The introduction of good-better-best scenarios in aftermarket parts, and in particular safety critical items such as brake pads, has increased the necessity for the purchaser of the parts to better understand the intended use of the vehicle being worked on.

Having options based on performance and budget is of great advantage to both the workshop and vehicle owner, but incorrect pairing of parts to usage could end badly for all involved. Fitting the incorrect grade of brake pads to a vehicle regularly towing heavy loads will probably result in a less than satisfactory and possibly dangerous experience for the vehicle owner.

By the same token fitting high end premium pads to a compact, everyday “shopping cart” could be considered overly expensive by the customer, and result in their business being taken elsewhere in future.

Partmaster believes it has taken a balanced approach in regards to its brake pad programme and hasdeveloped three brake pad ranges which offer safety, range coverage and are price competitive across the goodbetter-best segments. Surehalt is a semi-metallic brake pad perfect for every day, general purpose commuting in most vehicles, and is also suitable for occasional light towing. Currently with more than 450 references available Surehalt covers a wide range of today’s car park and in particular is an excellent option for older vehicles or customers where budget is a consideration. Partmaster introduced OE+ to the New Zealand market early in 2014, and in the time it has been available the response from customers has been extremely favorable. OE+ is a ceramic brake pad that has been developed to answer the most common customer complaints: noise, dust and service life.

With a range in excess of 230 references and constantly expanding, OE+ ceramic brake pads are