What are the pros and cons of ceramic,metallic and organic brake pads?
It really depends on the type of driving you do. If you drive sanely within the speed limit and not in a mountainous area the organic will do just fine. Metallic brake pads will last longer than organic but they really don’t work better (as far as stopping power) until you’ve got some heat into them from constant stops or slowing after deep grades. Metallic brake pads also have a grinding, “metallic” noise when applied that is kind of disconcerting to some drivers. Ceramic is the best but expensive. If you drive regularly in mountainous areas I would recommend ceramic.
I am very biased concerning brake pads and the whole braking system. Metallic brake pads grind the ever loving crap from the brake rotors leaving a nasty filthy red / gray / black coating on the expensive aluminum wheels and tires. It’s very difficult to remove this coating.
Organic pads are by far the cleanest and do not wear the rotors at all. The only concern would be they ware fast. 25 -30,000 tops.
Ceramic pads are the new wave. They are nearly as clean as organics, last longer and do no damage to the brake rotors.
There are a couple of other formulations we haven’t discussed:
Performance friction makes a carbon metallic pad somewhat gentler on rotors and stop well.
Brakes are part of our business. For me to sit here and say how long your brakes will last I wouldn’t have a clear thought. It seriously hinges on your driving style.
A retired heavy equipment pal in town who finally changed the brakes for the first time last summer. It had 93,660 on the odometer. My mouth dropped open and I asked him his secret. He said he drives the speed limit and only drove locally. He know the territory like the back of his hand. He’s off the throttle well before a stop sign and lets the standard transmission slow him down. He also treats all equipment like a beautiful woman, with loving care.