Brace yourself for a thrilling ride as we delve into the world of automotive brake systems, spotlighting two industry giants: Duralast and Wagner.
We’ll dissect their performance, evaluate quality, compare prices, and weigh pros and cons.
Buckle up, because we’re about to figure out who really stops the show in this high-stakes Duralast vs Wagner showdown.
Duralast vs Wagner – Brand Comparison Table
| Duralast | Wagner | |
| Country of Origin | United States | United States |
| Year Founded | 1979 | 1891 |
| Made In | mostly in United States, China, Mexico | mostly in China |
| Founder | Pitt Hyde | Herbert Appleton Wagner |
| Parent | AutoZone, Inc. | Federal-Mogul Motorparts group |
| Overall Quality | great quality if you opt in for their Gold series | generally considered to be of respectable quality |
Duralast Gold Brake 55097DG vs Wagner BD126407E Brake Rotors Comparison
In this section, I’m going to compare the most popular Series – Gold Brake 55097DG and BD126407E from both brands by various product specs & features, prices, warranty, durability, performance, stopping power and noise levels.
Here is a detailed comparison table showcasing what each brand has to offer:
| Duralast | Wagner | |
| Series | Gold Brake 55097DG | BD126407E |
| Material | Iron Alloy | Cast Iron |
| Coating | Fully coated | Zinc coated |
| Type | Vented | Vented |
| Durability | Smooth stopping with no pedal pulsation and enhanced durability | Balanced through spin balancing and precision cut to minimize vibrations, enhancing stability and control |
| Performance | The high-carbon steel formulation effectively reduces noise and dissipates heat | The Original Equipment (OE)-specific vane design ensures powerful braking performance and efficient heat dissipation, while effectively managing noise, vibration, and harshness |
| Price | $106.99 | $53.98 |
| Warranty | 3-year, full-replacement warranty | covers defects in material and workmanship for 24 Months/24,000 Miles |
| Stopping Power Rating (More Stars = More Stopping Power) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Noise Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Noise) | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Performance Over Stock Rating (More Stars = More Performance) | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
Duralast Elite Copper Free Ceramic vs Wagner QuickStop Ceramic Brake Pads Comparison
In the following section, I’m going to compare the most renowned Brake Pads series from both brands by various product specs & features, prices, warranty, performance, stopping power, brake dust accumulation and noise levels.
Here is a detailed comparison table showcasing what each brand has to offer:
| Duralast | Wagner | |
| Series | Elite Copper Free Ceramic | QuickStop Ceramic |
| Material | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Performance | These next-generation pads are designed to last up to three times longer, ensuring exceptional durability for your vehicle. The patented transfer layer technology safeguards both the brake pads and rotors, minimizing wear and tear. | Wagner’s QuickStop Ceramic brake pads are meticulously crafted with OE-matched friction formulations and configurations, ensuring reliable, like-new braking performance and maximum durability. |
| Price | $38.99 – $81.49 | $11.21 – $144.42 |
| Warranty | Limited-Lifetime | covers defects in materials or workmanship for a period of 24 months (24,000 miles) |
| Dust Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Dust) | ⭐ | ⭐ |
| Stopping Power Rating (More Stars = More Stopping Power) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Noise Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Noise) | ⭐ | ⭐ |
| Performance Over Stock Rating (More Stars = More Performance) | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
Differences
1. Overall Performance and Quality
When comparing the performance and quality of Duralast and Wagner brake parts, there are differing opinions from users:
Duralast:
- Performance is mixed. Some users find them suitable for daily use, while others favor brands like Centric or Powerstop.
- Duralast gold ceramic brake pads are praised for their smooth and fast performance, and they offer good value for the cost.
- However, some users experienced issues with Duralast Gold rotors and pads, such as squealing when coming to a stop.
Wagner:
- Wagner brake parts, particularly the ThermoQuiet brake pads, come highly recommended by several users.
- Users appreciate the good bite and low brake dust. Many plan to repurchase Wagner parts for future brake jobs.
- The premium Wagner brake rotors are lauded for their E-Shield protective electro-coating, which helps prevent corrosion.
- Despite these positives, some users reported issues with Wagner parts failing or producing noise.
In conclusion, both Duralast and Wagner have their strengths and weaknesses.
2. Rotors and Brake Pads Prices
I’ve gathered some interesting information regarding the brake rotor prices for both brands. You can take a look at them in the table below:
| Duralast Rotors Prices⁽¹⁾ | Wagner Rotors Prices⁽²⁾ | |
| Lowest Priced Rotors | Duralast Brake Rotor 31263 goes from $22.99 | Wagner Solid Rear Brake Rotor goes from $18.86 |
| Most Expensive Rotors | Duralast Brake Rotor 70172DL goes for $1001.99 | Wagner Vented Front Brake Rotor goes for $385.06 |
Alternatively, you can see the brake pads prices for Duralast and Wagner below:
| Duralast Brake Pads Prices⁽¹⁾ | Wagner Brake Pads Prices⁽²⁾ | |
| Lowest Priced Pads | Duralast Ceramic Brake Pads D223 go from $15.49 | Wagner QuickStop Semi-Metallic Rear Disc Brake Pads go from $10.77 |
| Most Expensive Pads | Duralast Gold Ceramic Brake Pads DG1897 go for $162.99 | Wagner QuickStop Ceramic Front Disc Brake Pads go for $144.42 |
3. Pros and Cons
In this section, I’ve tried to showcase the most noticeable advantages and disadvantages for these two experts in brakes.
Duralast
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔ Good for daily use | ❌ Users report that Duralast Gold brake pads may produce more brake dust than other models |
| ✔ Affordable | |
| ✔ All Auto Zone (Duralast Brand) brake pads have a limited lifetime warranty |
Wagner
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔ Reliability | ❌ Complains about brake dust and noise from some of their brake pads |
| ✔ Respectable quality | |
| ✔ Affordable pricing |
Which Is the Better Brand Overall?
After closely considering the customer feedback and weighing the pros and cons of both the Duralast and Wagner brake brands, it’s a tie.
Both brands offer reliable and affordable options for everyday use.
However, they also share the downside of occasional noise and dust complaints.
Ultimately, the choice between Duralast and Wagner would be based on personal preference.