Ceramic vs semi metallic pads

[mike diesel]

Getting ready to do brakes on my truck. Ordered russell Stainless braided lines and will be changing pads as well as front rotors and all fluids associated. Rear rotors look good still. The rear pads were the worst though. They were trashed, and had chunks crumbled off of them.

These were the cheapest ceramic pads napa offered. But now I am wanting to step it up and put some better stuff on.

I know ceramics last longer (supposed to anyways) but don't have the best bite when cold. Semi metallics don't last as long but seem to have better performance cold and doing some research it seems that most "race cars" stick with semi metallics.

Looking into the more expensive ceramics and more expensive semi metallics, they all claim to be the "best all around" pad. I'm looking for the best overall bite (holding power) on the line and something that won't completely fade out trying to slow down from 130+ mph.

From what is offered between Napa, Autozone and Oreilly's, what are people liking the best? We also have advanced auto and a car quest here..

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I like the RAYBESTOS advanced technology semi metalics. ROCKAUTO has them, and you used to be able to get them through CARQUEST. The only downfall to them is they have been a little short on pad life, and make ALOT of brake dust. But they flat out STOP! My body style BURB was always known for POOR brakes, and the RAYBESTOS pads REALLY helped out. I helped a friend put a set on his E-350 box van that is ALWAYS overloaded, and they flat out stopped that thing in a hurry to.

 

[Porno Joe]

My local carquest carries "Akebono" which is supposed to be the OE pads. just put em in prolly a month ago and I like em.

they are ceramic.

I only got like 15k out of my hawk performance rear pads semi metallic. they just wore down too fast for me, and that was with no serious towing. and the set I took off look like they had been on there a looooonnnnngggg time.

 

[JoshH]

I don't know what is better, but I have been happy with my Hawk LTS pads I put on a few years ago. I wish I was better about keeping records of mileage and dates of when exactly I did things on my truck, but I know it has to have been over 2 years ago that I put those pads on, and probably somewhere in the neighborhood of at least 30k miles. The last time I rotated my tires (about a month ago), they still had plenty of pad left, and they don't appear to be eating my EBC slotted and dimpled rotors. They do dust a little, but it's not what I would call excessive. Before they were broken in and properly seated, they did have trouble biting when cold, but I haven't noticed any problems lately. They have a good initial bite that you can feel gets better as they get some heat into them. As I'm coming to a stop, I have to ease up on the pedal to keep the same rate of deceleration. I don't do a lot of heavy stop and go driving, so I can't speak to how well they deal with fade, but I've never noticed any problems. As far as the material goes, Hawk calls them a Ferro-Carbon pad, whatever that means. Here's a cool chart I found on their website. I'm not sure which compound is the one I'm running (if it is even on there), but I sent them an email asking. I'll post their response if/when I get one.

 

[mike diesel]

The current pads I have/had in there have maybe 5000 miles on them and they are gone. But i have been dynoing alot lately using my brakes to load the chargers.

I think im going to try some of the more expensive semi metallics this go around.

Interesting chart there josh, seems the oem pads are about worthless according to that chart.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I know I tried AKEBONO's on my BURB, and they were by far the WORST pad I have ever tried in my life. EVERY stop I made was a panic stop with them wondering when I was going to stop. And for GMT-800 trucks RAYBESTOS blue ceramics were stock as far as I know. Not sure on newer trucks, but RAYBESTOS made most AC DELCO pads.

 

[JDub]

My vote for good all-around pads has always been for Wagner Thermo-Quiets. They're a semi metallic

 

[mike diesel]

Made up my mind...went with some brand new front rotors, napa sever duty ultra premium semi metallic pads front and rear, some dot 4 synthetic brake fluid and a power steering flush. My russell braided lines should be here today also.

 

[TheBac]

My vote for good all-around pads has always been for Wagner Thermo-Quiets. They're a semi metallic

Just dont use the ceramic ThermoQuiets....holy shit do they squeal. Ive got a set of NAPA adaptive one pads for replacements for the Aurora that I have to find the time to install.

