The very fact that you are looking at Wagner brake pads review indicates that you are experiencing the dreaded ‘brake squeal’.

The question is, how worn is the brake pad? 

Maybe it’s just starting to produce the ‘nails on chalkboard’ sound that typically occurs when the wear indicator’s worn, or the scraping metal noise that occurs when the brake is completely worn and the backing grinds into the rotor.

Irrespective of which stage the wear and tear is at, brake pads deserve urgent attention and prompt replacements when they start to screech and squeal. 

Unlike other spares, where you can choose between an OEM and an aftermarket part hoping to save a few bucks, it’s your and everybody’s else’s safety at stake here. 

You shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best and Wagner Brake Pads are the top rated OE brakes in the market. 

In this article, we have handpicked 6 of the best wagner brake pads, making it easy for you to pick the one that best suits your car. 

Best Choice for Everyday Driving – Wagner Brake OEX

Last update on 2021-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Wagner OEX is a patented, high performance brake pad for trucks, SUVs and CUVs (and some cars), that’s available in 114 platform-specific shapes. 

It’s the result of over three-years of research and innovation by the engineers at Wagner, and it’s proven to stop your vehicle up to 50-feet sooner, as compared to conventional stock brake pads. 

A lot of truck owners initially feel that the pads are too aggressive. But that’s actually the way it works and what separates it from the rest of the lineup. 

Here’s our detailed Wagner Oex review.

Patented Design

The Wagner OEX’s patented design helps reduce rotor wear and dusting, which in turn increases the lifespan of the pad. While there are myriad factors that can affect the lifespan of your stock pads, on an average, a set of stocks last 30-40k. 

There are customer reviews of truck owners who have mentioned that the Wagner OEX has lasted up to 60K. That’s twice as much as a normal set of stock would. 

The pads feature vents or slots, which improve airflow and allow better heat dissipation. 

Heat is one of the key factors that leads to premature brake pad wear and tear. A cooler brake pad generally lasts longer and also offers much better performance. 

Proprietary Material

The pads are made of a ceramic blend, with a Novolac Resin base. If you were to look at them, you’d see these flaps that are actually made of Kevlar. That’s right, the same material that goes into bullet proof vests.

Under these, you have a single-piece galvanized steel plate that offers top-notch resistance to corrosion. 

Now for one of the most important aspects, noise. 

The Wagner OEX uses a conventional dual shim, riveted design like most OEM brake pads. But the pad features five layers or shims, that absorb noise and also deaden the vibration that normally occurs with new pads.

So, once you break these in, you should get no-noise performance. 

Best features

• Top of the line offering from Wagner for Trucks, SUVs and CUVs
• Patented design
• Ceramic Blend with a Novolac Resin base and Kevlar flaps
• Galvanized Steel plate
• Excellent corrosion resistance
• Low dust and rotor wear
• 114 Application-specific designs that covers 90% of trucks, SUVs and CUVs
• Lasts 2x longer than normal brake pads
• Stops a vehicle up to 50 feet sooner
• Improved air flow due to the vents

Value for Money Option – Wagner ZX914 Brake Pads

Last update on 2021-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Wagner ZX914 from the Wagner QS range is a semi-metallic brake pad that’s available for all vehicle types. 

QS stands for Quick Stop and the pads offer excellent, consistent braking performance throughout their lifespan. 

This is Wagner’s mid-range offering that sits right in the middle of their ceramic pads and the organic ones. If you are looking for a top quality replacement pad that does not cost an arm and a leg, but offers OE fit and performance, this is one of your best bets. 

Application specific designs

Just like the rest of Wagner’s range, the ZX914 is available in different application-specific designs. 

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, the shims, chamfers and slots on the brake pad can vary, which helps reduce vibration. The result? A much quieter, smoother braking experience. 

Semi-metallic brake pads generally get a bad rap for being noisy. Wait till you try out the ZX914. It’s butter smooth. No squeals and squeaks, even when you are breakin-in the pad. 

Wagner ZX914 is 100% post cured gradually in an industrial oven, which results in even and consistent friction coefficients across the surface of the pad. 

Cheap brake pads on the other hand are often scorched during the curing process, which causes their friction coefficients to be wayward. 

Comes in Application specific Materials

With 99% coverage of all American VIO, chances are that the Wagner ZX914 will be a perfect fit for your car. Wagner offers OE fit and form assurance with the QS range. 

So you can be rest assured that the pad can replicate OEM-like performance. 

