eBay Brake pads

D

DCDG

Joined
Feb 11, 2026
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Anyone here using or had used inexpensive no name eBay brake pads? If not then lets keep the thread clean no need to interject non-sense.

I was watching a YouTube where I guy says he's a mechanic of 30+ years then chucked a pair of $8 pads on his Toyota van. In another video says he would have put the same on his Mitsu Mirage but went with OE Akebono's for warranty purposes. Anyone here ever chucked on $8 or inexpensive eBay pads?
 
What are "eBay pads"? EBay is a platform, not a product brand.

No, I have never used "$8" eBay or no name brake pads or any similar safety critical item and fail to see any reason to buy them from a supplier to which you would have no recourse. I guess I don't see that as non-sense, just common sense.

Buying the least expensive part from a legitimate supplier should get you something manufactured to some minimum standard as opposed to spinning a virtual roulette wheel.
 
wings&wheels said:
What are "eBay pads"? EBay is a platform, not a product brand.

No, I have never used "$8" eBay or no name brake pads or any similar safety critical item and fail to see any reason to buy them from a supplier to which you would have no recourse. I guess I don't see that as non-sense, just common sense.

Buying the least expensive part from a legitimate supplier should get you something manufactured to some minimum standard as opposed to spinning a virtual roulette wheel.
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Yes to clarify I mean just a cheapo set of pads from eBay - No name.

I find it wild a guy that calls himself a mechanic would chuck some cheapo pads on his own ride.
 
Yup, matching sets of "Autoshack" pads and rotors. They were fine, good even.

I like semi-metallics as they keep rotors clean on my weekly-driven extra vehicles. They're not as popular as they used to be, but can still be found on Rock Auto and eBay.

I've also gotten a $4 set of Wearever Gold shoes from Amazon Warehouse, "used", with used being new but in a shop-worn box. But they're name brand, albeit without the chain-of-custody you'd get from an authorized retailer.

My only brake lining failure was on a "Hawk" racing pad that delaminated. Hoo boy was that a riot... five pedal pumps to take up the space of the missing lining then metal-on-metal, but at least I had pedal. I got mine from the "Hawk" factory, however legitimate that is.
 
They are probably equivalent to the cheapest pads from Amazon, Rock Auto, and the parts stores :unsure:

I have used really cheap Amazon Warehouse Raybestos pads for $11 (regular price $40-50), and there was nothing wrong with them.

Looking on eBay now, searching random FMSI numbers (almost all brake pads use the generic FMSI numbers, and certainly all the cheap pads do), the cheapest ones aren't necessarily cheaper than Rock Auto's clearance pads, and many of them are cheap jobber brands you might find on RA.

For the past few days, I've been thinking about the cheap eBay calipers (all new, under $100 for both sides). If I need calipers, I might buy those, as they are far cheaper on eBay than anywhere else (around $130 on Rock Auto for both, over $100 each at the parts stores).

Not sure if this counts, but I have cheap NOS clearance EBC Greenstuff pads waiting to go on. They were $25 on eBay (regular retail is $75-100).
 
slacktide_bitog said:
They are probably equivalent to the cheapest pads from Amazon, Rock Auto, and the parts stores :unsure:

I have used really cheap Amazon Warehouse Raybestos pads for $11 (regular price $40-50), and there was nothing wrong with them.

Looking on eBay now, searching random FMSI numbers (almost all brake pads use the generic FMSI numbers, and certainly all the cheap pads do), the cheapest ones aren't necessarily cheaper than Rock Auto's clearance pads, and many of them are cheap jobber brands you might find on RA.

For the past few days, I've been thinking about the cheap eBay calipers (all new, under $100 for both sides). If I need calipers, I might buy those, as they are far cheaper on eBay than anywhere else (around $130 on Rock Auto for both, over $100 each at the parts stores).

