Ceramic brake pad linings are a relatively new compound in the automotive industry. Cars first started coming equipped with ceramic brake pads in the early 90's. The ceramic compounds have changed significantly since the first introduction into the marketplace. Initial concerns with the original ceramic compounds focused on the reduced stopping power with cold brakes, and premature wear of the rotors. This was because the original compound was adapted from automotive racing, and when you are racing a vehicle the brakes are being treated in a very different way than during every day driving situations. Tires, brakes and the engine reach a significantly higher operating temperature in race vehicles and this is the temperature that the ceramic components were designed to operate in. The ceramic materials are now more suitable for every day driving and are considered an upgrade regardless of whether the vehicle was originally equipped with semi-metallic, ceramic, or organic pads.
All brake pads perform as required, meaning they stop your vehicle when you put your foot on the brake pedal. That said, while there are advantages with all brake lining compounds the only advantage that the semi-metallic pad offers is an incredibly low price. Alternatively, Ceramic Brake Pads offer some notable advantages. First and foremost, the ceramic pad does not create a visible brake dust that blackens your wheels. If you have wheels that you are proud of, i.e. chrome or wheels that cost more than your vehicle; you will be a big fan of the ceramic brake pad. The second advantage is the reduced tendency to squeal. The ceramic compound does not contain steel fibers; the metal content in some semi-metallic pads was found to be the source of brake squeal for some manufacturers. The ceramic compound also typically lasts longer than a semi-metallic compound, and this is seen as an advantage with most vehicles, because pads normally wear out quicker than the rotors. Finding a perfect balance of wear between rotors and pads, so that rotors need to be replaced at the same time as the pads do, is the ideal situation. Ceramics typically help make this happen, but most vehicles' brake designs are quite different and this is not always the case.
Once you are aware of the differences between the two primary brake pads on the market the choice becomes clear. If you are replacing the brake pads on your daily driver pay the incrementally higher price and purchase the clearly superior ceramic brake pads. If you are only trying to keep that old beater alive for another year then maybe you will find the semi-metallic's to be the a very suitable and certainly more economical choice.
You don't have much reason to think about your brake pads until either they start to wear down, start to grab and squeak or, even worse, fail on you. Then you likely want to know more about your brake pads and the options available as you decide what to do to have them replaced.
Really, all you want your brakes to do is work and work in all kinds of weather and temperatures and to work quietly. Noisy brakes are only slightly better than no brakes at all. Also, you don't want your brakes to generate lots of dust to mess up your rims or wheels. All brakes will produce dust as they hit your rotor and stop your car. But the issue of dust is especially important if you've waded into the aftermarket to buy custom rims and wheels and so have money invested. Clean rims mean happy owners.
The materials used to make brake pads have changed over the last few decades. Asbestos pads of course were tied to the health problems that made asbestos an issue in the first place. Semi-metallic brake pads are a current option that is a cheap way to go. Semi-metallic pads are made of strands of steel and, while they do the trick for braking, they also can be noisy and do produce more dust. Also, the metal part of the pad will wear on the rotor faster than other options. Still, semi-metallic pads are frequently selected because of the price.
Ceramic pads have only come on the marketplace since the 1990s but they have advantages that many drivers enjoy. The ceramic models are threaded with copper fibers instead of steel. Ceramic brake pads can work with higher temperatures and don't generate as much dirt and grim. The ceramic materials mean less noise and less wear on the rotor for the long haul. It is also generally accepted that ceramic brake pads last longer than other pads. As a result, ceramic pads in general do cost slightly more than the other options.
It's good to have all this in mind when it comes time to replace your brakes. A little knowledge will give you peace of mind as you make this important decision about your car. Brakes are nothing to fool around with and that's an understatement. You have to have brakes that work. But brakes that aren't as noisy or as messy are nice to have as well.
