I agree... some great first hand information. I would like to correct one statement. You are inaccurate in stating only pads bound for OEM or "Genuine" boxes are TUV approved.

In Germany TUV approval is needed to produce a brake pad for the aftermarket. As I have stated previously that is a 10% +/- Original equipment performance in all categories, that is factual and if you contact TMD Friction, the maker of most of the pads we have talked about from Pagid to Mintex, they can confirm this.

TUV approval is defiantly not something that is required to have a good product. DOT, ISO, insurance companies and SNELL all have an approval process that cost money. SNELL approved helmets are almost always more expensive than a DOT helmet. Insurance companies have DOT crash tests that are so weak that they pay to have the tests done again.

My point is Automotive parts have very few standards and a quick visit to e-bay will show that anyone can sell a automotive part, no need for product liability, long term testing, nothing. To separate the junk from the quality the consumer has very few means to gauge quality and performance. Products that do not have ISO factories, DOT or TUV approval should be scrutinized very closely, there is a reason these product do not have generally recognized quality and performance recognition and you have to ask yourself if it’s something you want to overlook.

Sorry dont mean to hijack the post, we are not really on the brake pad topic anylonger.

Can someone explain this "bedding" process?? We just had new OEM brakes installed and the wife said she didn't think it was braking as quickly as it did beforehand.