Although semi-metallic pads have some merit, however, customer satisfaction rests on more than just pure braking power, brake noise, vibration and harshness(NVH), as well as brake dusting characteristics, are major considerations among virtually all motorists. This situation has been exacerbated by consumer demand for more responsive, performance-oriented steering systems. NVH and brake dust concerns have been the greatest causes of customer angst after an aftermarket brake job, virtually always leading to frustrating customer comebacks to brake installers.
Performance:
Ceramic pad's advanced friction technology is carefully formulated to provide optimal NVH performance under a variety of driving conditions.
Squeal and Grinding
Ceramic friction pad may contains an average of about 20 raw ingredients, whereas a semi-metallic friction formulation may have no more than eight. Each pad application features carefully engineered, scientifically applied chamfers and slots to reduce and/or eliminate noise.
Stability
Ceramic brake pads provide increased friction stability (consistent stopping power) in critical braking situations, while semi-metallic pads lose their effectiveness in panic stops. There is a small variation in the friction stability of ceramic pads between a normal stop and a panic stop. In identical situations, semi-metallic pad performance can experience a variation of up to three times more, which equates to a loss of more than one third of the brake's stopping power. This less predictable stopping power often leads to customer comebacks due to perceived brake fading. Ceramic friction technology provides superior vehicle control, driver comfort and safety over a wide range of driving situations - maximizing driver confidence.
Dusting
Another significant customer complaint with brake performance is wheel dusting, especially involving semi-metallic pads. The materials found in ceramic brake pads are more compatible with today's popular aluminum, open-wheel designs. As there contents only few steel fibre, the almost free from static which is the main reason lead to the grinded powder adhered on the hupcap. Carefully chosen raw materials also are used to help eliminate the appearance of dusting.
Pad Wear
For the vast majority of drivers, before the brake pad climb to ultra high temperatures, ceramic friction technology provides significantly improved pad wear performance compared to semi-metallic products. And this attributes also made contribute to the e xtra Long Lasting Pad life .
Rotor Thickness Variation
Rotor thickness variation and resulting pedal pulsation are also minimized through ceramic technology. Ceramic friction material formulations include uniquely shaped ceramic particles that are less abrasive to the rotor surfaces. In addition, ceramic pads tend to contact the rotor in a more adhesive fashion to slow the wheel as compared to semi-metallic and other pads that are much more abrasive, attacking the rotor and producing significantly more brake dusting.
Insufficiency and next breakthrough
Compared to semi-metallic pads, ceramic friction technology currently is not optimized for extreme driving conditions, where brake temperatures can reach 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius) or higher. The next major advancement in ceramic technology will undoubtedly address high-temperature, severe-duty conditions. The result will be a friction formulation that provides consistent stopping power in performance situations that also optimizes NVH performance.
Forecast
A growing number of automakers, have recognized ceramic friction brake pads are often the best option for smooth, assured, quiet braking under a variety of driving conditions. In addition, it has helped them significantly reduce warranty costs by as much as 90 percent. An estimated 40 percent of new vehicle models currently sold in North America feature ceramic friction materials as original equipment. Decisions to use other brake friction materials at the OEM level are often driven by pricing pressures, an ongoing trend among North American OEMs. Ceramic friction technology entered the aftermarket during the last several years and today is considered the replacement option of choice among many aftermarket installers.They turn to ceramic brake pads for both maintaining the original equipment performance of a vehicle's brakes and upgrading customers from OE semi-metallic and other pads. This trend is accelerating. Ceramic brake pads are now the fastest growing segment in the aftermarket pad category. According to industry sales projections, the ultra-premium brake pad segment ¨C dominated by ceramic friction technology ¨C will expected to approximately grow to 18 percent of all aftermarket brake disc pad sales in 2007.
