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Question:

Are ceramic brake pads better than semi-metallic brake pads?

I‘m trying to figure out my options on new brake pads thats needed soon. I see ceramic cost more so I‘m guessing they are better but semi-metallic was recommended for my car.Does ceramic cause less brake dust stop better? Thanks for any advice.

Answer:

ceramic pads are only better if you have a decent set of tyre's and you do lots of full on braking when you are driving. If you have stock tyre's or drive sensibly you will have little or no advantage. If you want better stopping power then put more rubber on the road with some wider tires. If your brake pads are good enough to lock the wheels or cause the ABS to cut in even when you are driving hard then ceramic discs will be a waste of your money. If you do suffer from a lot of brake fade get ceramics.
I run ceramic on all my vehicles. These pads use ceramic compounds and copper fibers in place of the semi-metallic pad's steel fibers. This allows the ceramic pads to handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide faster recovery after the stop, and generate less dust and wear on both the pads and rotors. And from a comfort standpoint, ceramic compounds provide much quieter braking because the ceramic compound helps dampen noise by generating a frequency beyond the human hearing range. Another characteristic that makes ceramic materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. The ingredients in ceramic compounds produce a light colored dust that is much less noticeable and less likely to stick to the wheels. Consequently, wheels and tires maintain a cleaner appearance longer. Ceramic pads meet or exceed all original equipment standards for durability, stopping distance and noise. According to durability tests, ceramic compounds extend brake life compared to most other semi-metallic and organic materials and outlast other premium pad materials by a significant margin - with no sacrifice in noise control, pad life or braking performance. This is quite an improvement over organic and semi-metallic brake materials that typically sacrifice pad life to reduce noise, or vice versa.
Are Ceramic Brake Pads Better
The brakes rapidly engage and release, so you don't lose turning ability.

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