Brake Pads: Friction Types, ECE R90, Euro 7 and Wholesale Sourcing Guide
A complete guide to brake pads for distributors and workshops: the three families of friction material, how to read the markings on a pad, what ECE R90 and Euro 7 require, OEM numbers by brand, and what to verify when you source.
Brake pads are the most frequently replaced safety part on a car. They are also the part where the gap between a good product and a poor one is hardest to see and easiest to feel - in stopping distance, noise, dust and how long the discs last. Two pads that look identical on the counter can behave completely differently at the end of a long descent.
That is why brake pads have their own approval regulation, their own marking system and, from late 2026, their own emissions limit in Europe. A distributor who understands these is selling safety with evidence. One who does not is selling a box.
- How a Brake Pad Is Built
- The Three Families of Friction Material
- How to Read the Markings on a Pad
- The Rules: ECE R90, Copper Limits and Euro 7
- When to Replace: Symptoms and Inspection
- Installation and Bedding-In
- OEM Cross-Reference Examples by Brand
- What to Verify When Sourcing Brake Pads
- Frequently Asked Questions
QUATTROFRENI - the ok.parts private label brand for brake components and sensors.
1. How a Brake Pad Is Built
A disc brake pad looks simple and is not. It has five functional layers:
- Backing plate - a steel plate that carries the load from the caliper piston and locates the pad in the carrier.
- Adhesive and mechanical retention - the bond between plate and lining, often reinforced by hooks or holes in the plate.
- Underlayer - a thin layer that damps vibration and insulates the caliper from heat.
- Friction material - a compound of fibers, binders, fillers and friction modifiers, typically 10 to 12 mm thick when new.
- Shim - a multi-layer steel and rubber plate on the back that suppresses squeal.
Chamfers and slots in the friction surface, a wear indicator (a metal tab that squeals, or an electrical sensor) and the fitting hardware complete the part. Each of these is a place where a low-cost pad saves money - and each one shows up later as noise, uneven wear or a comeback.
2. The Three Families of Friction Material
| Semi-metallic | Low-metallic | Ceramic (NAO) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | Highest | Medium | Lowest |
| Brake dust | High, dark | High, dark | Low, light-colored |
| Disc wear | High | Medium | Low |
| Performance when hot | Very good | Very good | Good; less suited to extreme use |
| Performance when cold | Needs some heat | Good | Good |
| Price | Low to medium | Medium | Highest |
| Typical market | Trucks, pickups, performance use | Original equipment on most European cars | Original equipment on many Asian and North American cars |
None of the three is "best". Vehicle manufacturers choose the family that suits the vehicle and the expectations of the market: European drivers accept dust in exchange for high-speed stability; North American and Asian buyers prioritize quiet, clean wheels. The safest replacement is a pad of the same family as the original. Fitting a ceramic pad to a car engineered around a low-metallic one changes the pedal feel and the brake balance.
3. How to Read the Markings on a Pad
The back and edge of a brake pad carry more information than most people read.
| Marking | Where | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Brand and part number | Backing plate | The manufacturer's own reference. |
| WVA number | Backing plate or edge | A 5-digit European industry number that identifies the pad shape, such as 24123. Pads with the same WVA number have the same geometry, whatever the brand. |
| FMSI number | Box and catalog | The North American equivalent, written with a D prefix, such as D1210. |
| ECE R90 approval mark | Backing plate | A circle containing E and a country number, followed by 90R and an approval number. Proof that this pad reference has been type-approved. |
| Friction code | Edge of the lining | Two letters giving the friction coefficient cold and hot: E = 0.25-0.35, F = 0.35-0.45, G = 0.45-0.55, H = above 0.55. A pad marked FF is in the middle band both cold and hot. |
| Batch and date code | Backing plate or edge | Traceability to the production lot. |
| Environmental mark | Box and pad | In North America, a leaf symbol indicating compliance with the copper limits. |
Two practical uses. First, the WVA or FMSI number is the fastest way to confirm that two pads from different brands are the same shape. Second, an R90 mark and a friction code that are missing, printed rather than stamped, or inconsistent between the pad and the box are warning signs - see Counterfeit Auto Parts: How to Spot Fakes Before You Pay.
