Brake pads are one of the most critical safety components of all the vehicles we use, from small motorcycles that weigh only 70-80 kilograms to trucks weighing tons. Brake pads, the fruit of the cooperative efforts in the fields of chemistry, physics and mechanics, directly affect our vehicles' performance. This article will focus on brake pads that most of us do not pay much attention to, but are crucial to the safety of our life.
To put it in the simplest terms, brake pads are what stops the vehicle through friction. Manufactured in different ways and with different chemical components for different brake technologies, brake pads apply to the brake discs or drums the kinetic energy created by the driver and transmitted by the brake system. This way, they slow down and stop the vehicle.
Disc brake pads are the most common type of pads today. These pads transmit the force from the center to the discs and slow down the vehicle. Another important type is drum brake shoes. However, as the use of drum brake technology is gradually decreasing in the automotive world, we are less familiar with this type.
A conscious vehicle owner should be able to decide which brake pad is fit for his/her car's properties and personal driving habits. To make it easier for you to make the most appropriate choice, we will provide you with information on different brake pads.
Brake pads work under harsh conditions. The temperature induced by friction may be incredibly high. Brake pads unable to withstand these conditions may lead to a reduced and even wholly lost braking performance. Therefore, it is very important to choose a brand that has proven itself with its experience and technology so that you do not risk the safety of your life and property.
As the name indicates, organic brake pads are made of organic materials. While making your choice among organic brake pads, make sure that the one you pick does not contain asbestos. Asbestos-containing brake pads lead to a release of asbestos dust, a highly carcinogenic substance, while braking. Asbestos-free brake pads are made of materials of high heat resistance, such as glass and Kevlar.
As they are made of organic materials, organic brake pads do not harm nature. Another advantage is that they deform the brake discs minimally since they generally have a soft structure. However, this is also a disadvantage. Such a soft structure gives them a short lifespan.
Today, metallic brake pads are the most commonly used ones. Manufactured through compression of the mixture of some materials such as iron, steel and graphite, these pads offer good braking performance and long useful life. Although sintered brake pads do not have as moderate prices as organic ones do, they can be said to have a good price/value ratio, considering their useful life.
Different sintered brake pads may offer different brake performances, as they are made of different mixtures of metals. Therefore, before choosing a metallic brake pad, you need to consider the metals used to make the brake pad you are planning to buy.
Metallic brake pads have a long useful life. However, compared to organic ones, these pads have a more rigid structure, which leads to higher noise and faster wearing out of brake discs.
Ceramic brake pads are made of ceramic fibers of high heat conduction and resistance. The most significant disadvantage of these pads, which are far lighter than metallic ones, is their higher prices due to the high production costs. That is why they are usually used for racing cars.
Organic Pads
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Metallic Pads
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Ceramic Pads
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