This is a zero-copper brake pad that’s compatible with the 2025 Zero Copper legislation passed by the United States government and automobile manufacturers. With reduced brake dust due to the proprietary ceramic material used in the pad, it’s an environment-friendly choice as well. 

Last but not the least, the package includes premium-quality, stainless-steel hardware and OE-style lubricant for a perfect replacement fit. 

Best features

• Budget-priced range from Wagner
• 99% coverage of all North American VIO
• Application specific designs and materials
• Shims, Chamfers and Slots vary depending on the make and model of the vehile
• Reduced vibration results in low noise performance
• 100% post cured in an industrial oven 
• OE fit and form assurance
• Zero-copper design compatible with the 2025 legislation

Quietest Brake Pads – Wagner QC1324

Last update on 2021-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

It’s almost been a decade since Federal Mogul launched the Wagner ThermoQuiet, also touted to be the world’s most noiseless performance break pad. 

In this very short time since its inception, it has become the #1 break pad in the automotive service industry, and also managed to lap up the Automotive News Pace award. 

So what is it about the Wagner QC1324 that makes it such a great choice for everyday use? 

Patented IMI one-piece design

The Wagner ThermoQuiet features an Integrally Moulded Insulator or IMI, that essentially fuses everything into one piece. 

So, you have the insulator, the backing plate and the friction material, all in a single piece design, which offers virtually dust-free performance. The reduced dust, also has to do with Wagner’s proprietary ceramic material which helps to cut down on rotor wear and tear. 

A couple of customers that we spoke to, were a little bothered about copper being used in the ceramic blend. But you’d be glad to know that the Wagner QC1324 is an OE25 zero copper formulation. 

The QC1324 is available in application-specific designs. 

Depending on the make and model of the car, the pad is laser cut to optimize pad-to-rotor interface, which offers optimum braking power. If you are swapping your OEM brakes with these, you’ll get the exact same bite, with zero noise. 

Improved heat dissipation 

The key to brake pad longevity lies in improved heat dissipation and Wagner is a pioneer of the technology. 

The unique laser shaped designs allow better air flow around the brake pads when they are operational, spreading the heat over a much larger surface, than it tends to be with conventional brakes. 

This, clubbed with the proprietary material reduces friction, deadens vibration and cuts down considerably on brake noise. 

The Wagner QC1324 is one of the only brake pads that comes with premium stainless steel hardware for installation. 

The coverage is excellent and it is available for most cars on the road. 

Best features

• Integrally Molded Insulator One-piece design
• Backing plate, friction material and Insulator is fused 
• Application specific designs
• Laser shaped brake pad that spreads out heat and reduces temperature
• Proprietary material that reduces brake dust and prevents brake fade
• Comprehensive coverage for almost all cars on the road
• OE25 Zero copper formulation
• OEM Like form and fit
• Premium stainless steel hardware

Another Noise Free Option –  Wagner QC1304

Last update on 2021-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Wagner QC1304 is part of the ThermoQuiet range. 

It’s a top-rated ceramic rear brake pad that comes in application-specific designs, and offers excellent braking power. 

Moreover, based on hundreds of customer reviews, it can be said that these pads generally last much longer than stock OE pads. 

Wagner’s Cleaner Wheels formulation

Car owners hate brake dust and Wagner has been working for years to develop a proprietary design and formulation that can help reduce it. 

They have perfected the technology with ThermoQuiet ceramic brake pads. 

It features a patented Integrally Molded Insulator, which is a fancy term for a one-piece design, in which the brake pad material and the backing plate are fused into one. 

There are five layers in the pad, to be more precise. The integrally molded ceramic material is the top layer, followed by an underlayment, under which lies a durable steel plate, followed by an IMI underlayment, which has an exterior coating. The coating is the last layer. 

The proprietary ceramic material, which is a blend of different thermoplastics, is extremely durable and reduces brake dust considerably, as compared to other brands. 

Another common gripe that car owners have when swapping out stock pads with OE ones, is the sudden change in bite, or grip. With application-specific designs and OE-like form and function, you’ll hardly notice the difference in braking power.

Are these really quiet?

That’s a question that we are asked time and again. Are the Wagner ThermoQuiet’s really quiet?

Well, it’s all in the design. 

The pads are laser shaped based on the specific application. The shims, the chamfer, the vents, everything is laser cut and helps to spread out the vibration over the entire surface of the pad, as opposed to being concentrated at the contact point. 

