The Ford F350 Super Duty is a one-ton workhorse, and when you load the bed or hook up a fifth wheel, the brakes are the first thing that tells you whether you bought the right pads. Stock-style pads fade fast under repeated heavy stops, glaze on long downgrades, and coat your wheels in dust. The right replacement set restores a firm pedal, shortens stopping distance under load, and survives the heat that a loaded Super Duty throws at it.
We looked at the pads F350 owners actually run on trucks that tow and haul for a living. Every set below fits the heavy-duty front and rear rotors on the 2011 and newer Super Duty platform, and we ranked them on towing fade resistance, pedal feel, dust, noise, and how long they last before the wear sensor starts singing. No fluff and no price talk, just what works on a truck that does real work.
| Photo | Product | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Power Stop Z36 Truck and Tow Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads Best Overall for Towing Carbon-fiber ceramic compound, thermal scorched, includes stainless shims and hardware |
9.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Hawk LTS Light Truck and SUV Ceramic Brake Pads Best for Heavy Hauling Ferro-Carbon LTS compound engineered for trucks at gross vehicle weight |
9.3 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Bosch QuietCast Premium Ceramic Brake Pads Best for Daily Driving Premium ceramic with copper-free friction, pre-attached shims and synthetic lubricant |
9.1 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Wagner ThermoQuiet Ceramic Brake Pads Best Value Pick One-piece IMI molded ceramic pad with integral wear sensor and insulator |
8.9 | 🛒 Check Price |
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ACDelco Professional Ceramic Brake Pads Best OE-Style Replacement Professional ceramic compound, premium shims, application-validated for trucks |
8.7 | 🛒 Check Price |
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EBC Brakes 6000 Series Greenstuff Truck and SUV Brake Pads Best Cold Bite Aramid-based 6000 series compound with Brake-In coating for trucks and SUVs |
8.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Detroit Axle Heavy Duty Ceramic Brake Pads Best Complete Kit Option Ceramic pads with included hardware, often bundled with rotors for full corners |
8.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
1. Power Stop Z36 Truck and Tow Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads: Best Overall for Towing
The Power Stop Z36 Truck and Tow set is the pad most loaded F350 owners end up wishing they had bought first. The carbon-fiber ceramic compound is built specifically for the temperature spikes you get when a one-ton truck drags a heavy trailer down a grade, and it holds bite where ordinary ceramic pads start to glaze. Out of the box the thermal scorched surface gives you usable stopping power almost immediately, and the included stainless shims and hardware mean you are not chasing brake squeal a week later.
The honest weakness is that this pad is engineered as half of a system. Run it against worn or warped factory rotors and you will not feel the full benefit, and Power Stop makes no secret that it wants you on its matching slotted rotors. On an empty truck the initial bite can also feel a touch grabby until you get used to it. For a Super Duty that actually tows, those are easy trade-offs for the best heat management on this list.
- Carbon-fiber ceramic formula rated for higher towing and hauling temperatures
- Thermal scorched surface for strong out-of-the-box bite with minimal break-in glaze
- Stainless steel shims and lubricant included for quiet, rattle-free installs
Pros: Excellent fade resistance when towing heavy fifth wheels and gooseneck trailers; Firm, confident pedal under load without grabbing when empty; Low ceramic dust keeps the F350 wheels cleaner than semi-metallic sets
Cons: Best paired with Power Stop drilled and slotted rotors to hit rated performance; Carbon-fiber bite can feel slightly aggressive on a completely unloaded truck
2. Hawk LTS Light Truck and SUV Ceramic Brake Pads: Best for Heavy Hauling
Hawk built the LTS line for exactly the scenario that abuses an F350: a truck running at or near its gross vehicle weight rating. The Ferro-Carbon compound delivers a strong cold bite, which matters because the first stop after you back the trailer out of the driveway should feel just as planted as a stop after the brakes are hot. Under sustained hauling, the friction output stays remarkably stable instead of falling off as the rotors heat soak.
What you trade for that is a pad clearly optimized for weight. Drive the truck empty all week and the LTS can feel firm and a little eager, since the compound likes some heat and load to come alive. It is also worth confirming wear-sensor fitment for your specific axle before ordering. If your Super Duty earns its keep with constant heavy loads, the Hawk LTS is one of the most fade-resistant choices you can bolt on.