Not sure if this counts, but I have cheap NOS clearance EBC Greenstuff pads waiting to go on. They were $25 on eBay (regular retail is $75-100).
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You should be very satisfied with the Greenstuffs; my go-to for my vintage Brit vehicles.
 
eBay is like a treasure hunt sometimes; search out parts for good prices. That said, I look for name-brand stuff. You can often get a great deal on some NOS parts. In those cases, I'm all in on eBay. I would not buy generic brake pads. That's different. As mentioned, brakes affect safety, and I wouldn't use no-name parts even if they were free.
 
I put a set of eBay ~$40-50 "off brand" pads and rotors on the front of my 2015 Versa in Feb 2020 @ 47K miles. I will be changing them out in the next day or so with a set of $85 Detroit Axle pads/rotors. They lasted 6yrs and just shy of 40K miles. 85K on the ODO currently. The front dust shields are completely rotted away, so I don't expect this set to last long at all.
 
I've never bought parts specifically from Ebay motors, but as other have said, can't be much different than buying from Amazon or RA. You get good surprises, "as expected", and real stinkers at the flip of a coin. Expect nothing else.

Yup - that's three choices on a two sided coin...
 
Up here in Ohio, my DD gets whatever the cheapest ceramics and cheapest rotors are available on Rock Auto. Even good high carbon coated rotors can only last so long through Ohio winters. Once the pads are toast or the rotors are pulsing bad enough, it gets a new set.

Today, for my 2016 Cruze, that would be $12/pair and $22/pair Raybestos R-Lines (RIP First Brands) on the rear and front with Durago semi-coated rotors for $18*2 on the rears and a closeout price of $16*2 for fronts.

These are parts that I know function. Is it worth saving $20 on $100 by getting sawdust pads and pot metal rotors from some made up name on ebay? Probably not.

My Focus RS has always gotten StopTech Sport Slotted Rotors and StopTech Sport Pads. They costed a pretty penny ($700 in parts), but Centric made a good product. With First Brands circling the drain I'll be looking elsewhere, but that's probably going to be an OE pad and another premium rotor.
 
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Used a set of super cheap Ebay special pads that were made in Cambodia on a beater Corolla as a pad slap. Surprisingly they have held up well in the last 30K miles. That being said, would not do the same on anything I really cared about.
 
I wonder the actual cost for name brand pads vs eBay cheapo's. I think about when RockAuto has closeouts on brake pads. You could purchase name brands often less than the eBay jobs.
 
I only buy top tier brake pads, never in any universe would I ever buy cheap brake pads. Happened to me once, when I was naive and 16 years old, HORRID/and dangerous braking performance on discount pads on a my first car. After 1 week I threw them away and never looked back, only top tier brake pads, no mid pack versions ever used either.
 
Ya know. I'm the most frugal person most of you will ever hear of. No way would I consider these pads. Back in the 80's there were counterfeit pads around that were compressed cardboard.


Those were cheap too. I'm sure rock auto has some name brand pads in the clearance section. If not one of the big chain stores will offer a house brand pad that can't be that bad as they have a reputation to keep up.
 
DCDG said:
I wonder the actual cost for name brand pads vs eBay cheapo's. I think about when RockAuto has closeouts on brake pads.
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I doubt the actual manufacturing material cost between cheapo and brand name parts is that big. The brand name companies have to spend money on R&D, marketing, QC, etc... The cheapo companies likely are using older tooling/machines bought from previous manufacturers, and so don't need to generate as high of an ROI for the owners relative to the capital invested into the business.

Brake manufacturing is a pretty mature industry, I would assume most R&D costs are associated with keeping up with new vehicles rather than any novel science, manufacturing, or material developments.
 
nobb said:
I doubt the actual manufacturing material cost between cheapo and brand name parts is that big. The brand name companies have to spend money on R&D, marketing, QC, etc... The cheapo companies likely are using older tooling/machines bought from previous manufacturers, and so don't need to generate as high of an ROI for the owners relative to the capital invested into the business.

Brake manufacturing is a pretty mature industry, I would assume most R&D costs are associated with keeping up with new vehicles rather than any novel science, manufacturing, or material developments.
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I would say I agree with you there. (y)
 
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