Hi,

I'm thinking of replacing my stock pads with Hawk on my 1999 5.9l 2WD...
However they make a total of 4 different types according to the Summit Racing website - including ceramic and ferro-carbon...
Which to go for if I want improved braking performance with the stock rotors...??

Chris

 

Always go for ceramics they may eat up the rotors a little faster but you will always stop and they are very predictable (no brake fade).

 

I agree with the ceramics. Less brake dust.

 

I am on my third set of pads, about to go on the fourth in the next month, and by far the best ones that I had for stopping power were the Titanium ones. They were on drilled and slotted rotors and they shortened my stopping distance by a lot. There is one major drawback they produce a lot of brake dust about twice as much as the OE. I have ceramic ones now and have gotten 50K miles on them vs. 30K stock. They are much better than stock, has almost no brake dust which I love, but the one drawback is that you have to rotate your tires more often so they don’t squeak. One more thing about the ceramic pads is every time you replace them you will need new rotors because there will not be enough steel left on the old ones.

 

Wow, I did not think ceramic pads would eat rotors! I know that full metallic pads wear down the rotors pretty quick. I used to remember those regular organic pads were the best! provide the best braking compared to metallic and they don't eat rotors. No squeaking. But the drawback is they wear out fairly quickly. I don't think they make those organic pads anymore because of the asbestos material used in making the organic pad?

 

Yeah full metallics are a no-no but the ceramics will eat up the rotors too, just not as quickly. Just keep in mind, something's always gotta give.