Watch out for counterfeit brake pads from online shops

Last month I ordered a set of ceramic pads off Amazon for $45 and they looked legit in the box. But after installing them on a 2018 Ford F150, the customer came back in 3 days with a grinding noise. The friction material had basically separated from the backing plate on two pads. Has anyone else run into fake parts from third party sellers on there?

2 comments

2 Comments

diana82912d ago

You mentioned you ordered them off Amazon for $45 and they looked legit in the box, but here's the thing - Amazon mixes inventory from different sellers together in their warehouses. So even if you bought from a seller you trust, you might get pads from a different seller's stock. I've seen this happen with other car parts too. You really gotta check the packaging details, like the manufacturing date codes and the texture of the friction material. Genuine ceramic pads usually have a smooth, consistent surface, not a rough or crumbly feel. Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd stick with buying brake parts from a known auto parts store or directly from a brand's website if you can.

wright.jesse12d ago

Hate to nitpick but Amazon actually doesn't mix inventory for car parts like they do with other stuff, at least not for the major categories. I had a buddy who used to work in their auto parts warehouse and he said they keep seller stock separate for safety reasons. Still totally agree on checking the friction material texture though, that's a solid tip.