Ceramic brake pads are quite the rage these days, with many cars now equipped with them. However, do they really make your brakes better? Or are they material that will only provide you with a false sense of security? Let’s talk a bit about ceramic brake pads and see for ourselves.
Ceramics is the newest technology to hit the automotive world as we speak. Ceramic brake pads are made out of fiberglass-reinforced polyurethanes (FRP), which are then coated in epoxy resin and metal particles before being used in automotive applications.
Ceramic brake pads are a good option for your car’s brakes. Stopping a car in an emergency can be problematic without good brakes, however, brake pads that are made of ceramic are able to withstand high friction and high temperatures, making this option to be perfect in emergency situations.
Ceramic brake pads have many positive attributes, including low weight, high heat retention, and longevity. In addition, Ceramic Brake Pads are resistant to brake dust.
Being able to work very well at high temperatures, especially in conditions of frequent and shard braking, ceramic brake pads are widely used in races and cars engaged in sports competitions.
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What are the advantages of ceramic brake pads?
There are many advantages to using ceramic brake pads. First of all, they don’t rust. This provides you with a much longer life cycle than the typical steel braking system.
This is quite a big deal if you own a car that has high mileage, as it will provide you with peace of mind that your braking system will be able to hold up for a lot longer than some other metal braking systems.
Another advantage is the ability to improve your stopping power under extreme conditions. Ceramic brake pads are extremely resistant to wear and tear, so the friction between them and the pads and rotors is extremely strong.
With this being the case, there is a greater possibility that you will be able to stop your vehicle better under adverse weather conditions.
Being resistant to wear and tear means that ceramic brake pads are also a more reliable product. They’re not going to wear out as quickly as conventional braking pads.
If you replace your brakes with new ceramics then you won’t have to worry about the metal in your old brake pads rusting or corroding because of moisture intrusions into the system.
This means you don’t have to worry about flooding your braking system with antifreeze or something similar when getting used to a new set of brakes.
The operation of pads made of ceramics at high temperatures, among other things, reduces the likelihood of rotor deformation, so, in the future, you will not have to repair your car that often, which is also a significant and important advantage.
The absence of a metal-ceramic brake pad in the alloy also suggests that the rotor will last a longer period, and the reduction of high temperatures during braking for large, oversized trucks also suggests a greater advantage of installing ceramic pads than metal ones.
Ceramic brake pads are very quiet in operation. They do not emit a characteristic creak, and all this is achieved due to the small percentage of iron in their composition For many drivers this indicator is very important, especially if the driver likes a quiet ride.
They are characterized by a large temperature range showing a high coefficient of friction in the temperature range from 0 degrees Celsius to +600 degrees Celsius (32 F to 1112 F).
At the same time, if we are talking about sports ceramic pads, they will show a greater result and a temperature range.
Let’s summarize the advantages of ceramic pads:
- reduction of weight, and load on the car’s suspension;
- friction is not accompanied by the release of dust like regular brake pads;
- increased friction and braking effect at high temperatures;
- long service life.
What are the disadvantages of ceramic brake pads?
For many drivers, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Maybe one of the most notable ones is their tendency to stop quickly in wet or dry conditions.
This means that you’re not getting a full warning before your brakes fail, and this can lead to losing control in an emergency situation.
Therefore, when looking for ceramic brake pads it is important to understand how they perform under adverse conditions. If they fail under wet or dry conditions then it is likely that they will also fail when you’re on the go.
The common disadvantages of using ceramic brake pads:
- ceramic brake pads can’t be reused
- ceramic pads are more expensive
- they have a lower coefficient of friction than metallic ones
- if your car only has a single set of brakes, it’s possible that all four brakes will fail at the same time if your car has ceramic brake pads on them.
- high price;
- warming up is required before operation;
- creaks may appear.
What are the differences between metallic brake pads and ceramic brake pads?
- Metallic brake pads are more environmentally friendly than ceramic ones because they use less metal and they can be recycled if you take them out.
- Ceramic brake pads are lighter and thinner than metallic ones, this means that your car’s brakes will have a lower total weight on them when you use ceramic brake pads.
- Metallic brake pads warm up faster than ceramic ones because metallic brake pads are made of metal and can conduct heat better.
- Metallic braking surfaces wear out faster than ceramic ones. Because metallic braking surfaces are softer than ceramic ones, they wear out quicker, so it’s a disadvantage for metallic brakes because you’ll have to replace the parts sooner rather than later.
- Metal pads absorb water from the atmosphere much better than ceramic ones do. This means they don’t get washed away or left behind on the road when you use your car after a rainy day.
- Metallic brake pads have a higher coefficient of friction than ceramic ones, which means that they absorb less energy in the form of heat and store it better before transferring it to the brakes. This means that you’ll have to apply more force to your brakes when using metallic brake pads compared to when using ceramic ones.
- Metallic braking surfaces require more pressure to achieve peak braking performance because metallic surfaces are so much smoother and harder than ceramic ones.
- If your car has only a single set of brakes, then you’ll want to use ceramic brake pads because they are much more effective in equalizing the car’s braking force on both wheels.
- If you live in a drier climate than your car’s manufacturer recommends, then you probably should use ceramic brake pads on it.
- You can’t reuse ceramic brake pads like you can reuse metallic ones. If you don’t have more than one set of brakes on your car and definitely want to upgrade to it, then go with ceramic ones instead of metallic ones.
Conclusion
Taking into account all the features and characteristics of ceramic brake pads, we can conclude that their strengths and advantages outweigh the existing disadvantages and many drivers do not doubt their quality and reliability.
By installing them on your car, you can achieve a longer service life for the car itself and its braking parts, as well as increase indicators such as safety, while reducing the need for more frequent inspection, repair, prevention, and money spent on repairs. It is important to choose a quality product too.
