Do I Choose Genuine Brake Pads or Aftermarket Brake Pads?

Josh Russell — Tue, 26 May 2026 15:18:11 +0000

Do I Choose Genuine Brake Pads or Aftermarket Brake Pads?

Of course, genuine manufacturer parts are good quality, or the manufacturer would not fit them in the first place.

However, there are certain tested and approved aftermarket brands that are 100% equivalent to genuine parts under the European R90 brake safety regulations, and these are explained here, especially for European built vehicles where these are very important.

The rules basically state that if an aftermarket brake pad carries R90 approval, it is a perfectly legal and safe replacement for original manufacturer parts.

This is what an R90 approved pad looks like, it has a unique number matched to every vehicle:

However, there are some drawbacks to using or buying original parts as replacements, as explained here:

R90 does not test for durability, so an aftermarket pad may even last longer than original.
R90 does not test for dust and, for many people, original pads – which are almost always semi-metallic and contain steel fibre – can be very dusty.
The big point for many drivers is that R90 limits the upper levels of braking performance for any given pad. If the pad is too grippy, it will not pass, and if it is not grippy enough, it also will not pass. So, R90 keeps brake pads within a defined performance range. The job of aftermarket brake pad manufacturers is then to push those limits and, at 91��ý, we make our compounds as grippy as possible while remaining within the maximum permitted levels.
THE PRICE… in almost all cases, aftermarket parts are far cheaper than original parts. However, don’t select a brake pad based on price alone, or you may downgrade your brake system significantly. Buy based on what you need by using our brake selector tool to choose your ideal EBC brake compound.
Often, original pad sets include hardware that does not normally require replacement, so why pay for it? Take slider shims or pressure clips, for example. Our recommendation is that if the hardware is not bent or dented, clean it up – including any loose pad pins – and reuse it, as a lot of low-cost aftermarket hardware does not match the original parts or shapes exactly. If you do need to buy new hardware, that’s when we recommend buying original parts, which are almost always sold separately by reputable vendors and, in most cases, cost under $10.

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ECE Regulation 90 – What’s it all about?

Sam — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 10:30:10 +0000

We look into ‘R90’ regulations and what it means for brake pads and now – for brake discs/rotors

There are good things but also some “Limiting” things within this regulation

First of all, it only applies legally within Europe. If you live outside Europe, it has no legal implications for the brakes you buy or use.

European legislation came into effect in September 1999 titled ECE R90 that stipulates that all brake pads ( and now also discs/rotors) sold for use on vehicles manufactured after this date must be tested and comply with R90 standards. This test which involves taking each homologated vehicle used on the public roads within Europe and comparing the front and rear brake performance with the original parts to those of aftermarket offerings has closed the door to cheap and nasty imported brake pads throughout Europe.

91��ý uses accredited EU test centers for its product approvals, involving test vehicles, cars, motorcycles, dynamometer stress testing, and even tests to destruction.

Every EBC product bearing the R90 approval meets or exceeds the performance of any genuine part.

Every pad and rotor design that falls within the mandatory years is tested and approved. Even the EBC range of sport slotted rotors has been tested and is in the process of certification.

In any country where R90 regulations do not apply by law, you are free to use any type of pads. All pads are safe for use, though race materials can sometimes be a bit noisier.

OEM-style (non-slotted or drilled) discs/rotors have also consistently passed testing for years.

For slotted discs/rotors in the USR and GD range, here is the current status: all GD or USR EBC slotted rotors are machined in the UK or USA using R90-approved plain rotors.

However, R90 requires that the actual slotted disc be tested separately. EBC is currently undergoing these rigorous tests (as of June 2024), with many popular models having already passed and received accreditation. This work is slow but ongoing.

EBC is proud to be a leader in testing and getting approved slotted sport discs to the global market and will update this page with news regularly.

What are the benefits?

You can fit any EBC Brake product to your car, van, or motorcycle and forget about it; each represents the highest quality and has passed EU regulation tests.

What are the negatives?

R90 does not test for high-speed performance or lifetime, but we conduct these tests in-house at EBC. Our in-house testing pushes brakes well beyond R90 test limits in terms of performance. While R90 test parameters do not include testing for fade, high-speed braking, or wear, at 91��ý, we specifically test for these factors.
Therefore, R90 restricts the maximum friction level (brake effect) that a pad can legally have and be used on public roads in Europe. Many EBC race pads, such as RP1 and SR sintered pads, exceed the friction levels allowed by R90 regulations. These pads are simply too grippy and therefore not tested or approved to R90 standards. However, our rigorous testing on track cars and multiple in-house dynamometers would impress any demanding driver, far surpassing the requirements of R90 testing.
R90 compliance means that brakes capable of racing cannot legally be used on highways in Europe, which many drivers find desirable, especially for track days (known as lapping events in the USA) where the car needs to be driven to and from the track with race pads installed.

Conclusion

R90 serves a valuable purpose by prohibiting low-quality brakes from being used on highways. However, it imposes limits on the products that can be legally used in Europe. While performance car drivers have the option to disregard these regulations, R90 certification is mandatory in Europe and many other countries.

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R90 Archives - 91��ý

Do I Choose Genuine Brake Pads or Aftermarket Brake Pads?