- Ferro-Carbon formula tuned for high load and high gross vehicle weight stops
- Strong cold-bite so the first stop of the morning is as solid as the tenth
- Stable friction output across a wide temperature range for long grades
Pros: Outstanding stopping power when the bed and trailer are both loaded heavy; Resists fade on long, repeated braking better than most ceramic pads; Quiet operation and reasonable dust for a high-load compound
Cons: Compound is geared toward loaded driving and can feel firm when empty; Wear sensor availability varies by axle, so confirm your fitment
3. Bosch QuietCast Premium Ceramic Brake Pads: Best for Daily Driving
If your F350 spends more days as a comfortable daily driver than as a loaded hauler, the Bosch QuietCast set makes a lot of sense. The premium ceramic compound is copper-free to meet modern friction rules, and the multilayer shim does a genuinely good job of killing the vibration and squeal that big truck brakes can produce. Bosch includes the hardware and synthetic lubricant, so a careful weekend install goes smoothly and stays quiet afterward.
The limitation is right there in its strength. This is a refined, low-noise, low-dust street pad, not a dedicated tow compound. Hook up a heavy trailer and run a long grade and you will reach the fade point sooner than with the Power Stop or Hawk sets. For an F350 that hauls occasionally and commutes daily, though, the QuietCast delivers the cleanest wheels and the smoothest pedal in this group.
- Multilayer rubber-core shim for a quiet pedal and minimal vibration
- Copper-free ceramic compound that meets current friction regulations
- Hardware and synthetic lubricant included in the box for a clean install
Pros: Very quiet and smooth for a truck used mostly unloaded around town; Low ceramic dust keeps the wheels clean between washes; Easy, complete installation with shims and lubricant included
Cons: Not the choice for steady heavy towing or sustained mountain descents; Bite is comfortable rather than aggressive
4. Wagner ThermoQuiet Ceramic Brake Pads: Best Value Pick
Wagner ThermoQuiet has been a default truck pad for years for a reason. The Integrally Molded Insulator bonds the shim, insulator, and friction material into one piece, which keeps noise down and reduces how much heat travels back into the caliper. On an F350 that means quiet, drama-free braking for daily driving and lighter towing, with the kind of broad fitment availability that makes finding the right set easy.
This is a balanced, dependable pad rather than a specialist. Push it into heavy fifth-wheel duty on long descents and it will warm up faster than the dedicated tow compounds higher on this list. For the owner who wants a quiet, low-dust, trustworthy replacement that covers the everyday and the occasional load, ThermoQuiet earns its value spot by simply doing the job without fuss.
- Integrally Molded Insulator design reduces noise and heat transfer to the caliper
- One-piece construction for consistent friction across the pad surface
- Application-specific shapes engineered for Ford truck calipers
Pros: Reliable, well-rounded performance from a trusted brake brand; Quiet operation and low dust for everyday and light-tow use; Widely available with strong fitment coverage for Super Duty
Cons: Ceramic compound is not built for the heaviest sustained towing; Bite is moderate rather than aggressive on an empty truck
5. ACDelco Professional Ceramic Brake Pads: Best OE-Style Replacement
For owners who liked how their F350 stopped when it was new and just want that back, the ACDelco Professional ceramic set is the safe, sensible call. The compound is tuned to mimic original equipment behavior, so the pedal feels familiar, the noise stays low, and the dust is light. Premium shims come in the box, and ACDelco’s parts coverage means you can find these at almost any counter when it is time for service.
The flip side of OE-style behavior is an OE-style ceiling. These pads will not give you extra towing headroom or sharper bite, and under the heaviest sustained loads they perform about like a good factory pad, which is to say fine until things get really hot. If you want stock feel and proven reliability without reinventing your brakes, ACDelco Professional delivers exactly that.
- Ceramic friction tuned to deliver OE-style pedal feel and quietness
- Premium multilayer shims included to suppress noise and vibration
- Backed by ACDelco quality control and broad parts-store availability
Pros: Predictable, factory-like braking feel that most drivers prefer; Quiet and low dust for everyday Super Duty driving; Easy to source and back up with widely stocked hardware
Cons: Performance ceiling under heavy towing matches a stock-style pad; Does not add bite beyond the original equipment feel
6. EBC Brakes 6000 Series Greenstuff Truck and SUV Brake Pads: Best Cold Bite
The EBC Greenstuff 6000 series is the pad to grab if you want immediate confidence the moment you touch the brakes. The aramid-based compound is engineered for heavy vehicles and gives a noticeably strong cold bite, so the very first stop feels planted instead of soft. EBC’s Brake-In coating shortens the bedding ritual, getting you to consistent performance faster than pads you have to baby for two hundred miles.
That eager friction comes with a familiar cost: more dust on the wheels than a true low-dust ceramic, and a feel that can be more assertive than a quiet daily commuter wants. If you regularly carry loads, drive your F350 with intent, and value a sharp pedal over pristine wheels, the Greenstuff trade-off is worth it. Owners chasing the quietest, cleanest setup should look at the ceramic options instead.
