Ceramic brake pads – the benefits
Ceramic brake pads are popular r with many motorists today because they restore like-new brake performance, ance, are quiet, long lasting, low dusting ng and provide safe sure stops. C-PlusPlus ceramic brake pads from BNT have all the attributes of ceramic pads, and are available from BNT distributors across New Zealand.
They handle heat much betterr than most non-asbestos organic c (NAO) friction materials, and are e quieter and kinder to rotors thann most semi-metallic friction materials. erials.
One of the main differences between ceramic-enhanced friction ction materials and semi-metallic brakeke linings is that ceramic pads containtain no steel wool fibres. Steel provides des strength and conducts heat awayay from rotors, but it also makes pads ads noisy. Steel also acts like an abrasive rasive and causes rotor wear.
Substituting steel fibres allows ceramic pads to handle the high brake temperatures with less heat fade, to recover quickly, to experience less wear on both the pads and rotor, and to virtually eliminate noise.
Annoying brake squeal is eliminated because the ceramicenhanced compound dampens noise and moves vibrations to a frequency beyond our range of hearing.
Other features that help make C-Plus pads extra quiet include chamfers, slots and insulator shims. Chamfers are angled or bevelled edges on the leading and trailing ends of the pad that reduce “tip-in” noise when the brakes are first applied.
Chamfers also reduce the surface area of the brakes slightly, which increases the clamping force applied by the pads against the rotors. This further helps to dampen sound sound-producing vibrations. Slots or groovesgro cut vertically, diagonally, or horizontallyho in the pads reduce noise by changing the frequency of vib vibration from an audible level to a higher, inaudible frequency beyond the range of the human ear. Slots also help reduce brake fade by providing a passage for gases and dust to escape at high brake temperatures. Insulator shims provide a d dampening layer to absorb and dis dissipate vibrations before they can cause noise. Ano Another feature of ceramic pads is less visible brake dust on the whee wheels. All brake pads produce dust as the they wear. But the ingredients in ceramic pads typically produce a light colou coloured dust that is much less noticeable, and it does not stick to wheels like ordinary brake dust. Consequently, alloy wheels stay cleaner longer. C-Plus pads also extend brake life compared to most conventional lining materials.