We all know the importance of the brakes when driving right? When it comes to your car’s braking system, the brake pads are very important elements in ensuring your safety when using the brakes.
These brake pads convert the kinetic energy in the moving car to thermal energy through friction, without them, you will not be able to use the brakes effectively.
They are used to increase the brake’s functionality. It is easier to replace these pads than always changing the wheels. They are different types of brake pads that vary in performance and durability.
Different Types of Brake Pads
Hence, picking a suitable pad for your car will save you the stress and time of always changing your brakes. So let’s have a look at the different brake brands so you can get what fits your needs.
01. Organic Brake Pads
They are also known as the Non-asbestos organic pads (NAO). These were the most popular brake pads in the past, which is made from asbestos.
This Asbestos is very effective in taking in and dissipating heat from friction. But, when it breaks down, it produces a lot of dust, which affects both your health and the wheels of the car.
So the manufacturers now decided to abandon this Asbestos and use more environmental-friendly materials like rubber, glass, and resins to produce a more natural brake pad called the Non-asbestos organic pads (NAO).
The first advantage comes with the price, as these pads the cheapest of all the brake pads. They are very soft and comfy which increases your comfort as you drive.
The new designs produce less dust and heat. Organic pads easily generate more friction without necessarily producing much heat. They are also lightweight and also produce little noise compared to the semi-metallic pads.
However, the unsatisfactory fact is that given its soft nature, they easily wear-out with time.
Despite the fact that the eco-friendly ones work well in regular Street driving, as temperatures start increasing, the effectiveness of the pads on the brakes starts seducing.
The high temperatures can easily damage the materials, especially when carrying heavy loads.
They will work perfectly in some normal specific weather but when severe weather conditions set in, you will experience some brake failure. Thus, they will work well in smaller vehicles with little hostile driving.
02. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
Semi-metallic pads are the most commonly used and could be a preferred option for your small vehicle.
This brake pad is produced from iron, copper, steel, and graphite. They provide exceptional performance in transferring the heat created by friction between the pad and the brake blades.
The reason why most people go for these pads is that they are affordable and sturdy.
They are more efficient than organic pads as they are more durable and provide excellent performance even in harsh weather conditions.
However, the metallic pads are so hefty and are certainly not a great option for high-performance driving.
Considering the fact that they are extremely hard, they can cause the brake blades to easily wear-out.
Also, when temperatures are low in cold environments, you may experience some more unexpected delay after engaging the brakes, for the pads work perfectly when there is much heat.
They also turn to be a little noisier and produce more dust which could damage your wheels. But most people still go for it because it is very durable and affordable.
03. Ceramic brake pads
Last but most effective, we have the lightweight and durable ceramic brake pads which are the best amongst all of the other brake pads.
Just as the name goes, they are primarily made from ceramic material and have copper fibers surrounded within its structure.
This pad was developed primarily to reduce the noise and dust produced by the other brake pads.
Ceramic brake pads are recommended for high-performance vehicles on high speeds and frequent surprising stops. This is the most expensive of all pads, and don’t need frequent repairs.
Its high frequency makes it difficult for you to get little or no noise. It also produces less dust that does not even stick to the wheels.
Generally, ceramic brake pads have a longer life expectancy than the organic and semi-metallic models because the product is so solid that it is not easy to deteriorate easily.
These brake pads additionally work perfectly even under fluctuating temperatures from cool to warm without undergoing any stress.
The first disadvantage comes with the price, due to its multiple advantages, they have a tendency to be a lot more costly.
Even though they work perfectly in different weather conditions, they could experience some issues in freezing weather.
You may certainly witness increased brake rotors as ceramic pads are not able to bear a great deal of brake load.
Choosing Your Brake Pad
Now that you have seen the pros and cons of all the different brake pads, sure you must be confused about which one you need to get for your car.
When choosing a break bad for your car, go for what you need and not what others are going in for.
All the different brake pads have their own unique benefits so I will advise you seek the help of your car manufacturing company before making this decision.
Brake pads are selected based on the manufacturer’s requirements. You are encouraged to purchase just the specific pad which matches your car’s capabilities, don’t go for what is too high or too low, go for what is needed.
All the brake pads are not equal, consider your driving habits and select your specific brake pads that will certainly last and work well with your rotors.
If you are looking for a high-efficiency brake pad, then the Ceramic pads are your first option as it will certainly last for a long period of time and produce less dust on the wheels but also remember they are the most expensive.
But if you don’t have enough cash, then the semi-metallic brake pads should be your option.
They will certainly produce more dust and wear the rotor quicker, but they are effective and have a clear grasp on the braking system, they are less expensive than the ceramics breaking pads.
Then last on the least is the organic pads which probably are the least expensive but the least durable and are advisable for smaller vehicles. Get what you can afford and what’s best for your car.
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