This is what reduces heat, vibration and subsequently, noise. 

To answer the question, yes. The Wagner ThermoQuiet QC1304 offers noise-free braking. 

The Wagner ThermoQuiet range offers excellent coverage for most vehicles. It is also one of the few brands that offers premium quality installation hardware in the package. 

Best features

• Integrally Molded Insulation technology
• One piece fused design 
• Tough, ceramic friction material for reduced brake dust
• Application specific laser cut design for better heat dissipation 
• Dampens vibration and reduces noise
• OEM like fit, form and braking performance
• Comes with premium stainless steel installation hardware
• Covers most vehicles on the road

Budget Option Brake Pads – Wagner ZD1293

Last update on 2021-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The ZD1293 is a ceramic brake pad from Wagner’s Quick Stop range. 

These are budget-priced pads that are well suited for a wide range of driving conditions. 

Be it city driving where noiseless performance is sought after, or more spirited countryside drives where there’s a need for more aggressive braking performance, the ZD1293 will be a great fit. 

When you replace the stock brake pads with these, it offers OE fit, form and function, throughout the lifespan of the brake pad. 

Shims and Slots to reduce vibration

Wagner Brake pads are engineered to minimize vibration, which is responsible for the squeal when you brake. 

It features application specific shim insulators, slots and chamfers that do not delaminate or migrate when the brake is operational. 

This dampens the vibration and subsequently, reduces braking noise. 

Even when the pads are used extensively, these are considered amongst the quietest performing brakes in the industry. 

Further, the ceramic thermoplastic blended friction material, is slow-cured in an industrial oven during the post-curing process. This creates a solid bonded surface with even friction coefficients across the entire pad. 

Better Fade Characteristics

One of the best features of Wagner brake pads like the ZD1293 is the larger surface area, which helps in distributing heat across the surface of the pad. 

Add to this the vents on the surface, which allows better air flow and you have a pad with much better fade characteristics. 

The Wagner QC range offers 99% coverage for North American vehicles and comes with premium hardware required for installation. 

You also get an OE-style lubricant in the pack, which makes it great value. 

Best features

• Economical choice for Wagner’s QC range
• Application specific shim insulators, slots and chamfers that do not delaminate or migrate
• Reduces vibration and braking noise
• Exceptionally quiet performance
• Large surface area for even heat distribution
• Vented design for better air flow 
• Excellent fade characteristics
• Includes premium stainless steel hardware and an OE-style lubricant

Best Choice for High Performance Vehicles – Wagner SX1334

Last update on 2021-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last but not the least, we have the Wagner SX1334 from Wagner’s Severe Duty range of high performance brake pads.

These are specially designed for demanding environments and applications, such as tow vehicles, vehicles hauling heavy loads and vehicles for law enforcement agencies that demand frequent, aggressive braking power. 

If you install these on your car for every day, you might find them to be a little more aggressive than the other options from Wagner. 

Carbon-based Friction Material

These are semi-metallic brake pads that feature an extremely durable, carbon-based friction material with a reinforced friction bond

The temperature resistance is excellent and the SX1334 perform equally well at extremely high and low temperatures. Also, as compared to ceramics, these are more resistant to fracture lines, especially when you are hauling heavy loads.

This helps in minimizing the brake fade that occurs with extreme and frequent braking. 

OE Style Shims and Slots

The SX1334 undergoes vigorous OE-style testing in original vehicles in a simulated environment, to ensure optimum braking performance. 

Shims, Chamfers and slots are designed to match OE characteristics and comfort, so that you don’t feel a difference in performance. 

Also, the vibration dampening, both on the pad and the caliper, is top notch thanks to the multilayered shims that have different grades of dampening materials.

Just like most of Wagner’s brake pads, the SX is designed for even heat distribution across the pad, which ensures that braking torque is maintained consistently. 

The package includes premium stainless steel hardware kits. 

Best features

• High performance brake pads from Wagner
• Part of their Severe Duty range
• Semi-metallic with carbon-based friction material
• Exceptional temperature resistance
• Performs equally well in high and low temperature environments
• OE style shims, slots and chamfers
• Excellent vibration dampening on pads and calipers
• Low noise
• Even heat distribution across the pad
• Comes with Premium Stainless steel hardware kits

How to Select the Best Wagner Brake Pads 

Wagner is one of the oldest and most reputed brands in the Automotive friction industry. 

But they have expanded their range so aggressively in the past few years, that suddenly, car owners are looking at multiple brake pads that all seem identical in appearance. 

