The NAPA brand is committed to quality without compromise and nowhere is this more evident than in the manufacturing and testing procedures of the NAPA Brake Pads range. 

NAPA brake pads are precision manufactured in Europe using advanced robotic technology. All of the pads are also made to copper free formulations. Copper-free pads are not yet a legal requirement in Ireland, however, major studies have found that copper particles emitted from brake pads are a major source of pollutants to the marine ecosystem. NAPA Auto Parts UK & IE has therefore taken the proactive step of removing copper from its friction formulations. 

There are more than 21 raw ingredients that go into NAPA’s friction material mixes, including fibres, mineral fillers, metal components, lubricants, organic materials, and abrasives. However, all NAPA Brake Pads are free of heavy metals, which encompass not only copper but also antimony, cadmium, chromium VI, lead, and mercury. 

This classifies them as “N” under the Better Brake environmental standards for brake friction material. “N” is the most environmentally friendly rating, requiring less than 0.5% copper and no asbestos or other heavy metals.

NAPA Brake Pads are a direct replacement for the OE part. If the OE has a shim, slot, or chamfer, the NAPA equivalent will have the same. All pads are designed to meet and exceed R90 standards and must pass rigorous tests that are often considerably more demanding than the R90 and R13 standards set by the international motor industry. 

As part of R90 regulations, a cold shear test ensures the friction bond between the backplate and friction material is sufficient. NAPA tests both the cold and hot shear, with in-house requirements demanding 4 times greater performance than the R90 test.  

Even after shearing, the pad will only meet NAPA quality standards if the backplate is still covered with friction material, guaranteeing that it was the friction material that sheared rather than the solvent-free adhesive bond. 

Testing takes place in laboratories, on test tracks, and on mountain roads to ensure excellence right across the range.  

NAPA Pads are also made from the latest generation friction materials and benefit from NAPA’s unique ProBed Scorching, a process that is typically only carried out on premium brand pads. This sees the pads scorched on an electrically heated steel table, which applies 10,000 Nm pressure at 650°C. This ensures that the entire friction surface is evenly cured to a depth of up to 2mm. 

ProBed scorching means NAPA Pads can avoid crystallisation, which is often suffered by other friction materials. It also mean the pads have a shorter bedding in time are kinder to environment and deliver higher standards of braking performance for longer. 

NAPA brake pads are available from stockists nationwide.