Why British Pacific stocks several
different brands of brake pads for
Land Rovers and Range Rovers

So, why does BP
carry several different brands of brake pads, when other
places sell one or two? Well, we've found that different
customers have different requirements. Here's an explanation
of why we carry each brand, and this holds up for all
models. Your salesperson will help you select the right
ones for u=your truck. Our sales reps are not on commission,
so they don't make a dime more by recommending a more
expensive pad!
Genuine Land Rover parts
We don't carry them for all models due
to their very high price, but in some applications these
are a good value. Naturally Land Rover doesn't make
their own pads; these are often Lockheed/ Delphi or
TRW/Lucas. However, in some cases these end up being
a little cheaper than the same pad directly from the
OEM source, and when that's the case that's what we
stock. They are high quality pads with
good wear characteristics, and we recommend them for
use with our slotted and drilled high performance rotors.
The other reason we carry Genuine is that
when a new model vehicle comes out, Genuine pads are
the only ones available. Through contract to
Land Rover, the OEM supplier agrees not to market
them under their (or anyone else's) name until Land
Rover says it's ok. You very seldom see aftermarket
or OEM brands for at least one year and often two years
after a new model comes out.
Lockheed/Delphi 'OEM source'
Lockheed/Delphi is the manufacturer for
many Genuine Land Rover brake pads. We offer these
'OEM' set for those customers who insist on original
quality replacements but do not want to pay extra for
the Genuine Land Rover box. They are high quality
pads with good wear characteristics, and we recommend
them for use with our slotted and drilled high performance
rotors.
Lockheed was the first manufacturer of
hydraulic brakes back in the 1920's, and were an original
equipment manufacturer for just about all British cars
made since the 1940's. 'Delphi' is a spin-off of AC-Delco,
one of the largest original equipment parts suppliers
in the world. The brand is the standard for quality.
These are the same as Land Rover packaged pads,
since they are the people who originally made them for
your vehicle. Depending on the model, that is: for the
Land Rover Discovery II for example the original pad
is TRW/Lucas. For some Land Rover models we also
offer Genuine, depending on which is cheaper.
TRW/Lucas 'OEM source'
TRW/Lucas
is the original equipment manufacturer for some Land
Rover models including the Land Rover Discovery II
and will often offer the same pads under their own
name for a lower price than Land Rover sells
the identical pads for. We offer these 'OEM' sets,
for those customers who insist on original quality
replacements but do not want to pay extra for the Genuine
Land Rover box. They are high quality pads with
good wear characteristics, and we recommend them for
use with our slotted and drilled high performance rotors.
TRW/Lucas started out as Girling.
Girling is credited for the first mass produced disc
brake system, which was used on the 1957 Triumph TR3.
Girling brake systems were were the standard
of quality that were used on virtually all British car
models. Girling was purchased by Lucas, who in turn
has been purchased by TRW to become TRW/Lucas.
TRW/Lucas should not be confused with parts labeled
with just the 'Lucas' trade name. The 'Lucas' trade
name has been licensed to many manufacturers, some good,
some not so good.
Wagner
Wagner "Thermo Quiet"
semi-metallic pads are American made and the brand of
choice by some of our top shops. They have excellent
wear characteristics and don't 'squeal' like some brands
tend to. They are also not as hard on rotors as some
compounds. These are a great value: premium quality
at a resonable price.
Mintex
These are a softer pad compound, and
the ones we recommend to people who are simply replacing
the pads and not the rotors. They conform more readily
to the uneven surfaces of used rotors, and don't generate
excessive heat in the process. They are also the best
value, and the brand we usually use on our own vehicles.
In the brake business since 1908, Mintex
are now made by TMD Friction, based in Cleckheaton,
West Yorkshire, England. The technology used to manufacture
Mintex brake pads are developed in-house and they produce
a range of approximately 1100 brake pads, covering all
European, Japanese and American applications.
Allmakes
Allmakes, our premiere parts supplier,
are also now marketing pads under their own trade name.
Allmakes is very fussy about product quality, and they
will always go the better part rather than the cheapest
one.
So, that leaves all the other brands
out there: why don't we carry those instead?
There are a number of other brands
on the market. Some folks repackage one of the above
brands in their own name, and in some cases a recognized
name is used on an inferior pad. In some cases 'heavy
duty' ceramic pads use compounds that are too aggressive
for Rover rotors. We've seen manufacturers change their
pad compunds, and what was once a good product becomes
inferior, forcing us to switch brands.
Our pad selection is based not only on
price, but how they hold up in service. No one likes
an unhappy customer, and our brands have sold in the
tens of thousands. There's no better record of service
than customers who come back for the same brands day
after day, and BP's selection assures that you get
just what you need at a great price.
BP stocks all major brake components
for all US models
from 1958-current.
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