A lot of Break Dust?
Senior Administrator
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,574
From: Lotsa places, currently Metro D.C., USA
ceramics are a trade off of... less dust, for a slightly higher pedal effort for a given stopping distance (go ahead, flame me, then read up on physics and STFU)
It's like the difference between high-mileage tires versus high-grip tires. Sticky tires, like stiky brake pads, sacrafice material for grip. The heat transfer causes material to shed. (this is where some genius chimes in and tells me ceramic brakes on Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, etc. stop phenominally... which they do, sorta-kinda and not without some fancy engineering, but none of YOU are installing a carbon-ceramic brake SYSTEM on your rides, R ya? Nope. Just ceramic pads, to cut down on the dust. apples/oranges)
Me, I'd rather deal with the dust, and stop SOONER for a given pedal effort. Same reason I roll on high-performance tires, as opposed to Sears Million-Mile-Tires. More grip generally means shorter (and, sometimes dirtier) life for the part.
Your car/your call.
It's like the difference between high-mileage tires versus high-grip tires. Sticky tires, like stiky brake pads, sacrafice material for grip. The heat transfer causes material to shed. (this is where some genius chimes in and tells me ceramic brakes on Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, etc. stop phenominally... which they do, sorta-kinda and not without some fancy engineering, but none of YOU are installing a carbon-ceramic brake SYSTEM on your rides, R ya? Nope. Just ceramic pads, to cut down on the dust. apples/oranges)
Me, I'd rather deal with the dust, and stop SOONER for a given pedal effort. Same reason I roll on high-performance tires, as opposed to Sears Million-Mile-Tires. More grip generally means shorter (and, sometimes dirtier) life for the part.
Your car/your call.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
From: New England
^ Yep, more brake "bite" with the OEM pads, with dust and noise being the typical downsides.
Less bite but low dust/noise with ceramic pads.
Audi, as most manufacturers, opted for more bite.
Only the operator can make this trade-off decision for themselves.
Less bite but low dust/noise with ceramic pads.
Audi, as most manufacturers, opted for more bite.
Only the operator can make this trade-off decision for themselves.
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
From: Providence,RI
i have had the brake pads for a couple of weeks and can see the differences you guys are talking about and they seem to be right on. for me i could not stand the brake dust it was just wayyyyyyyyy to much.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 380
My bet is for the average driver they won't notice the difference. In most cases it comes down to do you want more or less brake dust. I try not to put myself in a position where an extra foot of braking makes a difference.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
From: New England
It seems that many members here and on other Audi forums with 2011 vehicles, myself included, are expereincing very little dust and noise. It would appear Audi has heard their customer base and has moved to a new brakepad formulation (ceramic-based?) that is low dust and low noise! 
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
