What brand ceramic pads are good?

Ceramic Pads: CR's Recommendations

ConsumerReports.org.
December 2005
Brake pads: What to look for
What you should know when having brake servicing done.

“Ceramic: These are composed of ceramic fibers, nonferrous filler materials, bonding agents, and possibly small amounts of metal. Lighter in color and more expensive than other brake pads, ceramic pads are cleaner and quieter, and offer excellent braking characteristics without wearing down the rotors.”

Look for a certified label

“In an effort to improve the customer's comfort level--and also to avoid future government regulations--brake manufacturers can test and verify their products under two voluntary certification standards.”

“The first is an independent proprietary program developed by Greening Testing Laboratories in Detroit called D3EA--which stands for Dual Dynamometer Differential Effectiveness Analysis. This procedure tests front and rear friction materials together on dual dynamometers, then simulates vehicle weight and speed through a computer program to measure braking effectiveness and balance for different applications. D3EA was introduced in 1996, and among the first aftermarket companies to achieve D3EA certification were ACDelco, NAPA, Raybestos, and Satisfied.”

“In November of 2002, the Brake Manufacturers Council (BMC) announced a second certification standard called BEEP, or Brake Effectiveness Evaluation Procedure.”

“The D3EA tests are proprietary and more expensive, but they're also completely independent and tougher to pass.”

“Consumers must remember that not all of an aftermarket manufacturer's lineup gets certified, only pads designed for a specific vehicle that passed the designated test. Also, since the D3EA tests are expensive, manufacturers may test just the standard line for a particular vehicle. One can assume then that any upgraded line from that same manufacturer will meet the test standards. That's why heavy duty or the new ceramic pads may not carry the seal. The best advice is to look for manufacturers that aggressively test their standard line, then move up in grade if you need more performance or seek other advantages such as minimal wheel dust.”

For the full report see the following link:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/brake-pads-what-to-look-for-1205.htm