Which is Better for Your Car in San Jose: Metallic or Ceramic Brake Pads

Brakes obviously play a vital role in your vehicle’s ability to properly function. You want to make sure that you are investing the proper attention to your brakes. When it comes to changing the brake pads, you have a few options. It can be confusing and even overwhelming if you do not know what your options are or what the pros and cons are to each style. Brake pad technology has improved significantly over the years, many actually used to be made using asbestos. Now, the primary brake pad options are metallic and ceramic. However, you can also get organic ones too.

By having a good understanding of each, you will know how they influence the performance of your car. If you are unsure about what benefits are right for you and your vehicle, you can always contact your mechanic and get professional advice from them. It is always recommended to have a mechanic you trust to give you honest information and who is familiar with working on your type of vehicle.

WHAT ARE CERAMIC BRAKE PADS?

One option for your brake pads would be ceramic. The ceramic brake pads are made from a blend of ceramic and have copper fibers that are embedded into the compound that make up the pad. They were originally introduced during the ’80s and are still a reliable option that many drivers choose. The ceramic and copper allow the pads to withstand high-braking temperatures. This helps the brake pads to not have as much of a heat fade. This, in turn, allows for a better and faster recovery after braking. It also helps to generate less dust.

Some other pros to the ceramic brake pads are that they tend to be quieter than the metallic brake pads. They also will last longer than the metallic brake pads because they have a higher level of durability.

The cons to having ceramic brake pads are that they tend to be a bit pricier than the metallic options and they also will cause more wear to the brake rotors. If you are racing your car or you are doing any heavy towing, the ceramic brake pads are probably not the best option for you.

WHAT ARE METALLIC BRAKE PADS?

When selecting metallic brake pads, it is good to have and understanding of how they work. Metallic brake pads use parts of metallic fibers to make the brake pad compound. Depending on the quality, the fibers may be incredibly fine or they may be a bit larger and courser. The more expensive ones will use very small fibers and cheaper options will use the larger fibers.

The metallic brake pads are excellent for cold climates and for people who are frequently taking trips shorter distances. They even tend to be less expensive than the ceramic options and will not wear the rotors down as much as ceramics will. This option is much better if you will be racing your car or will be doing any heavy towing.

There are some cons to the metallic brake pads though, but depending on your needs, the cons may not be a deal breaker for you. The metallic brake pads are significantly louder and have a lower life span than the ceramic brake pad option. They also will create more dust that ends up sticking to the wheels of your vehicle.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Here at Fast Lane European located in San Jose, CA we can help you determine what the best option is for you when it comes to brake pads. The decision to get metallic brake pads or ceramic brake pads can be confusing when you are not sure of what you need, but our ASE Master technicians will be able to talk with you to help you figure out what is right for your needs.

We take pride in our quality customer service and want our clients to be satisfied and to get them back out on the road while making sure they are safe. If you would like to learn more about the services we offer, or you would like to schedule an appointment to get your brake pads replaced, please contact our office or visit our website.