Are you currently on the hunt for the best brakes for Honda Civic sedan?
If so, you are in the right place.
In this PopularMechanic.com guide, you will learn the following:
- What do Brakes Consist Of?
- How Do Brakes Work?
- What are the Different Types of Brakes?
And More!

Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose the best brakes for Honda Civic.
- High max temperature to eliminate fade
- Excellent modulation and release
- Holds up through extended periods of stress
- High max temperature to eliminate fade
- Excellent modulation and release
- Holds up through extended periods of stress
- Ultra-quiet braking
- Low dusting pads
- Enhanced durability
- Ultra-quiet braking
- Low dusting pads
- Enhanced durability
- Minimal dust
- Heavy duty for severe breaking
- High braking friction, even when cold
- Minimal dust
- Heavy duty for severe breaking
- High braking friction, even when cold
- Ferro-Carbon linings
- Greater stopping power
- Sturdy enough for severe duty demands
- Ferro-Carbon linings
- Greater stopping power
- Sturdy enough for severe duty demands
- Quiet use
- Premium shims dampen vibration
- Less dust than most
- Quiet use
- Premium shims dampen vibration
- Less dust than most
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
(updated 7/13/2020)
Top Overall Pick:
Our #1 pick for the best Honda Civic brake pads is the StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads.
These pads utilize a proprietary lining composition, which reduces brake fade, even under extended periods of stress.
The StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads perform efficiently even on rough and rugged terrain.
Add in a modest price point and you have a set of brake pads that will excellently serve your needs.
We have compiled all of the necessary information to assist you in locating the best new brake pads for your particular application.
Since its initial debut in the 1970s, the Civic has carried quite a reputation for providing its owners with a safe, reliable form of transportation.
Consumers have grown to expect nothing less of their Civic’s, and this is why we have included nothing but the best new brakes in our review.
The Honda Civic brake pads featured within this list will provide you with peace of mind, as they offer superior performance and stopping potential.
Top 5 Best Brakes For A Honda Civic
What Do Brakes Consist Of?
Everyone is probably pretty familiar with what brakes do. We all know that brakes bring your vehicle to a stop on command. But do you know what components make up your car’s braking system?
If not, you are far from alone, as many vehicle owners are not aware of the specifics regarding brake system operation.
That is what we are here for, as the following will serve as an expedite brakes 101 course.
Your braking system consists of several main components. These include components within the fluid delivery side of the equation, such as the master cylinder, brake lines, and brake hoses.
Also included in the braking system are foundation components such as calipers, brake rotors, and brake pads in disc brake layouts. In drum brake systems, these components include wheel cylinders, drums, and brake shoes.
These components work together to deliver the needed force to bring your vehicle to a halt, even under demanding circumstances.
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How Do Brakes Work?
Okay, so now that we have hashed out the components that you can expect to find in your vehicle's braking system, how does the system work?
While the overall process can seem quite complicated, the concept behind a brake system’s operation is not overly difficult to grasp.
When you press on your vehicle’s brake pedal, a push rod extends and depresses a plunger within your vehicle’s master cylinder.
When this occurs, brake fluid is forced out of the master cylinder’s ports and through the attached brake lines.
This fluid travels through each individual brake line, creating a hydraulic force which acts upon the brake caliper or wheel cylinder located at each wheel location.
As this fluid pressure acts upon these components, the pistons within push outward on their corresponding brake shoes or brake pads.
This outward motion of the brake pads or brake shoes causes them to come into contact with the brake drum or disc which they are positioned against.
Depending upon the type of brake system that your vehicle is fitted with, either the included drums or rotors are slowed due to the friction created by this braking application.
As such, these drums or discs, which are attached via studs to each individual wheel, cause a vehicle to slow.
For a more detailed description on how brakes work, check out this article.
What Are The Different Types Of Brakes?
When most individuals speak of replacing their vehicle’s brakes, they are referring to replacing brake pads, though rotors often need to be turned or replaced as well.
At times, consumers opt for the use of an all-encompassing brake kit if the replacement of multiple components is required.
These kits can be purchased in economy packages or high-performance packages for vehicles that are regularly used for towing.
Many of these high-performance packages include added bells and whistles such as multi-piston calipers and slotted rotors.
Brake pads are considered consumable parts, meaning they are not intended to last for the entire life of a vehicle and will require eventual replacement.
Most often, worn brake pads are first noticed when braking times become increased, brake noise becomes audible, or lower than normal brake fluid levels are observed in the master cylinder mounted brake fluid reservoir.
However, when brake pad replacement becomes necessary, multiple options exist, and it pays to have a working knowledge of the different types of new pads available.
Organic Brake Pads
Organic brake pads have been the industry standard for many years.
However, they have changed in composition from their original form. Organic brake pads were originally composed of asbestos fibers.
