Ceramic Pads eliminate brake dust? Pros/cons?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 274
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From: Little Rock, AR
2009 GL550
Ceramic Pads eliminate brake dust? Pros/cons?
I saw on an earlier post that changing to Ceramic brake pads eliminate brake dust.
I have a new GL 550 and I am having to clean off brake dust every 2-3 days - it's crazy how quickly it builds up and makes the AMG wheels look so bad.
Does switching to ceramic pads really make this a non-issue? What are the pros/cons of ceramic pads and is this something the dealer can switch out for me?
Any other products anyone recommends to keep the brake dust to a minimum? I've seen other GLs where owners obviously havent kept the brake dust off and their rims looks absolutely horrible (completely black), i.e. beyond being able to be cleaned.
I have a new GL 550 and I am having to clean off brake dust every 2-3 days - it's crazy how quickly it builds up and makes the AMG wheels look so bad.
Does switching to ceramic pads really make this a non-issue? What are the pros/cons of ceramic pads and is this something the dealer can switch out for me?
Any other products anyone recommends to keep the brake dust to a minimum? I've seen other GLs where owners obviously havent kept the brake dust off and their rims looks absolutely horrible (completely black), i.e. beyond being able to be cleaned.
Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
From: Buford, GA
2016 C63S,2013 C63 AMG Coupe, 2002 C32 AMG (gone but not forgotten)
A quality ceramic pad will virtually eliminate brown brake dust.
As the pad material wears, some of the fine light-colored dust gets deposited on your wheels, but it's not very noticeable.
I found ceramics to be slightly quieter than semi-metallic pads, and for me, they've been easier on rotors.
Dealer will probably refuse to switch out your pads to aftermarket, but a good independent shop can swap them out.
Until you transition to ceramics, use a quality detailing spray after drying your wheels and get a long wheel brush to clean the insides.
As the pad material wears, some of the fine light-colored dust gets deposited on your wheels, but it's not very noticeable.
I found ceramics to be slightly quieter than semi-metallic pads, and for me, they've been easier on rotors.
Dealer will probably refuse to switch out your pads to aftermarket, but a good independent shop can swap them out.
Until you transition to ceramics, use a quality detailing spray after drying your wheels and get a long wheel brush to clean the insides.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,544
Likes: 87
From: San Jose, CA
2010 c300
A quality ceramic pad will virtually eliminate brown brake dust.
As the pad material wears, some of the fine light-colored dust gets deposited on your wheels, but it's not very noticeable.
I found ceramics to be slightly quieter than semi-metallic pads, and for me, they've been easier on rotors.
Dealer will probably refuse to switch out your pads to aftermarket, but a good independent shop can swap them out.
Until you transition to ceramics, use a quality detailing spray after drying your wheels and get a long wheel brush to clean the insides.
As the pad material wears, some of the fine light-colored dust gets deposited on your wheels, but it's not very noticeable.
I found ceramics to be slightly quieter than semi-metallic pads, and for me, they've been easier on rotors.
Dealer will probably refuse to switch out your pads to aftermarket, but a good independent shop can swap them out.
Until you transition to ceramics, use a quality detailing spray after drying your wheels and get a long wheel brush to clean the insides.
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 226
Likes: 6
From: Northern CA
CLK55 AMG, SL55 AMG, C55 AMG
I experienced no noticeable difference in stopping distance when I switched to ceramic pads on my car. I know the OEM pads are a soft compound and they do provide great grip on the rotors, but in driving with my ceramic pads on for almost three months, the only difference I find is they do take longer to bite when cold compared to stock. Once warm, they grip just fine.
Otherwise, the functionality appears about the same, but you get the great perk of no dust to clean on the front wheels, as opposed to the stock pads. Was well worth the swap IMO. The hardest part was finding the correct ceramic pads for my application.
There are numerous other posts on this topic, just use the search forum if you want to find additional info.
Otherwise, the functionality appears about the same, but you get the great perk of no dust to clean on the front wheels, as opposed to the stock pads. Was well worth the swap IMO. The hardest part was finding the correct ceramic pads for my application.
There are numerous other posts on this topic, just use the search forum if you want to find additional info.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 522
Likes: 2
From: ct
All Diesel Fleet !1983 240d stick,2005 E320 CDI Midnight blue, 2005 E320 CDI, Desert Silver, Kubota
Ceramic pads
Just put a set of EBC Red Stuff pads on front and back of my 05 CDI. You still get a little dust, but it is down about 60-80% from Pagid or OEM pads.
TR Moderator & Tire God
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,545
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From: SouthBend, IN USA
depends on the weather
Since they were first used on a few original equipment applications in 1985, friction materials that contain ceramic formulations have become recognized for their desirable blend of traits. These pads use ceramic compounds and copper fibers in place of the semi-metallic pad's steel fibers. This allows the ceramic pads to handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide faster recovery after the stop, and generate less dust and wear on both the pads and rotors. And from a comfort standpoint, ceramic compounds provide much quieter braking because the ceramic compound helps dampen noise by generating a frequency beyond the human hearing range.
Another characteristic that makes ceramic materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. The ingredients in ceramic compounds produce a light colored dust that is much less noticeable and less likely to stick to the wheels. Consequently, wheels and tires maintain a cleaner appearance longer.
Ceramic pads meet or exceed all original equipment standards for durability, stopping distance and noise. According to durability tests, ceramic compounds extend brake life compared to most other semi-metallic and organic materials and outlast other premium pad materials by a significant margin - with no sacrifice in noise control, pad life or braking performance.
This is quite an improvement over organic and semi-metallic brake materials that typically sacrifice pad life to reduce noise, or vice versa.
Another characteristic that makes ceramic materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. The ingredients in ceramic compounds produce a light colored dust that is much less noticeable and less likely to stick to the wheels. Consequently, wheels and tires maintain a cleaner appearance longer.
Ceramic pads meet or exceed all original equipment standards for durability, stopping distance and noise. According to durability tests, ceramic compounds extend brake life compared to most other semi-metallic and organic materials and outlast other premium pad materials by a significant margin - with no sacrifice in noise control, pad life or braking performance.
This is quite an improvement over organic and semi-metallic brake materials that typically sacrifice pad life to reduce noise, or vice versa.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,314
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From: Witness Protection Program
06 CLK350 -SOLD! 2010 Cadillac SRX Premium Turbo
Bought Akebono ceramic pads front and rear from Luke a few weeks ago and will never go back to OEM. No horror stories here about squeal, performance etc... Dust? What dust...
