Ceramic brakes - are they worth it?

waynne · 08-07-2008, 07:41 AM

Do you think that ceramic brakes are worth it? Does anyone know if they last substatially longer than conventional disks?

What would you say are the advantages of having Ceramic brakes then?

pgarner · 08-07-2008, 07:50 AM

have heard that they are fade free which is a good point but the bad ive heard if that they wear away quicker

waynne · 08-07-2008, 07:59 AM

They wear away quicker! These things cost 200 times as much as non ceramic. I was hoping they would last the life the life of the car considering what they cost.

pgarner · 08-07-2008, 08:00 AM

dont think so but would check up as ie only heard this from one or 2 sources everyone seemes just to say how good they are at stopping

Prince · 08-07-2008, 10:01 AM

I don't know the good points, but I do know they cost so bl***y much that I will never afford them! They seem to cost more than my car!

waynne · 09-07-2008, 07:10 AM

I think some of the EBC pads are now using ceramic technology - cost around £50-70. I guess the official Audi or Bentley pads are just extortionatly overpriced.

pgarner · 09-07-2008, 10:33 AM

ok done a quick bit of searching and the discs are supposed to last the life of the car.

alot of the pads, even as standard, are using a part ceramic pad

waynne · 10-07-2008, 06:32 AM

Thats not too bad then if it lasts for the life of the car.

I noticed that a lot of companies are moving away from Asbestos and using ceramic in their pads. It is still quite a recent development.

Now, next question, ceramic is usually smooth and shiny, so how does this provide a better friction surface for the brakes?

HDi fun · 11-07-2008, 10:16 PM

I've had problems with EBC pads in the past, pad material de-laminating etc.

pgarner · 12-07-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynne

Now, next question, ceramic is usually smooth and shiny, so how does this provide a better friction surface for the brakes?

i suppose when you look at a cast disc it smooth as well once its been used for a while. i think it must be because they can cope with all the extra heat and disparate it quicker as well without warping like a metal disc would do

HDi fun · 12-07-2008, 05:38 PM

Is warping really an issue on road cars? The more usual cause (I'm told anyway) of uneven braking and wheel vibration/shuddering is when pad material gets unevenly transferred to the disc, causing hot spots and high spots.

It's hard to prove this without an IR camera, anyone got access to one?

pgarner · 12-07-2008, 10:37 PM

not got one close to hand

i was thinking about when you put new discs on. they could be warped during the bedding in session.
ive also heard of the discs not sitting perfectly flush when changed which passes the feeling onto the steering and wear the pads and discs quicker

HDi fun · 13-07-2008, 10:40 AM

If the hubs are not cleaned up thoroughly when mounting the discs then that can cause LF vibration

waynne · 14-07-2008, 07:51 AM

I had an Astra with warped disks and they wobbled like crazy when the brakes went on. Pretty scary - soon got that one fixed.

Search