There are many aspects to the way a car runs that you may completely take for granted. Many people don’t even know how their cars work, even though they are behind the wheel every single day. However, there is quite a bit to consider when it comes to cars; brake pads alone are very important and can be a real topic of conversation.
What are the pros and cons of ceramic versus metallic brake pads? Generally, ceramic brake pads allow for better performance than metallic brake pads. However, they are also significantly more expensive. There are pros and cons associated with both that make them viable options.
Brake pads are much more important than most people realize. Their function is crucial to your ability to drive a car safely. Because safety is important, it is a good idea to know a little bit more about the types of brake pads and the pros and cons that come with each of your options.
Before learning about the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of brake pads, a quick review of brake pads is in order. You use the brakes of your car all the time, such as whenever you reach a stop sign or red light on the road. However, there’s a lot more to it than stepping on the right pedal.
The brake pads are the component of your braking system that make contact with the brake rotors in your vehicle, applying both friction and pressure to them. When the brake pads make contact with the brake rotors, they force your wheels to stop.
Brake pads are extremely strong and undergo much stress. Think about how quickly the wheels of your car rotate and how much your car weighs. Of course, you want to make sure that the brake pads you use are made of the most resilient material possible.
The friction between the brake pads and the rotors of your car is what causes the wheels to slow down and stop turning. The light press of your foot to the brake pedal activates a series of events that leads to this friction.
When you push down on your brakes, you activate a cylinder that sends brake fluids down to the calipers below your car. The calipers make contact with your brake pads, and then your brake pads apply pressure to the rotors of each of the wheels of your car.
Then, this pressure will lead to the friction that is necessary to bring your vehicle to a stop. When your rotor slows down, your wheels will slow down as well.
Interestingly, when you take your foot off the brake pedal, the whole process will take place in reverse. The brake pads will release the rotors of your car, the brake fluids will move away from the calipers and back up the hoses, and your wheels will start moving again.
If you want to learn more about how the 40 parts of a brake work together, check out this video.
Ceramic brake pads were introduced in the 1980s. Their first use was for high-speed trains, but later high were adapted to be used in high-performance cars. They are made from a combination of ceramic fibers, bonding agents, copper fibers, and other filler material. The ceramic and copper fibers allow the pads to be very tolerant to very high brake temperatures.
Ceramic brake pads keep the performance of your car very strong, even after you’ve made a large number of hard stops. They dissipate heat very well because of the compounds from which they are made.
Ceramic brake pads are also very resilient and do not break down significantly when you use them repeatedly. Due to these two qualities, they last a long time and produce significantly less dust than other types of brake pads. Also, the dust that these brake pads produce is less noticeable in appearance and does not stick to the wheels of your car.
Compared to metallic brake pads, ceramic brake pads are quieter. They are also more durable overall.
Even though ceramic brake pads may seem like a great choice, there are disadvantages as well. The main disadvantage is that they are very expensive. They are significantly more expensive than metallic brake pads, at least in terms of the upfront costs. You can typically expect to pay an additional 50% for ceramic brake pads.
Additionally, even though the brake pads themselves are more durable, ceramic brake pads generally make for more wear and tear on your rotors than the metallic ones would.
The majority of vehicles that you will see on the road have metallic brake pads, often referred to as semi-metallic brake pads. However, you should keep in mind that just because they are metallic does not mean that they are simply pieces of metal. They are made of different types of metal, including copper, graphite, steel, and iron. Fibers of these metals are all mixed with bond material to form the pads.
These metallic brake pads can vary quite a bit when it comes to quality. The higher-quality pads contain finer metallic fibers, while the lower-quality pads tend to have larger and coarser pieces of metal. As would be expected, the brake pads made from the finer fibers are generally more expensive.
Metallic brake pads are significantly less expensive than their ceramic counterparts. They are also less likely to cause damage to the rotors then the ceramic pads, although they do cause some damage just because they are heavy and lack malleability. They work very effectively as well, with an effective grip even during cold weather (even though they do work most effectively when it’s warm).
Metallic brake pads will give you high-quality performance and will effectively transfer the heat generated by the friction that is created with the brake rotors. These brake pads are both durable and cost-effective. Because they are so durable, they are even a good option if you have a heavy vehicle, such as a truck.
A major disadvantage associated with metallic brake pads is that they are heavy. This can have a minor impact on how much fuel your car uses while you are driving. Additionally, the extra weight makes it so that metallic brake pads aren’t necessarily the pads of choice for people who are interested in high-performance driving.
Even though metallic brake pads are durable, they generally do not last as long as the ceramic ones do. Also, they give rise to more dark dust that is more likely to stick to the wheels of your car then the dust generated by ceramic brake pads. They are also significantly louder than ceramic pads, which can impact your driving experience.
There are many pros and cons that come with both ceramic and metallic brake pads. The brake pads that are best for your vehicle depends on what’s important to you. Ceramic brake pads might give you a slightly more streamlined driving experience, but you should decide whether or not the extra money you would spend on them is worth that. You can also consult with other experts to figure out what would be the best choice for your particular car. At the end of the day, you need to weigh the pros and cons and figure out which choice is better for you.