SafeLine Brake Pads vs. Ferodo (In-Depth Comparison)

When the time comes to change the brake pads on your vehicle, many people face a choice between two different brands.

Usually, it is one premium and one with a lower reputation, such as a choice between SafeLine brake pads vs. Ferodo.

The main difference between SafeLine and Ferodo brake pads is that Ferodo manufactures premium OEM and aftermarket brake pads, while SafeLine is more of a middle-of-the-road OEM and OEM replacement pads maker.

Which of these brake pad brands is a better choice?

We have tried to answer that question by comparing the data available about their products and their customers’ experiences.

So, let’s see how they compare.

SafeLine vs. Ferodo Brake Pads Comparison Table

If you are in a hurry or just impatient, here is a quick rundown of what we have found out comparing these two brands.

Maybe this is enough information for you to decide, but we think that this snapshot is not enough to have a clear picture.

But, for a detailed analysis, please continue reading this article.

 SafeLineFerodo
OriginSouth AfricaUK
PriceLowHigh
PerformanceAverageHigh
DurabilityHighAbove average
VarietyAverageHigh
Warranty31K miles1-year

SafeLine Brake Pads vs. Ferodo Detailed Comparison

When comparing two brake pad brands, there are several factors you must include. Just comparing the performance is not enough.

When you look only at stopping power, the brake pads that exert the highest friction force on discs would always win.

But such pads shred to pieces those discs and are suitable only for the race track.

The information you will find below is summed up in the table above, but it should give you a detailed picture of the qualities of these two brands.

Origin

SafeLine is a specialized brake pads manufacturer that hails all the way from the South African Republic.

They were founded in 1992 and since then has become the largest manufacturer of OEM and replacement brake pads in the African continent.

Ferodo was founded in 1897 as a producer of horsedrawn carriages in Derbyshire, England.

In 1902 they invented what we are talking about now, brake lining or brake pads.

Precisely 100 years ago, they’ve become the first OEM maker of brake pads in the world, and since then have been involved in motorsport and both OEM and aftermarket brake pads production.

Price

Depending on the make and model of the vehicle you are purchasing replacement pads, you can expect that a set of brake pads from SafeLine will cost you between $10 and $100, but the average price is around $30.

On the other side, Ferodo’s most affordable items can be found for roughly a similar minimum price.

But the higher end of the price range goes up to $375.

For both brands, these are just the costs of the pads, without the tax and cost of labor to replace them.

Performance

The SafeLine brake pads are on the OEM level of some average economy passenger vehicles when it comes to performance.

They will safely and quickly stop your car at a reasonable distance if you don’t ask too much from them.

In other words, they are good brake pads but not really performance brake pads.

Most of the Ferodo brake pads indeed show the racing DNA built in them. They are excellent performers, especially when they get a bit warm.

Durability

Though SafeLine brake pads are not built to bring your vehicle from 200mph to 0mph quickly, they are built to last you a very long time.

Depending on the model of your car and your braking and driving style, you can expect them to last between 50 and 70 thousand miles.

Ferodo brake pads are made with a greater emphasis on performance, because of which you should expect some 20 to 30 thousand miles of life in one set of them.

Brake Pad Variety

Comparing the number of individual models of brake pads from these two brands is very one-sided.

SafeLine has around 700 products, with the majority for economy class vehicles.

In comparison, Ferodo has either OEM or replacement pads for a large percentage of both newly produced and older vehicles but also has many performance parts.

Ferodo produces OEM parts for the likes of: 

  • Fiat 
  • Volkswagen 
  • BMW
  • Mercedes 
  • Citroen 
  • Ford 
  • Audi 
  • Opel 
  • Renault 
  • Ferrari 
  • Porsche, and many more 

Their catalog features several thousand items.

Warranty

SafeLine gives you a limited 31 thousand miles (50,000 kilometers) warranty on all of their brake pads.

A unique warranty in the industry and a testament to the durability of their products.

The warranty policy is also a one-sided comparison, but the scales tip the other side from the variety of products in this case.

On the other hand, from Ferodo, you can expect the most basic one-year limited warranty, which is the legal minimum warranty period in many countries in the world.

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, check out: SBS vs. EBC Brake Pads

Pros and Cons of SafeLine Brake Pads

SafeLine brake pads are very affordable products and among the most durable ones, you can find globally. And they provide you with a respectable performance.

But, they are not the best ones, and certainly not for high-performance vehicles.

As they are made on a different continent, they are also in a very short supply.

Pros and Cons of Ferodo Brake Pads

Ferodo brake pads are all about performance and comfort, which is the reason why they make OEM parts for both luxury and sports car brands. But also why they are anything but cheap.

Another disadvantage of them is that you absolutely must have high-quality brake discs, as these pads can really shorten their lifespan, as the pads themself are not durability champions.

You might like some of our other comparison brake pads comparison posts:

Final Thoughts

Choosing the brake pads brand can be a tough choice, as you can see from this comparison of SafeLine brake pads vs. Ferodo.

SafeLine products give you a good performance, but they do it on the cheap and have extreme durability.

On the other hand, Ferodo has products that cost a good coin and have superior performance but a much shorter life span.

So maybe the fundamental choice between these two brands is whether you want pads that will last a long time or pads that will give you extreme performance.

Sources

http://safelinebrakes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=180&Itemid=203
https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/63444-Safeline-brake-pads
https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/300731-Safeline-Brake-pads
https://www.rallysportdirect.com/part/brake-pads/fer-frp3067h-ferodo-ds2500-front-brake-pads/reviews
https://www.vehiclemaintenanceandrepairs.com/ferodo-brake-pads-review/
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/ferodo-brake-pads-review.1463849/