Brake Pads Are A Component Of: Disc Brakes

 Brake pads
are a component of disc brakes used in automotive and other applications.

Brake pads are composed of steel backing plates with friction material bound to the
surface that faces the disc brake rotor.
 Brake pads convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle to thermal energy through friction.

Two brake pads are contained in the brake caliper, with their friction surfaces facing the
rotor.[2] When the brakes are hydraulically applied, the caliper clamps or squeezes the two
pads together onto the spinning rotor to slow and stop the vehicle. When a brake pad
heats up due to contact with the rotor, it transfers small amounts of its friction material
onto the disc, leaving a dull grey coating on it. The brake pad and disc (both now having
the friction material), then "stick" to each other, providing the friction that stops the
vehicle.
 In disc brakes, there are usually two brake pads per disc rotor. These are held in place
and actuated by a caliper affixed to the wheel hub or suspension upright. Racing calipers,
however, can utilize up to six pads, with varying frictional properties in a staggered
pattern for optimum performance. Depending on the properties of the material, the weight
of the vehicle and the speeds it is driven at, disc wear rates may vary. The brake pads
must usually be replaced regularly (depending on pad material) to prevent brake fade.
Most brake pads are equipped with a method of alerting the driver when this needs to be
done. A common technique is manufacturing a small central groove whose eventual
disappearance by wear indicates the end of a pad's service life. Other methods include
placing a thin strip of soft metal in a groove, such that when exposed (due to wear) the
brakes squeal audibly. A soft metal wear tab can also be embedded in the pad material
that closes an electric circuit when the brake pad wears thin, lighting a dashboard
warning light.
The most important characteristics that are considered when selecting a brake pad material are
as follows:
 The material's ability to resist brake fade, caused by an increase in temperature the material
will experience from the conversion of kinetic energy into thermal energy.[6][7]
 The effects of moisture on brake fade. All brakes are designed to withstand at least
temporary exposure to water.[6][7]
 The ability to recover quickly from increased temperature or moisture, and exhibit
approximately the same friction levels at any point in the drying or cooling process.[6][7]
 The friction coefficient of modern brake pads should be low enough prevent locking of the
wheels but high enough to provide sufficient stopping power. Friction coefficients are
typically between 0.3 and 0.5 for brake pad materials.[7]
 The ability to resist wear due to friction, but not to the extent that rotor wear occurs more
quickly than brake material is sacrificed[6][7]
 The ability of the material to provide smooth and even contact with the rotor or drum, instead
of a material that breaks off in chunks or causes pits, dents, or other damage to the surface
in contact).[6][7]
 The ability to apply appropriate frictional force while also operating quietly.[7]
Another material requirement that is considered is how compressible the brake pads are; if they
are too compressible then brake travel can be excessive.[8] Brake pad material must also be
porous so that water does not affect the friction coefficient.[8]
Asbestos was added as a common ingredient to brake pads post-WWI, as car speeds began to
increase, because research showed that its properties allowed it to absorb the heat (which can
reach 500 °F) while still providing the friction necessary to stop a vehicle.[9] However, as the
serious health-related hazards of asbestos eventually started to become apparent, other
materials had to be found. Asbestos brake pads have largely been replaced by non-asbestos
organic (NAO) materials in first world countries.[10] Today, brake pad materials are classified into
one of four principal categories, as follows:
 Non-metallic materials - these are made from a combination of various synthetic
substances bonded into a composite, principally in the form of cellulose, aramid, PAN, and
sintered glass. They are gentle on rotors, but produce a fair amount of dust, thus having a
short service life.
 Semi-metallic materials - synthetics mixed with varying proportions of flaked metals. These
are harder than non-metallic pads, more fade-resistant and longer lasting, but at the cost of
increased wear to the rotor/drum which then must be replaced sooner. They also require
more actuating force than non-metallic pads in order to generate braking torque.
 Fully metallic materials - these pads are used only in racing vehicles, and are composed of
sintered steel without any synthetic additives. They are very long-lasting, but require more
force to slow a vehicle while wearing off the rotors faster. They also tend to be very loud.
 Ceramic materials - Composed of clay and porcelain bonded to copper flakes and
filaments, these are a good compromise between the durability of the metal pads, grip and
fade resistance of the synthetic variety. Their principal drawback, however, is that unlike the
previous three types, despite the presence of the copper (which has a high thermal
conductivity), ceramic pads generally do not dissipate heat well, which can eventually cause
the pads or other components of the braking system to warp.[6] However, because the
ceramic materials cause the braking sound to be elevated beyond that of human hearing,
they seem exceptionally quiet.[11]
Best
CERAMIC
Introduced in the 1980s, ceramic brake pads are composed of a blend of super-strong ceramic
and copper fibers embedded into the pad compound. The ceramic compounds and copper fibers
allow ceramic pads to handle higher brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide faster
recovery after the stop and generate less dust.
Pros:
 Quieter than semi-metallic pads

 Produce less dust than semi-metallic pads, resulting in cleaner wheels
 Longer lasting than semi-metallic pads, due to improved durability
Cons:
 More expensive upfront than semi-metallic pads

 Generally cause more wear on brake rotors than metallic
 Not recommended for racing or heavy-duty towing
SEMI-METALLIC
Semi-metallic brake pads are made with portions of metallic fibers in the brake pad compound.
High quality semi-metallic pads contain fine metallic fibers while lower, cheaper quality pads
have larger, more coarse portions of metal.
Pros:
 Effective grip even when cold – great for colder climates and driving habits that require
short trips
 Less expensive than ceramic pads
 Typically easier on rotors than ceramic pads
 Available in track-ready and heavy-duty towing formulations
Cons:
 Louder than ceramic pads

 Generate more black dust that sticks to wheels
 Shorter life span than ceramic pads
If you do a lot of heavy-towing, race your vehicle on a regular basis, live in a colder climate, or
make frequent short trips without adequate time for your brake pads to warm up, semi-metallic
pads are for you. If you live in a warmer climate, spend a lot of time on the road, and tend not to
tow heavy loads, ceramic brake pads are the better choice.
Soft AND ROUGH

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 Brake pads

are a component of disc brakes used in automotive and other applications.

 Brake pads convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle to thermal energy through friction.

 Quieter than semi-metallic pads

 More expensive upfront than semi-metallic pads

 Louder than ceramic pads

Soft AND ROUGH

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