ceramic vs. semi metallic
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
ceramic vs. semi metallic
Used search but could not find specific's...need to replace all 4 rotors and pads due to milage. 08 4x4, looking at Napa ultra premium rotors, but not sure about ceramic or semi metallic. Want strong brakes with least amount of dust....minimal towing.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Vicksburg, MS
Ceramic pads will be the cleanest and they stop fine. Napa rotors are made by Raybestos in the USA when I bought mine in late '09. I bought the Performance rotors for the front but I pull a trailer occasionally. Semi-metallic leave that rust colored dust that you see on most Ford trucks.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10,459
Likes: 10
From: RVA
Pure ceramic pads are very hard. The compound is such that it will actually eat into the rotor material, rather than the rotor taking away the pad compound.
With that being said, the ceramic pads are ok. They do retain a bit of heat, but I've had decent luck with Napa's Ceramix pads in the past.
If dust is your main concern, then a ceramic should be your go-to. You may also want to check on the pad offerings from Hawk.
They make some nice pads, semi-metallic, that are low dust. Here's the site:
Hawk Performance Brake Pads: Truck / SUV Products
With that being said, the ceramic pads are ok. They do retain a bit of heat, but I've had decent luck with Napa's Ceramix pads in the past.
If dust is your main concern, then a ceramic should be your go-to. You may also want to check on the pad offerings from Hawk.
They make some nice pads, semi-metallic, that are low dust. Here's the site:
Hawk Performance Brake Pads: Truck / SUV Products
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
Sounds like you got your rotor choice pretty well down. I went cheap and put duralast rotors from autozone on the front of my truck, they've been good so far, but it's only been 9 months. My truck has the original rotors and duralast semi-metallic pads on the back, and duralast rotors and akebono pads on the front. If you want a pad with little dust and good quiet stopping, it is akebono all the way. Don't even bother shopping around, rockauto.com has the cheapest prices on the akebono pads and the shipping is quick.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Went to pick up Napa Premium Rotors, were out of stock so I thought I would browse the internet over weekend....TOO MUCH INFO!!!! Now not sure what type of rotor to get. Any body used Brake Performance rotors? Seem too cheap to be for real and come with lifetime no warp warrenty.... Suggestions... 08 4x4, tired of dust and rotor wobble. Now think I will order Akebono pads. Rotors?????
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 0
From: Sunapee NH
Akebono has changed their pad make up in the past couple of years. I've used them on a couple different vehicles and HAD been very pleased with their pads. I replaced the pads and rotors on my 07 last summer with another set of Akebono's. They were the noisiest pads I ever owned. I tried contacting Akebono and was ignored.
Do more digging here and you'll find tons of folks who have had great sucess with Wagner Thermoquiets. I'd go that route before wasting money on Akebonos.
Do more digging here and you'll find tons of folks who have had great sucess with Wagner Thermoquiets. I'd go that route before wasting money on Akebonos.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
Akebono has changed their pad make up in the past couple of years. I've used them on a couple different vehicles and HAD been very pleased with their pads. I replaced the pads and rotors on my 07 last summer with another set of Akebono's. They were the noisiest pads I ever owned. I tried contacting Akebono and was ignored.
Do more digging here and you'll find tons of folks who have had great sucess with Wagner Thermoquiets. I'd go that route before wasting money on Akebonos.
Do more digging here and you'll find tons of folks who have had great sucess with Wagner Thermoquiets. I'd go that route before wasting money on Akebonos.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 0
From: northern va
Sounds like you got your rotor choice pretty well down. I went cheap and put duralast rotors from autozone on the front of my truck, they've been good so far, but it's only been 9 months. My truck has the original rotors and duralast semi-metallic pads on the back, and duralast rotors and akebono pads on the front. If you want a pad with little dust and good quiet stopping, it is akebono all the way. Don't even bother shopping around, rockauto.com has the cheapest prices on the akebono pads and the shipping is quick.
on the ceramic side i put the duralast gold ceramic pads on and that was a bad idea, they SHOULD be low dust but they put more dust off than any other pad i have ever used
.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
i have the duralast rotors on the front of mine because the oem one warped at 35k and i now have 110k on the truck and they are still fair shape but should be replaced in the next 10k or so. i will get another set without a second thought.
on the ceramic side i put the duralast gold ceramic pads on and that was a bad idea, they SHOULD be low dust but they put more dust off than any other pad i have ever used.
on the ceramic side i put the duralast gold ceramic pads on and that was a bad idea, they SHOULD be low dust but they put more dust off than any other pad i have ever used
.
Tuned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 3
From: Belleville IL
I installed Duralast rotors all around with Hawk Ceramic pads. The ceramics are a little noisier but they perform very well and the wheels and tires stay clean. I've been using ceramics on all three of my vehicles and they have always performed well and I don't notice any accelerated wear on the rotors.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 3
From: Kzoo
I installed ceramic pads on the truck because of brake dust and it fixed it but I can't remember the brand. I did use Akebono pads on my Fusion though and those things squealed like crazy. Not sure why. I came close to changing them out because they were driving me crazy but then I sold the car.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DeathSpiral
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
8
Apr 8, 2010 01:42 PM
DCC
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Feb 8, 2005 01:01 PM
