Its that time...I was wondering if anyone had any experience with ceramic brake pads? Any pros/cons with using these over regular oem/heavy duty pads?

Thanks for the info.

 

ceramics will stop you much quicker than regular pads or the semi metalic types. but just as you said, your gunna pay a bit more.

now, some people who do alot of round town running sometimes have to get their rotors turned every 6-8 months and replace the pads, however, if your mostly highway, you can go just as long as the regular pads. it all just depends on your driveing habits.

ceramics will be a good bit more dusty, and may talk to you a bit more, but alot of the times when your in a pinch and need to come to a stop ceramics can do it very well.

 

I just replaced my brake pads like last month and went with the ceramics myself. I only paid $47.00 for the front pads and like $45.00 for the rear! Got to love the dealer discount and then a military discount on top of that. I think the normal price for them was $96.00 for the front and $92.00 for the rear pads.

They work great! I can stop on the dime and they are better that OEM. You can just see and feel the difference in the ceramics compared to the OEM. Although your going to pay a little more and have much more noise.

 

What kind of noise are we talking here...high pitch squeal or a low grumble? I dont want to sound like a POS when I stop at the light.

 

I installed a set of those ceramics on my wifes Neon and they are awesome I also changed out the rotors, it doesn't leave that telltale brakedust all over the wheels. The drawback is that they are very expensive and if you put a set on, I highly recommend turning the rotors. Good luck!!

 

It's a high pitch squeal noise. It doesn't happen all the time, but it does about 25% of the time.

When it does happen people tend to hear it then look at the truck and question themselves. "That noise can't be coming from that truck!" I tend to laugh about it, if they only knew that I put expensive a$$ pads on. lol

I also bought all new OEM rotors when I put the ceramics on. Now I won't have to worry about rotors for the life of the truck.

 

High pitch squeal is usually due to high frequency vibration caused by the pad backing plate.
Use some disc brake quiet inbetween the pad and caliper on installation and you shouldn't get this noise.
The Permatex aresol spray stuff is the best, stay away from the blue silicone gooo that comes with most brake pads, junk.

 

Has anyone used Akebono pads? They make a ceramic for my truck, ACT897 & ACT898, and was wondering who was familiar with this name or product.

 

I put Ceramics all the way around. Cant remember what brand. They ran me about $150 total. Anyway, I have experienced no additional noise and significantly LESS dust.

 

I've installed a set of Akebono pads purchased from the Tirerack on my Highlander along with Autozone Duralast rotors. After 20k miles, they still haven't worn past the chamfer and look like new. Dust is significantly less than than the oem. Stopping power feels much better as well. When it's time to replace the pads on my Ram 1500, I'm using Akebono pads.