Ceramic vs. Semi-Metallic vs. Organic: How To Choose The Best Brake Pads For Your Car

►There are three main brake pad compounds you have to choose from when shopping for new brakes for your car. It doesn't matter if you're shopping for TRW, Textar, Akebono, Ferodo, or Hawk brake pads; you will be presented with three main compound choices - ceramic, semi-metallic, or organic. Each offers unique benefits over the others, so follow along as Nathan Brown walks you through the differences of each to determine which brake pad is best suited for you and your car.

Learn More About TRW Brakes:

00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Understanding Brake Pads
01:27 - Organic Compound
03:28 - Hybrid Organic Compound
04:50 - Semi Metallic Compound
07:05 - Ceramic Compound
08:54 - TRW Ultra Compound
10:21 - Wrap-Up

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[tjr]

Finally someone that knows what the hell they're talking about. I already watched about five videos with useless information, thanks dude

[AudreysKitchen]

11 minutes of non-stop brake pad information. Well-done. Thanks for the knowledge.

[Litvagopnik]

Ceramic acts as my “universal” compound. It has worked in my experience on almost every driving situation. Lasts a time, performs very well. Great video.

[johnrobattojr]

I always used semi-metallic until I bought a used Escape with ceramic. Normally I have to change the pads every 8 months and rotors every 3rd or 4th change. It took 28 months until I had to change the ceramic pads on the Escape and no rotors yet. Also this vid is spot on with the ceramic low dusting characteristic. I used to have to buy a wheel cleaner when I washed my vehicles. Not any more. I'm hooked on ceramic now.

[markhutchins]

Great Info!! I have been researching new braking options for my car and this was by FAR the most informative video on this subject. Thank you!

[ootyguy]

Earlier when I had the regular brake pads, every couple/few years during inspection the dealer always says "your brake pads are worn out" or "your rotors and pads needs to be changed" without which the inspection fails. I later installed ceramic pads I don't know how long ago maybe close to 5-6 years and still going strong. Admitted that I don't drive that much but this video is spot on. I see no brake dust, the rotor and pads lasts forever!!! The only downside I felt was that the stopping power has reduced?

[huanweili]

This is a great video to learn about which material brake pad is good for your vehicle, but one thing I have learned many years ago is always go with the same brake pad material your car originally came with from the factory. You can never go wrong when you go OEM or the same make material brake pads.

[dgenov]

Good video, but narrator never said anything about the stopping power of ceramic pads being way behind Semi Metallic pads. However it is commendable that scores are shown on the screen - 3 out of 5 stopping power vs 5 out of 5 stopping power in favor of semi metallic pads. Great info but TRW sponsorship overexaggerated to some extend performance characteristics of ceramic pads :)

[KayAyyyy]

Such a helpful video for a female who has no clue about break pads. Thank you!

[daveb]

I used ceramic pads on the rear of my F250 and I am really liking them. I ordered a front set earlier today, and then this video popped up. Bed them in properly and there is virtually zero dust, no noise and a nice firm pedal.

[sofuknossum]

Stock setup with Textar pads and BMW rotors all over my e90 328xi feel great, but tons of dust and feel they wear out faster and so do the rotors. Akebono with Meyle zinc coated rotors have almost no dust, but don’t seem as grippy, but still do the job. Also the Meyle rotors have never rusted for anybody wondering about how the coating holds up. This is through almost 2 years in the Midwest winter with salt. Solid setup for a good price especially if you’re gonna DIY.

[jlevy]

You should spend a minute or 2 to discuss the 2 letter friction codes on many of the pads you showed. For example, the "FE" pads will tend to have less friction when hot compared to the "FF" pads, which have more similar hot and cold friction.

[RiffRaffMama.]

Thank you! This was the only video I've found that makes the information presented _relatable._
Every other video has gone on about coefficients and what happens if you brake 10 times in quick succession... the relevance of the information they provide seems to be non-existent to me. What I want to know is "does an expensive brake pad do more than just stop me faster?" and you have clearly demonstrated in a completely understandable format that yes, it also buys you less dust and noise, etc. Your little box with the score out of 5 for each feature (cost/dust/etc) is the exact type of straightforward comparison I am looking for and your simple, concise explanations of why they attained that score has produced the perfect results I have been searching for.
Thank you for making an entry level explanatory video for everyday consumers, not performance enthusiasts and petrol heads.

[navaneethakrishnans]

A very practical guide for brake pads used in cars, simply superb sir.

[richardholmes]

Based on FCP Euro's recommendation, I bought the TRW Ultra ceramic brake pads. They are very "well behaved" (smooth and quiet with good stopping power), but they are NOT clean. They leave almost as much black dust as semi-metallic pads. So, if your reason for getting ceramic pads is "low dust" get Akebono instead.

[bret]

My wife and I purchased a 2001 Chevy Tahoe brand new when our son was born, #3 kid. Anyway, my wife loved the Tahoe and it truly was / is a great family wagon. We live in Ohio and there is a never ending battle with corrosion and driving in wet and slushy roads is a given 250 days of the year.

Anyway Cheryl drove from Cincinnati to Cleveland 4 times a week from 2002-04. Then from Cincinnati to Louisville from 04-05. The rest of the years until 2015 she drove it mostly to drop and pickup kids from school and or sports etc.

In 2015 we sold the Tahoe with 267, 000 miles. The entire reason for this long story is this. We sold the Tahoe with ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.

We sold it to a friend who needs to pull a trailer to “trade shows” around the country. He finally changed the brake pads near 300, 000 miles.

[scoutstevenson]

Really really informative video. I have a Porsche Turbo and I've been wanting to explore other braking options. I've asked my dealer a million times about different options and they either don't know or don't care. I'm going to do my own brakes this time and I'm going to bite the bullet and put on some ceramics. Thanks again for a great intro do brake options.

[nickl]

Awesome - detailed video. Finally, some details about the differences between these types of pads. Thanks. I'm liking and subscribing.

[CreatorDrews]

The graphic with the different characteristics is the best!

[richfarfugnuven]

With ceramics I always run drilled and slotted rotors as it helps dissipate the heat. It's a good rule with all brake pads if you can afford the cost. I live in the mountains and I feel like it really helps going down long, steep grades. I also downshift quite a bit as well...