Warning: That 'discount' brake pad batch from the regional supplier is junk

Heads up for anyone ordering from the parts depot off Route 9 in Clifton. I grabbed a box of their house brand ceramic pads last Tuesday, supposedly 30% off the usual price. Installed them on a customer's F-150, bedded them in per spec, and within 40 miles the pedal felt spongy and the rotors got scored up bad. Pulled the pads and the friction material was cracking right at the edge, looked like cheap resin mixed with sawdust. I've done this for 12 years and never seen that failure that fast. The supplier's rep said they had a bad run but won't issue a credit without photos and a signed waiver. Has anyone else run into this same batch number, or is my shop just cursed with the one pallet that slipped through?

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morgan.logan26d ago

Man, that batch number on the box might be a red flag. I've seen suppliers relabel old stock with fresh numbers when they know something's off, so check the actual mfg date stamped on the friction backing, not just the box. If the date's older than 6 months, that could explain the cracking, especially if it sat in a damp warehouse.