Ceramic Brake Pads

[FOURZS]

I've got a 2001 Limited with the original brake pads (25k miles). I'm planning to replace them with Ceramic brake pads. Does anyone have any good or bad comments on using ceramic pads? I know they cost a little more but do they have other negatives or positives.

Thanks in advance for your help!

FOUR Z's

[maxwedge]

You will need perfectly true rotors with new ceramics, I found they are not quite as good stopping when cold also.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by FOURZS

I've got a 2001 Limited with the original brake pads (25k miles). I'm planning to replace them with Ceramic brake pads. Does anyone have any good or bad comments on using ceramic pads? I know they cost a little more but do they have other negatives or positives.

Thanks in advance for your help!

FOUR Z's

Hello

The positives of ceramic pads are better stopping power (after warmed up) no brake dust (cleaner wheels).

The negatives would be that first surprise braking and wishing they were warmed up. Since they are harder, they will wear down the rotors faster.

I'm just about done with my brother's 91 LeSabre. I put on new struts and brakes. I was considering ceramic pads but chose a real good semi-metalic insteed because I didn't want his wife feeling like the car wasn't stopping when the pads were cold. Also, I wanted this brake job to last as long as possible not knowing how fast the rotor will wear.

This is the thought process I went through.

Regards

Dan

[MT-2500]

Better to use what the OEM replacement calls for.
If using ceramaic pads you need ceramaic rotors and a brake system that is set up for ceramic pads.
MT

[tman]

Not true. My cousin has a Regal Gs 1998 and he put brembo rotors up front(regular, not slotted/drilled) and acdelco ceramic pads up front. They work much better than the stock delco ones even in cold conditions, and his wheels are still dust free after several months of driving. Just follow any breakin procedures the brakes and rotors you buy tell you to do.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by tman2093

Not true. My cousin has a Regal Gs 1998 and he put brembo rotors up front(regular, not slotted/drilled) and acdelco ceramic pads up front. They work much better than the stock delco ones even in cold conditions, and his wheels are still dust free after several months of driving. Just follow any breakin procedures the brakes and rotors you buy tell you to do.

I would use a little caution on diverting a hole lot from the OEM design or breaking ratio front to rear.
If you put more break on one end and hit a slick spot while breaking hard your car could swap ends.
It is true you may get better braking changing the type of pads and rotors and different makes and models may react different but I would condsider keeping the front and rear end matched up close to the oem breaking ratio on braking power.
MT

[HotZ28]

I agree with Tman, I use ceramic pads with drilled & slotted rotors on my PA, and love them. They stop better than OEM, and none of that filthy black dust, on my wheels! I do notice that they stop better when warmed up, however, even when cold, they are still equal to, or better than OEM at stopping. I just don't see any negatives with the ceramic pads and will continue to use them.
I also plan to change the rear drums out with the complete disc setup from a Bonneville, soon as I find a set available at the bone yard.

I first started using ceramic pads several years ago when I changed my Z28 over to larger LS1 (front & rear), calipers (dual piston) and drilled KVR rotors (pic below). The original brakes on the Z28, left a lot to be desired when trying to slow down at the end of the 1/4 mile (120 mph +). With the KVR rotors and ceramic pads, it is no problem!!