Ceramic, semi-metallic, hybrid—which is the best brake pad material for you? That depends on what you need it for.
If you need brakes that stop fast without overheating, we’d suggest a semi-metallic friction material. But if you need brakes that are more gentle to your delicate machinery, you’ll want to go with ceramic brake pads.
On the other hand, what about hybrid friction materials? What are the ideal uses for hybrid brakes?
Here’s an explanation of some options for brake pad friction material.
The following guide lists the pros and cons of various brake pads to make an informed decision. Discover how to choose the right kind of brakes for your equipment.
1. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
Semi-metallic brake pads are made of sintered metals combined with synthetic materials. These brake pads are the most heavy-duty option.
Specifically, they’re extremely hardy/long-lasting and have the best stopping power. They also resist heat very well.
However, one disadvantage of these brake pads is that they are very loud when stopping. Also, they are so hardy that using them might wear down your braking system more than wearing the pads.
2. Ceramic Brake Pads
In contrast to semi-metallic brakes, ceramic brake pads are much more gentle. As a result, they are significantly quieter when stopping and are unlikely to wear down your machine. They also produce less dust.
However, the reason for these benefits is that ceramic pads are not as durable as semi-metallic brakes. In comparison, ceramic pads are more easily damaged and will wear out faster. They also do not have the stopping power of semi-metallic brake pads.
A problem to beware of with these pads is overheating. Ceramic pads are not designed for heavy use like semi-metallic pads are.
If they’re used too harshly, they overheat, which can damage your braking system. Therefore, ceramic pads are ideal for general/gentle use.
3. Hybrid Brake Pads
Lastly, you can also choose a hybrid brake shoe friction material. These are so-named because they consist of a combination of both semi-metallic and ceramic brake materials.
As a result, they are the exact middle ground between the other two options in performance. For instance, they offer better stopping power, heat resistance, and durability than ceramic pads. But they aren’t so rigid that they wear down your machinery.
Which Is the Best Brake Pad Material For You?
For extremely heavy use, choose semi-metallic. If ceramic pads aren’t quite durable/heat-resistant enough, choose hybrid brakes for more general use. Lastly, for light-duty braking needs, choose ceramic pads.
Need Some Additional Help?
Based on these descriptions, you should now be able to determine the best brake pad material for your needs. However, if you’re still unsure, we can help.
We at Kor-Pak are industrial braking system experts. Contact us here so we can discuss the matter and help you get the product you need.