The 10 Best Ceramic Brake Pads
This wiki has been updated 20 times since it was first published in November of 2018. A car's brakes work by turning kinetic energy into heat, and ceramic pads do this far more quietly, more cleanly, and with less damage to rotors than organic- and metal-based varieties. Unlike those, the friction material doesn't really erode like a traditional pad, meaning these deliver consistent performance throughout their entire, extended life, more than making up for their increased price. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Bosch QuietCast
2. Akebono ProACT
3. Power Stop Z23
Editor's Notes
March 11, 2021:
Obviously, brake-pad fittings are vehicle-specific, so it’s virtually impossible to recommend one that’s a universal fit. As a result, the range we’ve highlighted are of the highest quality options from different brands that should cover a variety of specific car models. Ceramic brakes is one product where online markets can really help as there isn’t a lot of variation in build, quality or thickness between options, and the primary distinguishing feature between two different brakes is often going to be whether they fit your car, thus, it can be invaluable to compare feedback from other users, in, say, an online marketplace. In general, ceramic pads are going to be more expensive than metallic options and notably pricier than organic options, but they’re going to offer the lowest noise and wear & tear on your system.
Metal brakes may, on average, perform slightly better, but they’re going to be a lot louder, and produce more strain on your brake rotors. An option like the Bosch QuietCast is going to offer the best combination of affordability and quality, while more expensive brakes like the EBC Redstuff and Hawk Performance are generally built for vehicles like the Nissan GTR, and can compete on the performance front with metal brakes.
December 02, 2018:
There are a few reasons to switch to ceramic brake pads, and although overall performance isn't one of them, this constantly advancing technology is finally catching up to traditional brake pads. The Bosch are exceptionally popular, as are both Wagners. Power Stop makes some less well-known, but exceedingly high-quality models, available in various price ranges. The Akebonos and EBCs are excellent for high-end vehicles with lots of horsepower, and owners of exotic cars should check out the Hawk Performance. Whatever you do, please don't wrap your replacement pads around slotted and drilled rotors, which offer exactly no performance increase over solid rotors, and are incredibly more prone to fractures. If slotted rotors were better, wouldn't F1 cars use them? Well, they don't, and the best way to protect your rotors is by changing to ceramic brake pads.
4. Wagner ThermoQuiet
5. Power Stop Evolution
6. Wagner Quickstop
7. EBC Redstuff
8. Power Stop Z26 Extreme
9. Hawk Performance
10. ACDelco Professional
Kaivaan grew up in a little town called York in the north of England, though he was whisked off to sunny Jamaica at the age of 14, where he attended high school. After graduating, he returned to the UK to study electronic engineering at the University of Warwick, where he became the chief editor for the engineering society’s flagship magazine. A couple of uninspiring internships in engineering later however, and after some time spent soul-searching and traveling across Asia and East Africa, he he now lives and works in in Dubai.