Organic vs. Semi-metallic brake pads

[TheKevin]

What's the difference between the two? Which is better to get?

[mtnet2000]

Semi brakes down the rotors quicker, Organic lasts longer, and if you can get the ones with Kevlar/Carbon fiber, really expensive but the best

[Yuko]

Let's see if I can bust a Jesus on this 8 year old thread. I have basically the same question.

I had Duralast MKD476 Semi-metallic for two years and was very happy with it. A bit noisy and dusty but has good stopping and cost. It's time to replace it and most of us would agree to upgrade. Wagner, Hawk, EBC, ect. They can get pricy but I can get another set of Duralast for free; which is better than cheap . But after visiting several Autozone, they change the MKD476 appilcation from Semi-metallic to Organic. I dropped one brake pad in the store and the compound cracked .

I'm still have my old Semi-metallic on and was wondering how would the organic compare? I know Organic are easier on the rotors and quieter, but the pad itself do wear out fast. From what I learn, semi-metallic handle heat much better due to the high content of metal but kill rotors. I really care about fade resistant and "grip" because I do a lot of high speed and heavy breaking. (no, not autocross). Is switching to Organic a downgrade?
Also, Happy New Year to all

[gator1939]

I have heard good things about ceramic pads. Here is an article off of the Tire Rack website:

Why Ceramic Brake Pads?



We want our vehicle's brake system to offer smooth, quiet braking capabilities under a wide range of temperature and road conditions. We don't want brake-generated noise and dust annoying us during our daily driving.To accommodate this, brake friction materials have evolved significantly over the years. They've gone from asbestos to organic to semi-metallic formulations. Each of these materials has proven to have advantages and disadvantages regarding environmental friendliness, wear, noise and stopping capability.
Asbestos pads caused health issues and organic compounds can't always meet a wide range of braking requirements. Unfortunately the steel strands used in semi-metallic pads to provide strength and conduct heat away from rotors also generate noise and are abrasive enough to increase rotor wear.
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.

A quick internet check shows pricing from $40 to $70 a set for front.


gator1939

[Joe B]

Holy thread revival,Batman!!!

I like ceramic pads.
Just put Akebono ProAct Ceramics in the front of my RX350 for less brake dust.
Same brake feel as originals.

[tekdemon]

I'll second the Akebono ProAct Ceramics...put them on a few years back and they've been holding up very nicely. And if the car came with Ceramics I would never downgrade.