Do ceramic brake pads wear rotors faster?

General Discussion
1

Hey Everyone,

I recently got ceramic brake pads installed on my car and someone mentioned they might wear down my rotors quicker than semi-metallic ones. Is there any truth to that?

I like the cleaner performance and less dust, but I don’t want to end up replacing rotors more often.

Thanks!

2

This is a non-issue. The wear difference is mostly based on the quality of the rotors.

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3

From personal experience, no the rotors do not wear faster with ceramic pads.

That said, replacing rotors when new pads are installed is generally a good idea.

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4

Did you get a high-quality set of ceramic brake pads installed?

Or store brand?

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5

Zero truth to that , I have had ceramics and rotors go 100000 miles . It is the only thing I would use as I hate brakedust on my rims .

6

I hear what you’re saying and don’t dispute it

But I’ve also seen ceramic pads eat up rotors . . . there’s a specific reason I asked if op used high-quality or store-brand pads

And these were factory rotors that were chewed up by the ceramic pads, btw

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7

I remember Click and Clack talking about different kinds of brake pads many years ago. I remember them talking about a taxi operation that used organic brake pads because even though they wore quickly they were quiet and I swore they mentioned they were easier on rotors.

They certainly were quieter than metallic brake pads!

The problem with a disc brake is there is no where as much surface area as on the same diameter drum. Drum brakes get alot of hate, but theres a reason semis and other big trucks still use them.

8

This has already been discussed and debunked… Links to semis using both disc and drum brakes now…

While drum brakes are popular, some trucks use disc brakes. Here’s how they differ:

  1. Heat handling:
  • Drum brakes can overheat on long downhills*
  • Disc brakes cool better, reducing brake fade*
  1. Maintenance:
  • Drum brakes need more adjustments*
  • Disc brakes are easier to service*
  1. Performance:
  • Disc brakes stop faster in wet conditions*
  • Drum brakes can be more powerful when properly adjusted*
  1. Cost:
  • Drum brakes are cheaper to make*
  • Disc brakes often cost more upfront*
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9

Even you are stating that drum brakes are more powerful, and they are!

10

A 11,000 +HP Top Fuel engine is more powerful than my Corolla engine also, but it will not make a drive across town…

You 100% are taken words out of context, Properly maintained and Adjusted Drum brakes work great the 1st few times, but then they heat fade very fast.. I like to be able to use my brakes more than a few times in heavy stop and go traffic…

And the reason your Caprice as well as most all other F disc, R drum setups are used is because 75-80% of the braking comes from the front brakes, even more so the more out of adjustment the drums get, the rears are almost moot, except for stabilizing the back end during hard braking, don’t need the back end passing the front end lol, and E brakes… (a little exaggeration on the use of rear brakes, but not far off)

Heck, take a vehicle with out of adjusted rear drums and worn out struts/shock F&R and slam on the brakes and the nose goes down, the rear of the car comes way up unloading the rear tires and they are more or less just along for the ride, all but useless…

11

Except I am driving a tri axle dump, hauling 50k lbs in the bed. All being stopped by drum brakes. Why? Because they are more powerful at an equivalent diameter as disc brakes.

I don’t understand why a indisputable matter of fact is so difficult to accept.

12

A fact meaningless to light vehicle drivers.