silvrsvt Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I was bored today and did some poking around and just noticed something, it seems all of Ford's newer cars are now using Ceramic brake pads on them. Could this be part of the reason for crappy stopping distances for the newer cars that have come out in the past couple years? The Edge uses them, the Mustang Uses them, but the Fusion doesn't nor can I find info on the 08 Taurus or Focus if they are outfitted with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockFX Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I was bored today and did some poking around and just noticed something, it seems all of Ford's newer cars are now using Ceramic brake pads on them. Could this be part of the reason for crappy stopping distances for the newer cars that have come out in the past couple years? The Edge uses them, the Mustang Uses them, but the Fusion doesn't nor can I find info on the 08 Taurus or Focus if they are outfitted with them. Ceramic should be better, Porsche uses ceramic. I'd blame the fact Ford cars are getting heavier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I was bored today and did some poking around and just noticed something, it seems all of Ford's newer cars are now using Ceramic brake pads on them. Could this be part of the reason for crappy stopping distances for the newer cars that have come out in the past couple years? The Edge uses them, the Mustang Uses them, but the Fusion doesn't nor can I find info on the 08 Taurus or Focus if they are outfitted with them. Ceramic usually stop better, though I think the reason Ford is using them is you don't end up with all the brake dust on the wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Ceramic should be better, Porsche uses ceramic. I'd blame the fact Ford cars are getting heavier. Yeah, but what about the F150? No ceramic, heavier, and really short stop distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I was bored today and did some poking around and just noticed something, it seems all of Ford's newer cars are now using Ceramic brake pads on them. Could this be part of the reason for crappy stopping distances for the newer cars that have come out in the past couple years? The Edge uses them, the Mustang Uses them, but the Fusion doesn't nor can I find info on the 08 Taurus or Focus if they are outfitted with them. Maybe they don't do as well for the first while :shrug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Ceramic should be better, Porsche uses ceramic. I'd blame the fact Ford cars are getting heavier. Porsche uses ceramic ROTORS as well. Crazy expensive, but work well. Ceramics really are NOT the best for shortest stopping distances. A good ol' fashioned semi-metallic will do that the best. However, the reason ceramics are used in racing-bred applications is that they are FAR more resistant to brake FADE, which in racing applications is more important than stopping distance. I currently have ceramic pads on both my Cobra and Mazda...the braking performance is adequate in both and they both have wheels that are a PITA to keep clean of brake dust...no brainer there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockFX Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Porsche uses ceramic ROTORS as well. Crazy expensive, but work well. Ceramics really are NOT the best for shortest stopping distances. A good ol' fashioned semi-metallic will do that the best. However, the reason ceramics are used in racing-bred applications is that they are FAR more resistant to brake FADE, which in racing applications is more important than stopping distance. I currently have ceramic pads on both my Cobra and Mazda...the braking performance is adequate in both and they both have wheels that are a PITA to keep clean of brake dust...no brainer there. Can you link me to those ceramic pads you use that don't get brake dust all over the wheels? I freaking hate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 (edited) Can you link me to those ceramic pads you use that don't get brake dust all over the wheels? I freaking hate it. Depends which car: The ones on the Mazda are just from NAPA. Have worked pretty well for about 35,000 miles...getting to be about due for replacements. Only complaint is that they have squeeked a heck of a lot more. The ones on the Cobra are Akebonos. Don't really have enough milage on those to tell if they were worth the extra coin or not. The difference in brake dust on both is dramatic though to say the least. No reason you can't just run ceramics in the front and whatever other preferred cheaper material in the rear too. After all, it's usually only the fronts that are victim to the brake dust black wheel disease. Edited October 23, 2007 by NickF1011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockFX Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Depends which car: The ones on the Mazda are just from NAPA. Have worked pretty well for about 35,000 miles...getting to be about due for replacements. Only complaint is that they have squeeked a heck of a lot more. The ones on the Cobra are Akebonos. Don't really have enough milage on those to tell if they were worth the extra coin or not. The difference in brake dust on both is dramatic though to say the least. No reason you can't just run ceramics in the front and whatever other preferred cheaper material in the rear too. After all, it's usually only the fronts that are victim to the brake dust black wheel disease. I'll head over to the Mazda6 forum I check and ask around then. Never thought about new brake pads to fix that problem though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZanatWork Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I sell the Akebonos, and they're VERY popular among my performance customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I sell the Akebonos, and they're VERY popular among my performance customers. Do I smell a discount? