Break Preference

[sifu_scott]

I've heard about different types of break pads, etc, that won't cause the annoying dust all over the front wheels of my PT. What should I be looking for, and how expensive are they usually?

[Hooligan]

I use NAPA SS-7716X creamic $74.00, I had the same on my 2006, virtually no dust.

[SRG]

My "Break" preference used to be soda and buttered roll, and the newspaper......

My "Brake" preference...... Hooligan has it right, ceramic eliminate the dust, and NAPA is usually a pretty good deal and good quality. They also last quite a bit longer than the OEM pads.

Good Luck!
srg

[quicksilverdon]

I found good prices at Tire Rack.
Ceramic is the way to go.

[Mean Green]

I had great luck with semi metallic pads. They last a long time and hardly any brake dust.

[bobs turbo pt]

Ceramic work well !!

[damilleniumboy]

Brake Pads

Some things about brake pads before I get into the different types that will help your braking are shims, and Lubricants. Shims will help from heat of the brakes transferring to the brake fluid. If you get the brake fluid to boil you brake will suffer. Shims also help keep squeaking and noise down. Lubricants also help keep the noise down but because it is a liquid it will only help for so long. The lubricant really helps in free motion between brake pads and its mounts. Pads also have chamfer and slots like some rotors have. The chamfer can help with eliminating noise but gives you less friction surface. Slots help give the braking more bite. They also help with expanding and contracting with different temperatures.

Pads can be very confusing because there is not an industries standard in the different names of pads. Companies can really call the pad what ever they want just as long as it has a little bit of that element in it.

Semi-Metallic Pads

Semi metallic pads are made from ferrous metals or iron. These materials increase operating temperature ranges. Because of the higher temperatures they can handle they are used in a lot of high performance applications. The downside of these pads are because they use these abrasive materials the wear the rotors down a lot faster. ( I know you guys are thinking this is wrong and that ceramic pads wear down rotors faster just keep reading and you will see why there is a big misunderstanding in pads)

Non-Asbestos Organic Pads

Most organic pads do not have ferrous compounds in the pad itself. Some companies put copper in the pads to act as a lubricant. Because they use these materials they don't not work as well at higher temperatures but they make less noise and have a smooth stopping feel to them. A lot of car manufactures use these pads on there cars because of this pads qualities.

Ceramic Pads



Ceramic pads are not just make of ceramic unless they say so as in race cars. And they are not made from old bath room sinks, toilets and tubs. Most ceramic pads are a mixture of ferrous, organic materials and ceramic powder. Because there is no industries standard there is no way to tell how much ceramic powder is put into each pad. The ceramic pad like the organic pad is a quieter pad but because it has ferrous materials in it can be an abrasive pad and wear done the rotor faster too. Because we don't know the mixtures some ceramic pads will wear rotors down faster than others. This pad is the middle of the road pad between organic pads and semi metallic pads. It has better stopping power than organic and less than semi metallic. This is really just a tricky pad because you don't no how far you are away form organic and semi metallic. One thing you will almost always get is a low dust pad with good street and performance qualities.

Some good companies are Hawk, Akebono and Performance Friction

Exotic Material Pads



There are a few different types of exotic pads. Carbon pads are the most common right now. They are made up of semi metallic pads and carbon. They are great with heat which leads to less brake fade. They are great for a car that goes to the track and is driven on the road. But like semi metallic pads remember the rotor life is shorter.

Another type of exotic pad is the Kevlar pads. It has a cool name but because Kevlar has a low melting point they are not that great for high performance cars.

The last one is Titanium pads. Titanium has a high melting point but does not dissipate heat very well. It also wears down a lot faster. Once again a cool name but hard to find and not very helpful.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by damilleniumboy

Brake Pads

Some things about brake pads before I get into the different types that will help your braking are shims, and Lubricants. Shims will help from heat of the brakes transferring to the brake fluid. If you get the brake fluid to boil you brake will suffer. Shims also help keep squeaking and noise down. Lubricants also help keep the noise down but because it is a liquid it will only help for so long. The lubricant really helps in free motion between brake pads and its mounts. Pads also have chamfer and slots like some rotors have. The chamfer can help with eliminating noise but gives you less friction surface. Slots help give the braking more bite. They also help with expanding and contracting with different temperatures.

Pads can be very confusing because there is not an industries standard in the different names of pads. Companies can really call the pad what ever they want just as long as it has a little bit of that element in it.

Semi-Metallic Pads

Semi metallic pads are made from ferrous metals or iron. These materials increase operating temperature ranges. Because of the higher temperatures they can handle they are used in a lot of high performance applications. The downside of these pads are because they use these abrasive materials the wear the rotors down a lot faster. ( I know you guys are thinking this is wrong and that ceramic pads wear down rotors faster just keep reading and you will see why there is a big misunderstanding in pads)

Non-Asbestos Organic Pads

Most organic pads do not have ferrous compounds in the pad itself. Some companies put copper in the pads to act as a lubricant. Because they use these materials they don't not work as well at higher temperatures but they make less noise and have a smooth stopping feel to them. A lot of car manufactures use these pads on there cars because of this pads qualities.

Ceramic Pads



Ceramic pads are not just make of ceramic unless they say so as in race cars. And they are not made from old bath room sinks, toilets and tubs. Most ceramic pads are a mixture of ferrous, organic materials and ceramic powder. Because there is no industries standard there is no way to tell how much ceramic powder is put into each pad. The ceramic pad like the organic pad is a quieter pad but because it has ferrous materials in it can be an abrasive pad and wear done the rotor faster too. Because we don't know the mixtures some ceramic pads will wear rotors down faster than others. This pad is the middle of the road pad between organic pads and semi metallic pads. It has better stopping power than organic and less than semi metallic. This is really just a tricky pad because you don't no how far you are away form organic and semi metallic. One thing you will almost always get is a low dust pad with good street and performance qualities.

Some good companies are Hawk, Akebono and Performance Friction

Exotic Material Pads



There are a few different types of exotic pads. Carbon pads are the most common right now. They are made up of semi metallic pads and carbon. They are great with heat which leads to less brake fade. They are great for a car that goes to the track and is driven on the road. But like semi metallic pads remember the rotor life is shorter.

Another type of exotic pad is the Kevlar pads. It has a cool name but because Kevlar has a low melting point they are not that great for high performance cars.

The last one is Titanium pads. Titanium has a high melting point but does not dissipate heat very well. It also wears down a lot faster. Once again a cool name but hard to find and not very helpful.

Nice read. Thank you.

[soonercruiser]

Great info damilleniumboy!!
I am printing this out.
Makes sense to me as a dentist. Current Ceramic crowns, no matter how polished or fired and glazed are always much more abrasive that metal crown and natural teeth. Therefore, anything opposing porcelain (ceramics) always suffers more wear - especially in bruxers and grinders. (Clenchers = people who ride their brakes)
So, the wear of ceramic pads against the rotors will be worst, the higher the proportion of ceramic.

[damilleniumboy]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

Great info damilleniumboy!!
I am printing this out.
Makes sense to me as a dentist. Current Ceramic crowns, no matter how polished or fired and glazed are always much more abrasive that metal crown and natural teeth. Therefore, anything opposing porcelain (ceramics) always suffers more wear - especially in bruxers and grinders. (Clenchers = people who ride their brakes)
So, the wear of ceramic pads against the rotors will be worst, the higher the proportion of ceramic.

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Nice read. Thank you.

Thanks