Ceramic Vs Semi-Metallic Brake Pads | Learning Guide
For selecting the most suitable brake pad for your car you need to understand the difference between ceramic vs semi-metallic brake pads.
Ceramic brake pads are a widespread type of brake pads and the components are the clay of porcelain mixed with copper filament. This choice of build materials makes them suitable for durable and cleaner use for an elongated period.
On the other hand, semi-metallic brake pads are another type of brake pads that are, as the name implies, semi-metallic. That means the components are not all out of metal but of a specific mixture of synthetic materials with metal compounds. This greatly increases the strength of these brake pads, making them suitable for heavy-duty usage.
Ceramic Vs Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
There is an age-old confusion about deciding which one is the best brake pads? This dilemma has confused newbies for years, and due to the confusion, people often end up with the wrong type of brake pad for their car resulting in horrible experiences.
So, what makes these two brake pads so confusing and so different at the same time? Is it the ceramic brake pads, or is it the semi-metallic ones? Which one is the better one? – these questions are quite common to be precise. Let us find the answers considering the critical facts of differences.
Build Material
As mentioned before, the components of ceramic brake pads are clay and porcelain mixed with flaked copper or copper filaments.
On the contrary, the components of semi-metallic brake pads are the mixture of synthetic non-metallic compounds and a varying proportion of metallic materials.
Dust Production
One of the most significant perks that come with the ceramic brake pads is low dust production. Due to being made out of a clay mixture of porcelain and copper, the ceramic brake pads produce very low dust and hence, ensures cleaner wheels for more extended periods.
On the other hand, semi-metallic brake pads are quite the dust harvesters producing more and more dust now and then. So, if you’re going for a semi-metallic one, keep in mind the cleaning requirement that will come as well.
Noise Production
Ceramic brake pads are excellent at noise reduction. Brake pads tend to produce noise every time they are in contact due to friction. Sometimes, this is quite disturbing. However, ceramic brake pads handle this problem quite well. They produce a very low brake-noise that doesn't hurt your ear.
But when it comes to semi-metallic ones, they produce quite a noise, and sometimes it may turn out to be excessive. So, if you have a terrible tolerance to noise, choosing a set of semi-metallic brake pads may just not be a wise decision for you.
Wear on Brake Rotor
Ceramic brake pads are not rotor friendly at all. They tend to leave bad wears on the rotors and is, therefore, a crucial obstacle for longer rotor life.
In comparison, semi-metallic brake pads are quite gentle on the rotors and do almost no damage to the rotor-surface.
Heavy-Duty Usage
Ceramic brake pads do not tend to handle heavy-duty uses well. This makes them unsuitable for racing as well as heavy-duty towing.
But semi-metallic ones are built for heavy-duty usage. Their partly metallic properties enable them to work well under load, making them an ideal choice for heavy-duty towing.
Heat Dissipation
Ceramic brake pads can handle higher brake temperatures with less heat fade, ensuring improved thermals and faster recovery.
However, semi-metallic brake pads have weaker thermal maintenance, although they can provide sufficient grip even in very cold temperatures.
Cost
Ceramic brake pads are way costlier than semi-metallic brake pads due to them being made of more premium build materials and providing a far better performance.
On the contrary, semi-metallic brake pads are quite an economical solution costing way less bucks than the ceramic ones. So, if you’re on a tight budget, semi-metallic brake pads can be a good choice for you.
Product Lifetime
Ceramic brake pads ensure durability due to premium materials and allow them to last longer than semi-metallic ones. Changing brake pad is not frequent.
In comparison, semi-metallic brake pads do not tend to last as long as the ceramic ones as they get worn off earlier. This is quite a disadvantage if you're thinking of buying semi-metallic brake pads.
Final Thoughts:
It is important to know the uses of Ceramic Vs Semi-Metallic Brake Pads. Ceramic brake pads are more durable, long-lasting, and cleaner than semi-metallic ones, which makes them ideal for your everyday car. But if you’re looking for a heavy-duty one for your tow truck, semi-metallic brake pads are what you should go for.
