Ceramic Brake Pads??
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
Ceramic Brake Pads??
I will soon need new brake pads. I understand that the ceramic pads don't throw dust like the stock ones do. What is your experience as to wearing qualities of the ceramic and have you been happy with them??? What are the disadvantages of ceramic.? I was told at Nissan they only install stock Nissan pads. Although the service rep did tell me that BMW autos come with ceramic pads. I would appreciate your input.
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From: California
Ceramics from what i know dont have nearly the same level of brake grip as say a composite pad. So they shouldn't be used for tracking and such aggressive driving. But dust levels are VERY low virtually no dust... I dont get too much noise from braking but then again i have them only on the rears... If you want better pad wear, check out the frozen rotors from tire rack. The freezing process which likely uses liquid N2 to rearange the molecules of the metal, to make the rotor more even over all and provide better braking..
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From: Delaware
I have the Hawk Hp ceramic pads. Love them, Have no problems with them. Feel alot better then stock and def better on lesser brake dust. Funny cuz I'm goin to change my rear today with hawk hp pads as well. I believe many of Z owners on here use the Hawk pads. Unless they go with a whole new brake setup.
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Originally Posted by pezeveng319
check out the frozen rotors from tire rack. The freezing process which likely uses liquid N2 to rearange the molecules of the metal, to make the rotor more even over all and provide better braking..
Found an excerpt:
Cryogenically Treating
Last year a top race team bought 4 rotors. Two were bone stock, and two were subjected to a process know as Cryogenically Treating - one of the high-tech buzzwords floating around the paddock. The rotors were run back-to-back on the same track on the same car on the same day with temperatures taken to make sure that they saw the same level of heat. Following the track session, the parts were removed and we had them literally dissected by a materials lab.
The testing conducted included surface hardness, grain structure analysis, density, and surface scanning with an electron microscope. Guess what - after seeing the heat of use, the rotors looked identical in every regard. This is not to say that there is not a benefit from treating other parts that see lower temperatures and/or have different material properties. However, treating the rotors on the racecar showed no tangible benefits (note that it didn't seem to hurt anything either). Come to your own conclusions…
Last year a top race team bought 4 rotors. Two were bone stock, and two were subjected to a process know as Cryogenically Treating - one of the high-tech buzzwords floating around the paddock. The rotors were run back-to-back on the same track on the same car on the same day with temperatures taken to make sure that they saw the same level of heat. Following the track session, the parts were removed and we had them literally dissected by a materials lab.
The testing conducted included surface hardness, grain structure analysis, density, and surface scanning with an electron microscope. Guess what - after seeing the heat of use, the rotors looked identical in every regard. This is not to say that there is not a benefit from treating other parts that see lower temperatures and/or have different material properties. However, treating the rotors on the racecar showed no tangible benefits (note that it didn't seem to hurt anything either). Come to your own conclusions…
Last edited by MustGoFastR; Jun 22, 2006 at 03:47 PM.
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
HawkHP ceramic Pads
Originally Posted by NiSmO21z
I have the Hawk Hp ceramic pads. Love them, Have no problems with them. Feel alot better then stock and def better on lesser brake dust. Funny cuz I'm goin to change my rear today with hawk hp pads as well. I believe many of Z owners on here use the Hawk pads. Unless they go with a whole new brake setup.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Torrance, CA
I have Hawk's "Performance Ceramic" pads (not the "HPS", which i think is not ceramic compound) installed about 3 months ago for the front wheels.
First, the amount of dust being generated is extremely low (about the same level as the stock rear pads or maybe less).
The down-side is significantly lower grip than the stock pads. Ironically, i like it because the stock pads were a bit too grippy for my taste (yes, i drive very gentle
)
Another thing i want to point out is that the pads squeal when cold (like when you first start driving the car in the morning). But it goes away as soon as the pads get warm (after about 2 or 3 stops) so it doesn't bother me at all.
So if you're really sick of brake dust and don't mind slightly less grip, try the ceramic pads. Hope this helps.
First, the amount of dust being generated is extremely low (about the same level as the stock rear pads or maybe less).
The down-side is significantly lower grip than the stock pads. Ironically, i like it because the stock pads were a bit too grippy for my taste (yes, i drive very gentle
)Another thing i want to point out is that the pads squeal when cold (like when you first start driving the car in the morning). But it goes away as soon as the pads get warm (after about 2 or 3 stops) so it doesn't bother me at all.
So if you're really sick of brake dust and don't mind slightly less grip, try the ceramic pads. Hope this helps.
Last edited by z33roy; Jun 23, 2006 at 12:29 AM.
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