So you've just scraped together enough funds to finally upgrade the brakes on your Euro. Like most enthusiasts, you take each purchase seriously and want your hard-earned dollars to stretch as far as possible. You've done weeks of research online, in the forums, and undoubtedly here in et (sorry, couldn't resist the shameless plug!). You've finally made a choice on an aftermarket pad and rotor, found the cheapest place and have just taken delivery of the goods.
But before you get started with the install, we should warn you not all brake pads are created equal. In fact, did you know that many "high-performance" aftermarket pads sold in the US may not be comparable to the OEM pads on your Euro right now? Before you shout "BS", let us explain...
Here in the US, meanwhile, we have the SAE to regulate the quality of various products. Our replacement brake pads must pass a general SAE test that analyzes the compound friction of the pad material. All pads for sale in the US are tested to the SAE J-866a rating, which rates the coefficient of friction at both "cold" and hot temperatures. The SAE rating scale starts with "C" being the lowest grade, and goes to "H" for the highest friction value. Therefore, a pad with a "CD" rating achieved the lowest score (C) for cold temp operation, and slightly better (D) for the hot temp test. However, the SAE test is for the pad material alone, it makes no comparison to the OEM pad in specific applications.
In Europe, pads are required to be tested and approved to ECE R 90 standards. This test is much tougher and vehicle specific, meaning it tests more than just the pad material in general.
The ECE R 90 test creates a standard for testing and rating aftermarket pads against the OEM pads supplied to individual vehicles. In order to achieve R 90 approval, the aftermarket pad must exceed the friction characteristics of the OEM pad, while maintaining or improving upon the manufacturing quality. Furthermore, this improvement also covers the pad density, which has a bearing on pad life, as well as the bonding of the material to the backing plate, which is also very important.
The benefit of ECE R 90 approval is that it guarantees the pad is considered an effective "upgrade" for a given vehicle application. This removes the guesswork from selecting an aftermarket pad.
Products complying with the R 90 standard carry a European "E" mark on both the product and packaging in Europe. What's more, European legislation states that brake pads cannot be used or sold unless they carry this mark.
This doesn't mean that a pad without ECE R 90 approval is necessarily going to be a "downgrade" or that the build quality will be unacceptable. However, it does leave it to the consumers to examine the pad rating for the coefficient of friction and compare it against what is supplied as an OEM pad for their vehicle.
The biggest problem here is to ascertain the SAE rating for the stock pads, while the ECE has already done that for you with the R 90 approval that guarantees the pad will be right for your specific vehicle.
After talking with the technicians at EBC Brakes, we discovered that pads rated at Euro ECE R 90 on most European cars are generally equivalent to SAE "G" rating or above. And according to the ECE regulations, if a pad falls 15% outside of the ECE rating, it's illegal to sell or fit such pads. That means some of the aftermarket pads sold here in the States would be considered illegal across the pond.
Therefore, we would recommend anybody buying replacement pads for a European car should either look for a "G" rating, a European "E" mark to signify ECE R 90 compliance, or buy pads either of European manufacture or intended for sale in Europe.
The other option is to fit replacement pads recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and its dealers.
One of the more disturbing consequences of this information is realizing the stock pads on your European car could be better than the aftermarket pads you just purchased. To avoid this, the R 90 legislation was introduced in Europe because nobody wants to fit replacement pads that perform worse than stock. This is especially true of aftermarket upgrades where the driver may be expecting increased performance and will undoubtedly work the brakes harder. The reality is that they could perform worse than stock. And in an emergency situation, that could be disastrous.
When buying replacement pads, don't skimp on cost and always check the ratings where possible. If you don't, it's possible you could buy pads that are rated lower than the stock pads you're trying to replace or improve upon.
Hopefully, this information will allow you to make an informed decision when buying parts for your car. Happy braking!