Ceramic Brake Pads Vs. Regular Brake Pads

Ceramic pads don't cause "brake dust," which helps to keep your wheels bright and shiny.

Metallic and semimetallic brake pads were once the only option for the automotive enthusiast, but ceramic and ceramic composites are starting to dominate the industry. Ceramic pads solve many of the problems of metallics, with very few drawbacks.

Pad Purpose

The purpose of any brake pad is to push or squeeze against the brake drum or disc to slow it down. Softer brake pads "bite" into the rotor and stop better but tend to wear out faster.

Stopping Power

The stopping power of ceramic and metallic pads varies by temperature. Ceramic pads tend to stop better when very hot, and metallics operate better in the cooler range.

Fade Resistance

A ceramic pad's strongest point is its ability to resist "brake fade," or the tendency to lose performance during repeated use and subsequent heating.

Wear

Though both pads tend to wear at similar rates, the ceramic's softer material surface helps to prevent damage to metal rotors.

Noise and Dust

Ceramic pads vibrate at a higher frequency than the human ear can detect, and thus appear quieter in operation than metallics. Also, ceramic pads don't cause the black "brake dust" deposits of metallics.

References

• AA1Car.com: Ceramic Brake Pads
• 5xRacing: Carbotech Brakes
• Dealnews.com: Metallic vs. Ceramic Discussion

Resources

• YouTube: A Good Case for Ceramics (Video)