Are OEM Jaguar Pads Better Than Aftermarket?

Since brake pads are disposable parts with a straightforward design, a lot of car owners assume that just about any brake pad would do the job. The assumption isn’t quite accurate. Contrary to popular belief, it really matters what kind of replacement brake pads you use.

As a Jaguar owner who’s in the market for replacement brake pads, you will have to choose between OEM and aftermarket brake pads. Which one will provide superior braking performance with your rotors?

The answer is always OEM. It’s because OEM brake pads are designed to work optimally within your Jaguar’s braking system. To make our case, let’s explore the 4 most important features in brake pads:

1. Friction Material

Jaguar pads

A large part of the brake pads is the friction material. It’s the material that works with the rotor to stop your car. You want friction material that’s not too hard for the rotor, which will quickly wear down the rotor and render it useless. The friction material also shouldn't be too soft for the rotor. If it is too soft, it will “paint” the rotor and drastically reduce your car’s stopping power. The friction material has to be - like Goldilocks would say - just right.

Jaguar has a specific friction material composition for its brake pads that’s designed to work with OEM rotors for a long time without any issues. So when you go the OEM route, you know exactly what you’re getting: OEM quality, meaning the right friction material composition every time.

The manufacturer knows exactly how to optimize the pads’ friction material to work with the OEM rotors on your Jaguar. On the other hand, the composition of aftermarket brake pads varies wildly.. They usually come with universal friction material, which means they won’t perform as well in your car. More often than not, the friction material on a set of aftermarket brake pads will cause issues with the rotors, the vehicle’s braking power, or both.

2. Warranty

OEM brake pads are almost always covered by warranty. Jaguar offers a one year unlimited mileage warranty on its parts and accessories. Many aftermarket manufacturers don’t offer a warranty on their brake pads in order to keep costs down.

3. Size and Shape

Image Credit: Jag TV

To ensure optimal performance and reliability, you want brake pads designed specifically for your Jaguar. Therefore you can’t go wrong with OEM. Fitment is really important because even pads that are “close enough” but not quite perfect fitting will cause a slew of issues, including:

  • Squealing noise
  • High brake dust output
  • Reduced life expectancy

There are some aftermarket pads designed just for Jaguars, but there’s no good way to verify how well they’re going to perform with your car except to actually buy them and test them out on the road. If you want to be safe, always get OEM brake pads.

4. Overall Cost

If you end up with a set of aftermarket brake pads that isn’t covered under warranty, then you’ll have no choice but to buy a new set if they wear out early (if we’re being honest here, it’s the likely scenario). That’s why, despite their slightly higher selling prices, OEM brake pads are usually the cheaper solution in the long run.

Finding Genuine OEM Jaguar Brake Pads at Reasonable Prices

Not only are OEM Jaguar brake pads a better investment than aftermarket brake pads, but they’re an even better investment when you buy them at discounted prices. Skip the dealership and shop online! At Jaguar Virginia Beach, we have one of the largest online inventories of genuine OEM Jaguar parts at great prices. Check out our catalog to see if we have the right OEM brake pads for your Jaguar model!