The Hidden Problem with Painted Brake Pads
Painted backing plates can mask corrosion risk rather than prevent it. Learn why appearance and long-term steel protection aren't the same — and what installers and distributors should evaluate instead.
The BRAKE Report Staff
The BRAKE Report is the trade publication of record for braking systems, friction materials, and brake safety. Published by Hagman Media and edited by founder Brian Hagman, it covers OEM and aftermarket braking technology, NHTSA brake-related recalls, and commercial vehicle brake systems for an audience of chassis engineers, friction industry professionals, and automotive investors.
PFC Brakes Launches 68 Compound and BMW Kits
PFC Brakes has expanded its aftermarket lineup with a new 68 street-and-track brake compound, additional brake pad shapes, and full race upgrade kits for BMW F- and G-series models.
Allegro Unveils Brake-by-Wire PMIC With Wheel-Speed Sensing
Allegro MicroSystems' new A81415 combines an ASIL-D safety PMIC with an on-chip wheel-speed sensor interface, cutting component count for electromechanical braking corner modules and easing the path to 48V systems.
Wilwood Launches High-Performance OE Flexlines
Wilwood Disc Brakes has launched OE Flexline kits — PTFE-lined, stainless-braided replacement brake lines for factory calipers, pressure-tested to 1,800 PSI and priced from $66.14 per line.
BMW Brake Recall Covers 428 Improperly Fixed Vehicles
BMW is recalling 428 vehicles after finding some did not receive the integrated brake system remedy from two earlier recalls, 24V-104 and 24V-739, according to specified procedures.
Bremskerl CV Adds 13 Air Disc Brake Rotors
Bremskerl CV has added 13 new air disc brake rotor references, four with Geomet-coated finishes, expanding OE-matched coverage for linehaul, vocational, and trailer fleets.
Jeep Recalls 11,980 Grand Wagoneers for ESC Defect
Chrysler is recalling 11,980 model-year 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L SUVs after a brake system control module defect was found to potentially disable stability control and electronic brake assist.
Brembo Wins 2026 Red Dot Award for TrackTribe
Brembo has won the 2026 Red Dot Award for TrackTribe, its motorcycle data and coaching platform, marking the brake maker's fourth Red Dot win since 2019.
BMW iX3, ZEEKR 7GT Earn 5-Star Euro NCAP
BMW's iX3 and ZEEKR's 7GT are the first vehicles tested under Euro NCAP's overhauled 2026 protocols, both earning five stars across safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection, and post-crash safety.
Pep Boys Identifies Four Common Causes of Brake Vibration
Pep Boys identifies four common causes of brake vibration — rotor thickness variation, uneven pad wear, seized calipers, and suspension wear — and explains what a professional brake inspection covers.
First Line Adds 151 New References in July
First Line Ltd. introduced 151 new-to-range references in July, led by 111 turbo hoses plus Borg & Beck brake discs, brake pads, and steering components covering Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo EVs.
Automann Adds Webb Wheel Disc Brake Calipers, Pads, Rotors
Automann has added Webb Wheel as a branded partner for air and hydraulic disc brake calipers, pads, and rotors, expanding its heavy-duty aftermarket catalog.
Honda Delays Astemo Consolidation to Third Quarter
Honda revised its timeline for making Astemo a consolidated subsidiary, moving completion to before the end of the third fiscal quarter as regulatory approvals remain pending in certain countries.
International Brake Recall Monitor: June 2026
Japan's recall register returned in June with a double Ducati rear-brake action, including a rare second-attempt remedy. Hyundai's recall wave spread to Germany and Korea, Renault flagged a silent ABS-ESP failure on 24,112 Australs, and Aston Martin named Alcon in a seven-car Valkyrie fire-risk recall.
PFC Brakes Expands North American Motorsports Reach
PFC Brakes cut INDYCAR caliper piston bore size by 22% for the Indy 500 and expanded its reach across NASCAR, INDY NXT, USF Pro, IMSA, and grassroots asphalt and dirt racing.
BWI Group Launches iDBC One-Box EV Brake System
BWI Group has launched its iDBC 1-Box electro-hydraulic brake system in Europe, giving automakers tunable regen-to-friction blending and faster pressure build for electric vehicle braking.
AUMOVIO Completes Sale of Rheinböllen Brake Plant
AUMOVIO has completed the sale of its Rheinböllen, Germany brake caliper and electric parking brake plant to RHB-Industries, transferring roughly 320 employees under a new ownership structure.
The Foundation — Why the Steel Backing Plate Is the Most Important Component in a Brake Pad
Ask most brake professionals what makes a pad perform, and talk turns to friction formulas. But it all depends on something more fundamental: the steel backing plate.
ZF Launches Recycled Brake Fluid for Automechanika 2026
ZF Aftermarket will debut TRW DOT 4 Brake Fluid ESP Recycled at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, a fluid made with 60% post-consumer recycled material that the company says is a market first.
Aftermarket Power Rankings™: July 2026 — Brembo Retakes #1, NRS Falls a Point Short
Brembo retakes #1 by a single point over NRS Brakes on a genuinely aftermarket month. Apec Braking climbs, Fremax earns a look, and two new brands debut.
ICER BRAKES Marks 65th Anniversary Milestone
ICER BRAKES marks 65 years since its 1961 founding, now producing 20M+ brake pads annually across 70+ countries from its Tudela, Spain facility.
NHTSA Ends Four-Year Tesla Phantom Braking Probe
NHTSA has closed its four-year Tesla phantom braking investigation, finding incidents fell sharply with no lane-departure or collision risk — a case study in software-triggered stopping events versus true brake defects.
Lamborghini’s IPB System Debuts on Urus SE Performante
Lamborghini's Urus SE Performante debuts a new Integrated Power Brake system, cutting stopping distance and boosting braking power 10% via a predictive 6D sensor array.
Rane Madras Acquires Hindustan Composites’ Friction Business
Rane (Madras) will acquire Hindustan Composites' friction business — including the COMPO brand and two Maharashtra plants — for $39.1 million, creating a combined platform worth over $105 million.
Motorcar Parts of America Acquires Centric Brake Brands
Motorcar Parts of America has acquired the Centric Parts brake brands — including StopTech, Posi Quiet, and C-TEK — out of First Brands Group's Chapter 11 bankruptcy through a court-supervised Section 363 sale.