Mike, I found that the NAPA severe-duty (police-quality) pads work very well in our application. Those are what I have had on the truck for 6 years now. No noise, low dust, no issues stopping the truck at the track or under normal "truck" use.

 

[mike diesel]

Just dont use the ceramic ThermoQuiets....holy shit do they squeal. Ive got a set of NAPA adaptive one pads for replacements for the Aurora that I have to find the time to install.

Mike, I found that the NAPA severe-duty (police-quality) pads work very well in our application. Those are what I have had on the truck for 6 years now. No noise, low dust, no issues stopping the truck at the track or under normal "truck" use.

Awesome! That's what I wanted to hear.

 

[Awenta]

I only use Akebono for my cars because they're clean but I would NEVER trust them in my trucks.

Looks like a good setup! If this doesn't help then hydroboost and pump next.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[TheBac]

Awesome! That's what I wanted to hear.

I paired them with their "ultra premium" rotors, and I have not had any problems. The pads are a bit pricey, so keep that in mind. Even now, they stop decent, and I havent done maintenance in a couple years. (Yes, I know.....I should be slapped for that)

I bought the PowerStop Truck and Tow pads and their Extreme Performance rotors for all four corners of the 1/2 ton from RockAuto.
Time will tell how those perform, but Im confident they'll be fine.

 

[mike diesel]

I paired them with their "ultra premium" rotors, and I have not had any problems. The pads are a bit pricey, so keep that in mind. Even now, they stop decent, and I havent done maintenance in a couple years. (Yes, I know.....I should be slapped for that)

I bought the PowerStop Truck and Tow pads and their Extreme Performance rotors for all four corners of the 1/2 ton from RockAuto.
Time will tell how those perform, but Im confident they'll be fine.

With my work discount i paid $63 for the front pads and $55 for the rears.

 

[TheBac]

That'll work.

 

[mike diesel]

New rotors are on, new pads are on, new brake lines are on and fluid has been bled.

Holy crap these things stop extremely well. The pedal feels absolutely amazing. My old brakes felt like a set of bicycle brakes slowing down 7000lbs in comparison. Put a few break in miles on them then went and did a 4x4 spool up test. Holds the truck back till 20psi no problem. I'm very pleased with how it has turned out.

Still need to flush the power steering, will do that in the next day or so.

 

[mike diesel]

Here are the old cheapo ceramics...

Rear:



The fronts are severely cracked. All 4 pads looked just like that.

 

[Porno Joe]

Did you have the rear rotors cut? Saw you replaced the fronts but said you were reusing the rears. what did the rear rotors look like if the pads were that bad?

 

[Porno Joe]

I know I tried AKEBONO's on my BURB, and they were by far the WORST pad I have ever tried in my life. EVERY stop I made was a panic stop with them wondering when I was going to stop. And for GMT-800 trucks RAYBESTOS blue ceramics were stock as far as I know. Not sure on newer trucks, but RAYBESTOS made most AC DELCO pads.

I dunno so far I have zero complaints about them on the rear of my truck. They stop way better than what was on my truck. though I misspoke before, I thought I originally had hawk pads, they were actually EBC pads. Fronts have held up well, but the rears like I said 15k or less miles. I have drilled and slotted rotors all around also.

Also, Mike, did you think about the SSBC calipers for our trucks? Don't hear much about them on the forums so not sure how they actually perform. I've debating updating to these a couple times

http://ssbrakes.com/i-10092222-cali...ange-aluminum-caliper-upgrade-kit-a187-4.html

 

[mike diesel]

I didn't touch the rear rotors. Surprisingly, they were smooth and looked great.

 

[Porno Joe]

As worn as the pads are I'm surprised they looked good. Esp since it looks like the closest pad in the pic is worn clear down and the backing was touching on the one corner. I never put new pads on old rotors though. I always have the rotors turned.