4. The Rules: ECE R90, Copper Limits and Euro 7
ECE R90. In the European Union and the many other countries that apply UNECE regulations, replacement brake pads must be type-approved under Regulation 90. The approval tests each pad reference on the vehicles it is intended for and requires its braking performance to stay within a defined tolerance of the original part. Since November 2016 the regulation also covers replacement brake discs and drums. A pad without R90 approval cannot legally be sold for road use in those markets.
Copper limits in North America. Laws that started in California and Washington, and were then adopted by the industry across the United States, restricted copper in friction materials to less than 5% by weight from 2021 and less than 0.5% from 2025. Compliant products carry a leaf mark.
Euro 7 and brake dust. The Euro 7 regulation is the first emissions standard to limit particles from brakes, not just from the exhaust. For cars and vans the limit is 7 mg of PM10 per kilometer, and 3 mg per kilometer for battery-electric vehicles, which rely on regenerative braking. It applies to new vehicle types from 29 November 2026 and to all newly registered cars and vans from 29 November 2027; from 2035 the 3 mg limit is planned for all vehicles.
5. When to Replace: Symptoms and Inspection
Lining thickness. New pads have 10 to 12 mm of friction material. Replace them when 2 to 3 mm remains, and always check both the inner and the outer pad - the inner one often wears faster and is harder to see.
A high-pitched squeal when braking lightly is usually the mechanical wear indicator touching the disc. A dashboard warning means the electrical wear sensor has been worn through; the sensor must be replaced with the pads.
Grinding means the lining is gone and the backing plate is cutting the disc. The disc will need replacing too.
Pulling to one side, a long pedal or a burning smell point to a problem beyond the pads: a seized caliper slide, a sticking piston or contaminated linings.
Vibration through the pedal is normally a disc problem - thickness variation or runout - not a pad problem, although poor pads can cause it by depositing material unevenly.
Uneven wear is diagnostic. A pad worn to a wedge shape, or an inner pad far thinner than the outer, means the caliper is not sliding freely. New pads fitted without fixing that will wear out the same way.
6. Installation and Bedding-In
Replace by axle. Always fit a complete axle set, never one side.
Clean the carrier and renew the hardware. Remove rust from the pad abutments so that the pads move freely, and fit the new clips and shims supplied in a good-quality set.
Service the slides. Clean the guide pins and lubricate them with a high-temperature brake grease. Keep all lubricant away from the friction surfaces and the disc.
Measure the disc. Check thickness against the minimum stamped on the disc and check runout. New pads on a worn or scored disc will not bed properly.
Push the piston back carefully and check the fluid level. On vehicles with an electric parking brake, use the service mode.
Bed the pads in. The first 200 to 300 km should be driven with moderate braking and no emergency stops unless necessary. A simple bedding routine is a series of about ten moderate decelerations from 60 to 20 km/h without coming to a complete stop, with cooling time between them. This transfers an even layer of friction material to the disc and is what gives a pad its full performance.
7. OEM Cross-Reference Examples by Brand
Brake pad kits have OEM numbers like any other part, and several brands encode front or rear in the number. All examples below have supplier offers on ok.parts.