- Aramid fiber compound engineered for fast cold response on heavy vehicles
- Factory Brake-In surface coating speeds up the bedding process
- Designed specifically for trucks, SUVs, and light hauling duty
Pros: Strong first-stop bite even before the brakes warm up; Confident pedal feel for spirited and loaded truck driving; Bedding coating gets you to full performance quickly
Cons: Dust output is higher than most ceramic pads on this list; Aggressive feel may be more than a purely empty commuter needs
7. Detroit Axle Heavy Duty Ceramic Brake Pads: Best Complete Kit Option
When the goal is a complete brake refresh in a single order, Detroit Axle’s ceramic offering is a practical choice, especially because it is so often bundled with matching rotors and hardware for the F350. The ceramic compound is quiet and low on dust, which suits a truck used mostly for daily driving and lighter loads. For owners who want to do all four corners at once without piecing together parts from three suppliers, the kit approach is genuinely convenient.
Where it falls short is at the extreme end of Super Duty duty. This is not the pad to lean on for repeated heavy fifth-wheel descents, and the compound and overall longevity sit a step below the dedicated tow specialists at the top of this guide. As a tidy, complete, no-drama refresh for a mostly unloaded one-ton truck, though, it gets the job done and keeps the install simple.
- Ceramic compound aimed at quiet, low-dust everyday truck braking
- Hardware included and frequently sold bundled with matching rotors
- Front and rear coverage for the Super Duty in one convenient order
Pros: Convenient kit pricing logic for a full brake refresh in one box; Low dust and quiet operation for daily F350 driving; Simple sourcing when you want pads and rotors together
Cons: Not engineered for the heaviest sustained towing or steep grades; Compound and longevity sit below the premium tow-focused sets
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best brake pads for an F350 that tows heavy?
For heavy towing, you want a compound engineered for high heat and high load, not a basic street ceramic. The Power Stop Z36 Truck and Tow carbon-fiber ceramic and the Hawk LTS are the two standouts here because both resist fade under repeated loaded stops and long grade descents far better than ordinary pads. Both keep a firm pedal when the trailer is hooked up, which is exactly when stock-style pads tend to glaze and go soft. If towing is the main job, start with one of those two.
Should I use ceramic or semi-metallic pads on my Super Duty?
It depends on how you use the truck. Ceramic pads run quieter, produce less dust, and feel smoother, which suits a Super Duty that drives empty most of the time. Compounds built for trucks, like the carbon-fiber ceramic in the Power Stop Z36 or the Ferro-Carbon Hawk LTS, blend ceramic refinement with the heat tolerance heavy loads demand. Pure semi-metallic can handle heat well but is noisier and dustier. For most F350 owners, a truck-rated ceramic or carbon-fiber ceramic is the better all-around answer.
Do I need to replace the rotors when I change the brake pads?
Not always, but inspect them carefully first. If your rotors are within thickness specification, free of deep grooves, and not warped, fresh pads can run on resurfaced rotors. However, several pads here, especially the Power Stop Z36, reach their rated performance against matching slotted rotors, and a warped rotor will sabotage even the best pad with vibration and uneven bite. On a heavily worked F350, replacing pads and rotors together at the same interval is often the cleaner, longer-lasting move.
How long do brake pads last on an F350 Super Duty?
There is no fixed number because it depends entirely on load and driving. A Super Duty that tows constantly and runs grades will go through pads far faster than one that commutes empty. Hard, repeated heavy braking generates the heat that wears friction material down. Premium tow-rated compounds tend to last well under that abuse, while basic ceramics last longest in light-duty use. Watch for the wear sensor, listen for squeal, and inspect the pad thickness during tire rotations to stay ahead of it.
Why are my new F350 brakes squealing or making noise?
Most new-pad noise comes from skipped install steps rather than bad pads. Make sure you used the included shims and applied lubricant to the hardware and contact points, since dry slides and missing shims are the usual culprits. New pads also need proper bedding, a series of moderate stops to transfer an even friction layer onto the rotor, before they go quiet. Sets like the Bosch QuietCast and Wagner ThermoQuiet are specifically designed to minimize noise, but even those need correct installation and bedding to stay silent.
Our Verdict
For a Ford F350 Super Duty that actually works, the Power Stop Z36 Truck and Tow is our top pick, combining carbon-fiber ceramic heat tolerance, strong out-of-the-box bite, and low dust into the best all-around towing brake on this list. The Hawk LTS is the runner up and arguably the better choice if your truck lives at gross vehicle weight, with exceptional cold bite and fade resistance under the heaviest loads. If your Super Duty leans daily driver, the Bosch QuietCast gives you the quietest, cleanest setup instead.
