Ceramic pads

R

RustyBumper

New member
It's time to get some new pads on my truck and I'm thinking about getting ceramics for the fronts. The reason I want ceramic pads is because I would like to have something that it low dusting. It's a pain to always have to clean my wheels. I was just wondering which brands other members have tried and what their experiences were with them?



I've got a 2002 GMC Sierra 4.8L Ext. Cab 2WD. Thanks for helping me out. :)
 
I have run Carbotechs which are ceramic and they were sketchy at time in the rain. The pads lasted forever and were very low on dust but they run better at high temps.
 
You are sacrificing some performance with Ceramic pads, IMO.



I usually put on a good organic compound. I don't mind the dusting for good braking.



Usually I experience less initial bite and more easily warped rotors with ceramic pads.
 
CarboTech, practically no dust. After 2 weeks of driving I find very little dusting. Now I live in SoCal, so I don't know how they would react in the rainier climates.

I have talked to the president of CarboTech and he is a super guy, very customer orientated.
 
i switched the pads on my C6 when new to Delco ceramics. they are great and i have no dust with GM parts.:xyxthumbs
 
jimmie jam said:
i switched the pads on my C6 when new to Delco ceramics. they are great and i have no dust with GM parts.:xyxthumbs
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I wish I had the gumption to do that. I have the hipo brakes on my GM and the car has the best braking of any I've ever had, but the black dust is terrible. I just can't get myself revved up to do the brakes when they don't need to be done.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I wish I had the gumption to do that. I have the hipo brakes on my GM and the car has the best braking of any I've ever had, but the black dust is terrible. I just can't get myself revved up to do the brakes when they don't need to be done.
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i know the feeling. i was feeling a little apprehensive taking apart a 70K car that i just watched be put together at the factory.
 
jimmie jam said:
i switched the pads on my C6 when new to Delco ceramics. they are great and i have no dust with GM parts.:xyxthumbs
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That's good to hear. As I was watching tv last night I saw a Goodwrench commercial for GM ceramics installed for $79. So for $79 I get ceramic brakes and labor. Not a bad deal and it will keep me from having to do my Flinstone braking techniques. I'll try them out and see how it goes. In the meantime I can start saving my money for some other ceramics and maybe a rotor combo kit.
 
Which of the ceramic pads are the most forgiving or most street-friendly, so to speak? I won't tolerate brakes that perform poorly when cold. (I had a bad experience when someone sold me pads that were a terrible recommendation.)



Thx.
 
I agree w/Setec. I've tried them all but for great stopping and low dusting Akebono-Pro Act is it. I was looking initially for a low duster also, got the pads at a good price at Rock Auto online.
 
Just make sure you match up the pad to the rotor. Too many people see "Ceramic" and their eyes bug out, heart races for beter stopping, less dusting etc.



If the pads are not matched correctly, you WILL have issues in both stopping when cold/wet, warping rotors and possiblity of cooking a bearing.



I should know, the Porsche has ceramic brakes, but not just pads, but rotors, which match well as the rotor can get cherry red and still perform the same no matter how hot it gets.



However, flood it with water, and it's a different story. You have to learn to shed-off water on some brakes and on other brake systems it can get worse due to type of rotor and location.



My advise is to correctly match a rotor to the pads. Failure to do that will result in poor performance or worse it can effect your life OR OTHERS. Just because it's says "Ceramic" doesn't mean it's best for your vehicle, it's also a marketing ploy as well.



Deanski
 
another option would be hawk performance ceramic pads... i have them on the viper and challenger and they are top-notch for street stopping use
 
Well after doing some shopping around online I've decided that I'm going to go with stock parts. One of the biggest things that influenced my decision is the fact that Goodwrench currently has a $25 mail-in rebate going on for ceramic brakes right now. For $75 I get not only parts but labor as well. That's too good of a deal to pass up right now. In the meantime, I'll just start saving and hopefully in the future I can get a brake/rotor combo.
 
I know on BMW's the Akebonos have a good reputation for ceramic pads. Good ceramic should only trade initial brake bite for lower dust. They shouldn't make any more noise or behave differently when it's cold out.
 
Dunbar42 said:
I know on BMW's the Akebonos have a good reputation for ceramic pads. Good ceramic should only trade initial brake bite for lower dust. They shouldn't make any more noise or behave differently when it's cold out.
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The references to "cold" brake performance are not pertaining to the ambient temperature but as to whether the brake pads are heated up to operating temperature. Some pads don't perform well until you have made a number of stops so as to heat up the pad from braking friction. Some concept as doing burnouts to heat up your drag slicks.
 
I just recently switched to Powerslot Slotted rotors, and Hawk HPS pads for my Civic SI (14 lbs of boost on K20A3), and it definitely helps with the stopping, I don't drive like a maniac, but when I get spirited on a few of the country roads I live near they help me take some of the turns at better speeds, and slow down for deer quick (coming home at normal speeds!)
 
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