Brake pads and brake shoes do the same fundamental job - create friction to slow the car - but they belong to two different kinds of brakes. Knowing which your vehicle uses tells you what to buy.
Brake pads: disc brakes
Brake pads are used in disc brakes. A pad is a flat friction block that a caliper squeezes against a spinning rotor from both sides. Disc brakes shed heat well and resist fade, which is why they are on the front of virtually every modern vehicle and on all four corners of most. Shop brake pads by vehicle, and see how disc brakes work.
Brake shoes: drum brakes
Brake shoes are used in drum brakes. Instead of squeezing a disc, curved shoes push outward against the inside of a spinning drum. Drum brakes are simpler and cost less to build, and they make a natural parking brake, so you will often find them on the rear of economy cars and older vehicles. Browse brake shoes.
How to tell what you have
- Fronts: almost certainly disc brakes with pads.
- Rears: could be either. Look through the wheel - if you see a rotor and caliper, it is disc/pads; if you see a solid drum, it is drum/shoes.
- Many modern cars use discs at all four wheels; many trucks and budget cars keep drums in the rear.
Wear and replacement
Both wear out and both give warning signs - noise, reduced braking, or a wear light. Disc pads are usually easier to inspect and replace. Whichever your vehicle uses, service brakes as an axle set and do not let them run to metal. Not sure what fits? Our FAQ covers confirming fitment.