Semi-metallic pads
“Standard” brake pads usually means semi-metallic: metal fibers such as steel, iron and copper bound together with resin. They handle heat well and hold up to hard use, which is why you find them on heavy and performance vehicles.
- Pros: durable, and good at shedding heat under heavy loads.
- Cons: noisier (squeal or grind), more brake dust on your wheels, and harder on rotors, so rotors wear faster.
Ceramic pads
Ceramic pads use a dense ceramic compound, often with fine copper fibers mixed in to help carry heat away. The result is a pad that’s durable and light, and easier on the rest of the brake system.
- Pros: quieter, much less brake dust, longer pad life, gentler on rotors, and consistent across a wide range of temperatures and driving conditions.
- Cons: they cost more up front, and for racing or extreme sustained heat, a semi-metallic pad can still have the edge.
Why we use ceramic
For most drivers, ceramic pads are the better pad: quieter stops, cleaner wheels, longer life, and less wear on your rotors. That’s why every brake job at Off-Camber uses premium ceramic pads, and we replace the rotors along with the pads so the new pads start on a fresh surface.
Brakes making noise, pulling, or feeling soft? See our brake service, or call or text 970-509-5118.