When it comes time to change out your brake pads, one question that always comes up is whether to go with factory-replacement or aftermarket pads. We brought together two huge fans of automotive carnage to put this question to rest—once and for all.

For the ultimate automotive brake test, we brought together two of the industry’s most notorious hoons. First, we have Johnny Neptune. Famous for launching his 1983 Chevy Vega over Hanson’s pond on a drunken dare back in ’98, Johnny is the undisputed king of carnage around these parts. Second, we have Erik Svenson, the first person in the valley to successfully shoot Suicide Hill with no brakes—his foot planted firmly on the gas. And, he did it in his ’76 Cadillac Fleetwood that had been converted to an El Camino!

You can see that we brought out the big guns, so this test must be important. And, important it is! We want to finally quell any arguments that aftermarket performance brake pads are no better than factory or factory replacement pads. One would think that since the aftermarket pads cost more, they should stop better. But of course, there are some naysayers out there who protest that factory pads have just as much stopping power and control.

The argument goes something like this: factory pads are designed by engineers who are employed by some of the largest companies in the world. They may even design the brakes and pads used on a certain model specifically for that model. And, who better to know what pads to use on which vehicle than the smart little stinker who designed it from the beginning. On the other hand, the aftermarket guys claim that the big automakers are known for dumbing-down the driving experience, making their vehicles palatable for a wide variety of folks, not just performance heads.

The aftermarket shops are usually run by enthusiasts, ex-engineers from the big automakers and former racers who are clinging to the industry wherever they can. These guys often employ slick marketing campaigns and sponsor highly-visible race vehicles. Often found at the tracks themselves, the aftermarket guys are testing their own products in their own cars. The factory replacement camp considers these outfits as fly-by-night shops dedicated to making a buck. They contend that the small companies don’t have the big money that it takes to even run a proper test.

So, we took two identical 2002 Honda Accords and started our test. One car belongs to Johnny’s ex-wife, who let him borrow it in trade for a handle of Popov vodka. The other belongs to our cameraman’s mother, who was told he needed her wheels for an appointment with his probation officer. On Johnny’s, we threw on a set of aftermarket performance pads. On the probation car, we tossed in a new set of factory replacement pads that we copped from the local Honda dealer.

The challenge was an all out chicken run towards the cliff that drops into the abandoned Morrison sand quarry. We gave the drivers, Johnny and Erik, a 100’ run straight to the edge. At about 30’ feet from the edge we painted a yellow line—the brake line. Just as the drivers cross the line, they were instructed to slam the brakes hard. The Accord that comes closest to the edge would be deemed the loser.

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