This is a practice that has since been discontinued due to the negative ramifications of unintentional inhalation of such matters.
Today, organic pads consist of rubber, carbon, glass, fiberglass, Kevlar, and other similar materials bound together in a resin.
Brake pads of an organic composition tend to provide notable stopping potential, at a low price point.
These pads also are relatively quiet in relation to other pad times, and impart minimal wear on rotors. However, organic brake pads are known to be the least durable of all brake pad types.
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Ceramic Brake Pads
Ceramic brake pads have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason.
These pads consist of a hard ceramic compound, as their name would imply.
Ceramic brake pads also include many embedded copper fibers, which assist in heat and friction distribution. The blend of these two properties provides consistent braking upon every pedal application.
Pads of a ceramic nature tend to be ultra-quiet in operation, and offer an efficient stopping power under nearly any set of circumstances.
However, ceramic pads also impart a higher level of wear and tear on other brake system components, such as a vehicle’s rotors. In relation to organic pads, ceramic brake pads can be slightly more expensive.
Metallic Brake Pads
Metallic or semi-metallic brake pads are a favorite of those that demand the height of efficiency in braking.
These pads consist primarily of a mixture of copper, iron, steel, or other composite alloys.
These metals are then blended with resin to fill out the remainder of the pad.
Pads of a metallic nature are known for their efficiency.
The bulk of high performance and racing vehicles feature this style of the pad, as little can replicate their overall stopping ability.
The trade-off to this is that metallic pads can be rather noisy and are harsh on brake rotors.
Metallic pads are generally priced at a moderate point, often commanding an expenditure that is somewhere in between that of organic and ceramic pads.
For a more in-depth look at brake pads and the different kinds, check out this article.
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If you are one to put your Civic through its paces, then StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads are exactly what you have been looking for.
These pads utilize a proprietary lining composition, which reduces brake fade, even under extended periods of stress.
This allows you to brake with confidence, beyond what would be possible with stock pads.
StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads also provide excellent actuation, modulation, and release.
This leads to enhanced braking responsiveness and eliminates the nagging brake lag that plagues a number of lesser pads on the market.
Pros
Cons
Akebono Proact Ultra-Premium Ceramic Disc Brake Pads offer next-level braking responsiveness while operating in absence of the brake dust and squeaking that is typical of lesser products.
These pads are also notable for their smooth and even braking characteristics, void of vibration and chatter.
Proact Ultra Premium Pads are also known for their extreme durability, offering a substantially longer service life on average than traditional pads.
This keeps your vehicle on the road and minimizes the need for an unnecessary brake replacement.
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for a severe-duty brake pad that also maintains the low dust operational characteristics of many OEM quality aftermarket replacements, then you will love EBC Redstuff Brake Pads.
These pads feature a high-friction coefficient while maintaining low heat fade, which optimizes performance from every angle.
You will never again be forced to wipe brake dust from your rims when employing the use of EBC Redstuff Brake Pads.
These pads are known for their minimal brake dust production, offering as much as an 80 percent reduction in dust over OEM pads.
Pros
Cons
Hawk Performance HPS Ceramic Brake Pads make the perfect fit for demanding driving situations.
The performance brake pads are gentle on disc brake rotors, yet are more than capable of handling severe-duty demands.
This makes them ideally suited for those who regularly traverse hilly or mountainous terrain.
Much of the Hawk Performance Brake Pads’ performance characteristics stem from their use of unique Ferro-Carbon based linings.
These specialized linings feature a higher friction coefficient, which provides 20%-40% greater stopping power.
Pros
Cons
Pick #5: Brembo Front Disc Brake Pad
If you know brakes, you know Brembo.
This company has been a mainstay high-performance brake industry since the 1960s.
Now consumers far and wide can experience the superior braking characteristics provided by Brembo pads, no matter the vehicle.
Brembo Front Brake Pads provides responsive and reliable braking, under any number of circumstances.
Brembo Front Disc Brake Pads also operate in absence of excessive noise. This is made possible through the use of premium shims, which dampen brake vibration and chatter.
These pads also produce significantly less brake dust than many OEM equivalents.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: StopTech Street Performance Front Brake Pad
My top pick for the best Honda Civic brake pads is the StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads.
These pads feature a specialized Para-Aramid lining that is gentle on rotors, yet responsive enough to bring your car to a halt, no matter how demanding the circumstances.
StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads also possess a higher heat tolerance, making them far less susceptible to brake fade than stock brake pads.
This provides safe and efficient braking, even when traversing steep, hilly, or mountainous terrain. When you combine these features with a moderate price point, you are presented with a set of brake pads that it is hard to find fault in.
If you are currently seeking the best brakes for your Honda Civic, be sure to give StopTech Street Performance Brake Pads a look.
Plus, they're an excellent value for the money! Check the low price now on Amazon.