Brake Pad Friction Material Types

Brake pads are manufactured with different friction material compounds. Each compound has advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these differences can help you purchase the right brake pad compound for your driving conditions and style.

Organic Brake Pads

Organic brake pad materials do not use metal. This type of brake pad is very gentle to brake rotors, causing minimal wear during their lifetime. These brake pads provide a softer or ‘cushioned’ feel through the brake pedal. They also tend to be less expensive.

Because the compounds in organic pads are softer, they tend to wear out faster and need to be replaced more often. The organic pad material can coat the wheels and rims of the vehicle, leaving a black residue on the front wheels.

Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

Semi-metallic brake pad materials have been the mainstay of brake pads for many years. They offer a compromise between stopping capabilities and longer life.

Because of the metal in the compound, these pads are not as gentle on the brake rotors, causing increased rotor wear. However, the rotor wear is balanced against the longer life and improved stopping capacity.

Semi-metallic pads give a firm and controlled feel through the brake pedal. Though they don’t wear as fast as organic pads, brake dust can still coat the wheels.

The cost of semi-metallic brake pads can be higher than the cost of organic pads. You should consider the initial price against the longer life and fewer pad replacements over time.

Full Metallic Brake Pads

Full metallic brake pads were developed for high-performance applications and large trucks. These hard metal pads are very harsh on brake rotors. Because of the high metal content, these pads can be noisy. When the brakes are cold, the noise can be extremely loud.

Full metallic pads have high stopping capacity and are designed for the harshest environments. They require higher temperatures to work effectively to stop the vehicle. Until there is enough heat in the pads, they do not function well. Full metallic pads cost more than the organic and semi-metallic pads.

Ceramic Brake Pads

Ceramic pads have not been used in passenger cars and trucks for some time. The ceramic material is similar to that of ceramic baking dishes and bowls. These types of pads are quieter, longer-lasting, and gentler on the rotors. Because they don’t throw off much dust, they don’t coat the wheels like the other pads do. Ceramic brake pads are more expensive and suitable for higher-priced automobiles.

About Goodyear Brakes

Goodyear Brakes manufactures premium quality brake bundles, calipers, rotors, brake pads and all the hardware required to successfully install brakes, all backed by a national warranty, decades of production experience and one of the best-known names in automotive excellence. The brake pads are manufactured in the USA using a proprietary green production process by a company with more than 50 years of experience in friction science. The Goodyear Brakes product line is available through Goodyear Brakes at Amazon, CarID, Buy Brakes and AutoAnything.

Goodyear (and Winged Foot Design) and Blimp Design are trademarks of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company used under license by FDP Virginia Inc., 1076 Airport Road, Tappahannock, VA 22560, USA. Copyright 2020 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Goodyear Brakes and FDP Virginia are not responsible for its products when they are subjected to improper applications, installation, or accident.