Ceramic Pads ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 57
From: Halcottsville NY
Ceramic Pads ?
I'm thinking of replacing the stock pads on my 07' coupe with ceramic pads, but, I've heard that the ceramic pads wear the rotors out faster than the stock ones do. Is there any truth to this? I've never used ceramic's before and I don't want to use them if they're going to cause quicker wear.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
No. Ceramic pads are universally considered "rotor friendly" compared to the stock semi-metallic pads.
Research Carbotech brakes (Forum vendor) or Hawk brakes, check their ceramic descriptions.
Research Carbotech brakes (Forum vendor) or Hawk brakes, check their ceramic descriptions.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I'd agree that they probably don't wear out rotors faster than other types of brake pads. They are supposedly less dusty and most say they stop about as well as stock brake pads (non-ceramic). If you do actual track racing however, most are not recommended for that purpose. Altho recently, we've heard from a poster that there may be ceramic compounds able to withstand racing temperatures and usage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 21
From: D Block
They do cause less wear, semi-metallics have metal in the compound which is harsher on the rotors themselves. My concern is how much stopping power will we lose switching to a ceramic brake pad? Almost all cars nowadays come OE with ceramic pads, so if a manufacturer puts a semi-metallic pad on a car there is a reason.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I'm thinking of replacing the stock pads on my 07' coupe with ceramic pads, but, I've heard that the ceramic pads wear the rotors out faster than the stock ones do. Is there any truth to this? I've never used ceramic's before and I don't want to use them if they're going to cause quicker wear.
The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 57
From: Halcottsville NY
Thank you, all, for your responses. I guess I've been mislead by a few, well intentioned friends. I don't plan on tracking my Vette, I just like to cruise and drive for fun. I just can't stand all the damn brake dust on the wheels. I will be putting ceramics on, very shortly.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
True, some ceramics do squeal after a while. I have the Hawk Z pads and do shave some squeal and I will probably try the Carbotech pads next. I guess the there is a choice to be made...very low dust but with potential squeal.
