Ceramic Vs. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads: What Are The Differences?

Ceramic Vs. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads: I can’t imagine a perfect car without a good braking system, A good braking system comes from good braking pads. when we talk about good braking pads than we all confuse with what is the best brake pad out there Ceramic or Semi-Metallic brake pad. So, today we did a detailed comparison between Ceramic Vs. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads.

By the time, brake pads have developed from asbestos brake pads to organic brake pads, to semi-metallic brake pads and ceramic brake pads.

Ceramic Brake Pads

Ceramic brake pads were found in the 1980s. These brake pads getting more popularity from the past few years due to noise level, durability, and driving conditions.

ceramic_pads
Ceramic brake Pads

Ceramic pads are made from a dense ceramic material with embedded copper fibers. Copper fibers help to increase their friction and heat conductivity and generate less dust. Ceramic pads are quiet and last the longest.

Ceramic brake pads are a great choice for quiet daily driving, due to less dust, less noise. Car racers and big truck drivers with even bigger loads, these pads probably aren’t the best brake pads for you. Overall, these pads are a great deal if noise, brake dust, and longevity are a concern.

Pros
  • A great choice for comfortable driving.
  • Quieter than semi-metallic pads.
  • Ceramic pads can last longer.
  • Less brake dust producer results from cleaner wheels.
  • Stable under a wide range of temperatures for consistent performance.
Cons
  • Most expensive Brake Pads.
  • Not good for heavy-duty performance.
  • More wear on brake rotors.
  • Require warm-up time to be most effective.
  • Not recommended for racing.

Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

A semi-metallic brake pad is made exactly what it sounds like. Metallic brake pads contain anywhere between 30% to 70% metals including iron, copper, steel, or other composite alloys. All these metals are combined with graphite lubricants as well as other fillers to complete the brake pad.

semi-metallic_brake_pads
Metallic Brake Pads

Semi-metallic pads life longer than organic pads, but not as long as a ceramic pad and they are priced somewhere in between organic and ceramic pads. Semi-metallic pads are for you if you do a lot of race, heavy-towing your vehicle on a regular basis.

I can’t say that semi-metallic pads are the best brake out there. If you find yourself on the racetrack a lot than metallic pads are for you. When it comes to the ceramic vs. metallic brake pads debate, nothing can match the conductibility of metal.

Pros.
  • Less Expensive than ceramic Pads.
  • Good for heavy-towing.
  • Excellent braking power in various temperature conditions.
  • Less pressure needs to be applied to the brake pedal.
Cons.
  • Produce extra black dust.
  • Not last longer than ceramic pads.
  • Noisier than ceramic brake pads.
  • More strain and wear on the brake rotors.

Ceramic vs. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

Here we did the complete details differences between Ceramic vs. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads.

BaseCeramic PadsSemi-Metallic pads
CostMost Expensive pads out there.Less expensive than ceramic pads.
Brake DustCeramic pads produce less brake dust.semi-metallic pad produce bit more.
DurabilityThese pads are more durable than Semi-Metallic pads.These pads are less durable than ceramic pads.
TemperatureCeramic brake pads don’t perform well in higher temperature conditions.Best braking experience in various temperature conditions.
NoiseThese pads are less noisy.And the other hand these are a bit more noisier than ceramic pads.
PerformanceThese pads are ideal for day-to-day traffic.More favorable for high performance.
Heavy DutyCeramic pads are not good for heavy towing.Compare to ceramic pads, Metallic pads are good for heavy towing.

Making The Right Decision For You

To make your final decision, which one is the best ceramic vs. semi-metallic brake pads? Pick all those things in mind that you are not willing to compromise at all.

If you have a high-performance sports car, or you doing heavy towing than you should definitely go for metallic brake pads.

Semi-Metallic brake pads giving you the best braking experience in various temperature conditions and you need less pressure to be applied to the brake pedal. And the other side these pads are noisier than ceramic brake pads with giving you extra dust on wheels.

Ceramic Brake Pads comes with quieter stops, cleaner wheels, and generally longer pad-life due to their harder composition. These pads are the clear choice for comfortable driving. But these pads are the most expensive Brake Pads out there.

If you do a lot of urban riding, casual city or highway driving than the Ceramic Brake pad is the clear winner for you.

Whichever brake pad with you go for, make sure to use a high-quality brake pad. If you’re having your brakes replaced by a repair shop, ask them what brand they like to use.

If you have any questions do comment below. if You like it Do share it.

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