Alright, I'm at 27,000 miles and already need new pads. They recommend me getting ceramic. Now, I can't afford those right now, so the regular ones are going to have to do for now. But, I was wondering why the ceramics are the recommended ones?

 

Ceramics are softer and wear quicker and dont leave much brake dust on your wheel rims. Mostly a matter of personal choice between semi metallics and ceramic.

 

I cannot say that I know, but that does not sound right. True, ceramic pads are supposed to be cleaner, but I think they are harder and wear longer...I just had my brakes done, and the place I had them done put on "lifetime warrantee" ceramics, meaning that if I still have the truck when they wear out, the pads are free. (still have to pay to install 'em though)

I was also told that ceramic was standard on the front brakes. Is that true?

TS

 

i have ceramics on mine and they have lasted me 40k miles.

 

texas steve, ceramic pads dont contain much, if any, steel or wool (conventional semimetallic pads do) . Ceramic and a small amount of copper are the major ingredients in the ceramics. Semimetallics are indeed harder on rotors (from what i have read). I can say for sure that neither the Ford OEM pads on my truck nor the replacement ceramics produced any black wheel dust on the wheels. i went with ceramic as an experiment but they have served me well (abut 30000 miles so far and no problem). kw in sugarland tx

 

picked me up a set of Morse ceramics from autozone for $43 on sale. Heard alot of good things about these pads.

 

I just bought ceramics for my 1998, and I can tell a great difference on the amount of brake dust generated on my rims. I only have to clean them about half as much as I use to.

 

I had the NAPA Cermix on my last F-150 and plan to get them again. $75/set, but you'll need decent rotors to handle the extra heat. My $35ea Autozone ones warped in a year.

Cermic brake pads are not that much more (parts) than anything els.e I see $50/set all over the place for semi-metallic so $75 isn't much. Upgrade the rotors later when you have more money. but, if you are paying someone else to do the work, it isnot worth paying $125 for brakes now and another $300 later.

 

what is a good upgraded rotor to buy to handle those syramic pads from napa.