So much so, that it’s enough to cause confusion. 

Which one would be better suited for your car, if you were to compare Wagner Oex Vs ThermoQuiet, for example? 

Or the Wagner Quickstop Vs ThermoQuiet?

Here’s a brief guide that explains how to check the Wagner brake pads review and select the best one for your vehicle. 

What’s the Intended Use? 

Most drivers are just looking for a reliable OEM replacement that offers identical or slightly better performance for everyday driving. 

Just about any Wagner brake pad in this list will tick these two boxes. 

But some drivers or applications might have specialized requirements, like a truck that hauls a ton of weight or a race car that operates at insanely high temperatures. 

To give you an idea, the average temperature can go up to 400 degrees with normal everyday driving, whereas urban driving with frequent stops and starts can increase it up to 500 degrees or more. 

High performance applications such as tow trucks and trucks hauling a lot of weight can heat the brake pad to 1000-degrees or more. 

Wagner has a wide range of brake pads with different performance grades that you can choose from to suit your exact needs. 

• The Wagner QS range is an excellent general purpose brake pad with phenomenal coverage for most vehicles. 
• If you prefer the top of the line model, check out our Wagner oex review. 
• If you seek a low dust, low noise option, the ThermoQuiet might be a great pick. 

The Type of Brake Pad

Brake pads are categorized into different types based on the friction material used in it. 

Although the exact blend and formulation are a closely-guarded secret, you can select one based on broad-stroke definitions that describe the material. 

Each material or blend has its own characteristics, advantages and drawbacks. While this may not be as important as say, the grade of the pad, it is considered as one of the most critical deciding factors by consumers. 

• Organic Brake pads: These are the most affordable all-purpose brake pads that are made from a blend of organic materials. Most stock brake pads in new vehicles are organic. Like we mentioned earlier, the exact blend is always kept secret. But it can contain fiber, metal, glass, resins, carbon and Kevlar among other things. These are preferred due to the affordable price tag, and the fact that they are rotor-friendly. The caveat is that these wear out a lot faster than other types of pads and are generally not suited for demanding applications. Organic brake pads are also called Non-Asbestos Organic or NAO in short. 
• Semi-Metallic: Semi-Metallic brake pads typically contain 30-60 percent metal content in the friction material blend. This gives them a range of advantages such as better temperature resistance, aggressive stopping power and much better fade resistance. But, the increased aggression comes at a cost. These pads generate a lot of heat which isn’t too forgiving on rotors. Also, the amount of noise and dust they produce depends on the materials used in the blend. That said, there’s an extensive range of formulations to choose from in semi-metallic pads, which makes them a very good choice for motorists. 
• Ceramic: Ceramic is the most advanced friction material used in brake pads, that offers the best of features. The performance is top notch, they are durable, they do not produce a lot of dust, they do not wear the rotor and are virtually noise free, because the noise they produce are at frequencies that are not audible to the human ear. The only possible quibble that someone could have with ceramic pads is the price. But when it comes to brake pads, do not step over dollars to pick dimes. 

Hardware & Lube

Only selected Wagner brake pads include the hardware, the lube and calipers needed for installation. 

If you are planning to install the pads yourself, you might want to check whether the package includes everything you need. 

You can check our Wagner brake pads review to know which ones come with premium quality stainless steel hardware. 

FAQ

Q. How do I know if my brake pads are worn out? 

A. If you hear an unfamiliar noise when you press down on the brake pedal, it usually means that the pad is worn. The extent of the wear and tear will determine what kind of noise it produces. It’s mostly a screeching noise or a squeal, but can also be a shudder or a scraping noise. If your vehicle has an electronic wear indicator, then it will activate a warning in the dash. Else, the wear indicators come into contact with the rotors and sound unfamiliar. 

Q. What’s the lifespan of a brake pad? 

A. That depends on so many different factors. But on an average, a stock brake pad can last from 30-50k miles or more. 

Wagner brake pads on the other hand generally last much longer than OEM pads. 

Q. Can I swap the brake pads myself? 

A. In most cases, yes. It’s a reasonably straight forward process as long as there are no other components that need to be removed or swapped. For example, if your vehicle has a captured rotor, then it involves removing a ton of seals, the wheel bearings and the hub. You need specialized tools which you may or may not have. 

If you are new to this and don’t feel up to it, hire a professional. The replacement costs for a set of brake pads can range from $100-500. So it’s not very steep.