Top 5 Best Brakes For An F150 (2020 Review)

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 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 of 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.

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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 matter.

Today, organic pads consist of rubber, carbon, glass, fiberglass, Kevlar, and other similar materials bound together in 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.

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.

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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 a 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 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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Our Reviews Of The Best Brakes for F150

Our Top Pick: Power Stop Truck & Tow Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Front Brake Pads

Power Stop Truck & Tow Carbon-Fiber Brake Pads feature an advanced carbon-fiber ceramic friction material, which is capable of bringing even the most robust of vehicles to a stop in short order. 

These brake pads are also chamfered and slotted in order to minimize operational noise, which is further aided by the use of premium stainless steel shims.

Together, these notable attributes culminate to present consumers with a brake pad that any F150 owner would be proud to outfit their hard-working pickup truck with. 

If you are currently searching for the best brake pads for your F150, do not make your final decision until you have first checked out Power Stop’s Truck & Tow Carbon-Fiber Brake Pads.