| Brand | OEM numbers | How to read them |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota / Lexus | 04465-33471, 04465-33450, 04465-02220, 04465-60280, 04466-06080 | 04465 = front pad kit, 04466 = rear pad kit. The second half identifies the vehicle. |
| Hyundai / Kia | 58101-1RA00, 58101-2SA51, 58101-3XA20, 58101-D7A10, 58302-1RA30 | 58101 = front pad kit, 58302 = rear pad kit. |
| VW / Audi / Skoda / Seat | 1K0698151, 5Q0698151, 8K0698151, 3C0698451, 5K0698451 | 698 151 = front pads, 698 451 = rear pads. The first three characters are the model (1K = Golf Mk5, 5Q = Golf Mk7 platform, 8K = Audi A4). |
| BMW / MINI | 34116850568, 34116771868, 34116858910, 34216862202 | Numbers starting 3411 are front brake parts; 3421 are rear. |
| Mercedes-Benz | A0074208520, A0054200820, A0084200820, A1644202520 | The digits 420 in the middle mark the brake group. |
| Nissan / Renault | D1060-JD00A, 410608481R, 410602192R, 440605839R | The alliance shares a system: 41060 or D1060 = front pads, 44060 = rear pads. |
| Mitsubishi | 4605A198, 4605B070 | 4605 is the brake pad kit group. |
| Ford / Land Rover / Subaru / Honda | 1753844, LR019618, 26296AG050, 06450-S6E-E50 | Sequential or model-coded numbers; search the complete number. |
For how these formats work across brands, see How to Find and Read an OEM Part Number.
Search Brake Pads by OEM Number
8. What to Verify When Sourcing Brake Pads
The R90 approval - for the exact reference. An approval belongs to a specific pad reference from a specific manufacturer, not to a factory in general. Ask for the approval certificate and check that the number on it matches the number stamped on the pad.
The friction formula. Ask which family the compound belongs to, what the edge code is, and whether the formula is the same across the whole range or changes by application. Request dynamometer test reports - a standard performance test, plus shear strength and compressibility results.
The backing plate. Check steel thickness, flatness, coating and whether the lining is mechanically retained as well as bonded. Lining separation is the most dangerous pad failure.
What is in the box. Shims, clips, wear sensors and bolts cost money, and their absence is how many low prices are achieved. Compare the kit contents with the original.
Batch consistency. A friction compound is a recipe with a dozen or more ingredients. Ask how the factory controls raw material lots and what it tests on each batch. Sample testing of every delivery is described in our quality control guide.
The Euro 7 roadmap. If you sell in Europe, ask what the supplier is doing about low-dust formulations and which references will be affected.
China's friction-material and brake-disc clusters are described in Where Auto Parts Are Made in China. If you plan to sell pads under your own brand, the process - including R90 approval costs - is covered in our private label guide.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ceramic and semi-metallic brake pads?
Semi-metallic pads contain a high share of steel fibers: they resist heat well and last long, but are noisier, dustier and harder on discs. Ceramic pads contain no steel: they are quiet, produce little light-colored dust and wear discs less, at a higher price.
What does ECE R90 mean on a brake pad?
It means the pad reference has been type-approved under UNECE Regulation 90, which tests replacement pads on the vehicle and requires their braking performance to stay within a set tolerance of the original. The approval is mandatory in the EU and other countries applying UNECE rules.
What do the letters on the edge of a brake pad mean?
They are the friction code. The first letter is the friction coefficient cold and the second hot: E is 0.25 to 0.35, F is 0.35 to 0.45, G is 0.45 to 0.55 and H is above 0.55.
When should brake pads be replaced?
When 2 to 3 mm of friction material remains, when the wear indicator squeals or the dashboard warning comes on, or immediately if you hear grinding. Always check the inner and outer pad on both sides of the axle.
Does Euro 7 ban existing brake pads?
No. The Euro 7 brake particle limits - 7 mg/km, and 3 mg/km for electric vehicles - apply to new vehicle types from 29 November 2026 and to all new cars and vans from 29 November 2027. Cars already on the road are not affected, but replacement parts for the new vehicles will need to match their low-dust brakes.
What is a WVA number?
A five-digit European industry number that identifies the shape of a brake pad. Pads from different brands with the same WVA number have the same geometry, which makes it a quick cross-reference.
Can I mix brake pad types on one car?
Use the same pad on both sides of an axle, always. Front and rear axles may use different compounds as specified by the manufacturer, but changing the family on one axle alters the brake balance and is not recommended.
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