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Ceramic should be better, Porsche uses ceramic. I'd blame the fact Ford cars are getting heavier. I've heard the opposite. That ceramic pads make less dust, but don't do as well as carbon metallic type pad. That difference is supposed to be negligible though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Ford may have switched to ceramic from metallic due to the horrendous screeching that metallic pads make when wet. There's some article some place, can't remember where, or if it's a Ford source, that says that brake noise is one of the biggest complaints buyers have with new vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 I have the ceramic pads in the MKX and braking is adequate for a heavy vehicle. There is none of that groaning noise I am accustomed to hearing on my previous Fords (including the LS). Brake dust is virtually non-existent! I'm happy and would not exchange them for anything (until I hit another car I guess). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Recent Fords seem to build up a lot less brake dust. It's never been an issue with my Sable, but was horrendous with the Contour. 1ZVHT82H365130150.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Recent Fords seem to build up a lot less brake dust. It's never been an issue with my Sable, but was horrendous with the Contour. F150 is awful for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 (edited) F150 is awful for that. The 03-(early)04 Expeditions were HORRIBLE, I believe that's about the time Ford switched over to the ceramic brake pads. I remember when we had ours replaced by Ford b/c of the brake dust. Edited October 24, 2007 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extreme4x4 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 '03 Mazda Tribute. The brakes work great, but the dust is hideous. Still, I will deal with the ugly dust, for braking performance. I take safety over vanity. On a side note, my 5-year-old just broke his arm today. AUGH !!!! His first real injury. He fell off the monkey bars at his after K child care. Sorry for acting like a mama, but he is my only child, and this really got me today. He was very brave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 (edited) '03 Mazda Tribute. The brakes work great, but the dust is hideous. Still, I will deal with the ugly dust, for braking performance. I take safety over vanity. On a side note, my 5-year-old just broke his arm today. AUGH !!!! His first real injury. He fell off the monkey bars at his after K child care. Sorry for acting like a mama, but he is my only child, and this really got me today. He was very brave. Sorry to hear about your son's arm. I hope he has a quick and full recovery. EDIT: Our Expedition brakes work fine, and a LOT less brake dust w/ the new pads. Edited October 24, 2007 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 (edited) Ceramic should be better, Porsche uses ceramic. I'd blame the fact Ford cars are getting heavier. The cars are getting heavier because the government puts in regs to force new safety gizmos all the time. At least today's cars have the airbags nicely implemented into the design. Before it was a big ungainly box in the steering wheel, and for years I was anti-airbag. Of course, the counter-argument for this is that the companies need to adapt or die. (Bold Moves) Edited October 24, 2007 by Roadrunner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Yeah, but what about the F150? No ceramic, heavier, and really short stop distance. I would suspect that braking is better on trucks in general because the weight is largely on the front as tested (unlike if there is material in the bed) -- meaning there's no heavy backend pushing momentum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 I would suspect that braking is better on trucks in general because the weight is largely on the front as tested (unlike if there is material in the bed) -- meaning there's no heavy backend pushing momentum. You would think so, but in MT testing, don't rememer where, the F150 actually stopped faster with a full load. Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnFan Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 You would think so, but in MT testing, don't rememer where, the F150 actually stopped faster with a full load. Weird. I think it has something to do with it's weight, a loaded F-150 is close to 9000 pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 (edited) The Escape is notorious for chronic brake dust. EVERY time I see a first gen Escape, the front wheels are caked in dust. I'm extremely obsessive about my cars cleanliness so I'm happy to give up a little on stopping distance if it means no dust or groaning . Edited October 24, 2007 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351cid Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Yeah, but what about the F150? No ceramic, heavier, and really short stop distance. I don't know about the '04 and newer F-150, but my 2001 had ceramic pads and so does my 2004 F-250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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