A Primer on Modern Brakes

March 5th, 2010 |

The buzzwords in modern brake design are anti-lock brakes (ABS) and carbon-ceramic brakes, two premium brake types that are featured in more expensive automobiles. If you’re unaware of the advantages this type of technology affords you, this article will introduce you to the basic concepts and the advantages each affords you in terms of performance, safety, and value. car

The general term of carbon-ceramic brakes usually refers to the use of ceramic brake pads as a performance upgrade from semi-metallic pads on economy cars and older model vehicles. The main advantages of ceramic pads include less brake dust over the life of the pad, less wear on brake rotors, and a quieter, smoother braking response that the superior metal provides. These advantages equate to savings in the long run that balances out the extra cost up front.

Based on the driving habits of most vehicles owners, these ceramic pads are still considered to be too expensive to be practical. The technology behind them originated on the race track, where the demands of tremendous braking in corners at high speed caused conventional brake systems to fail under pressure, due to the extreme heat they generated.

The best time to buy into ceramic brakes may be when purchasing a new vehicle. At least one online source estimates that 33% of new cars are equipped with ceramic pads, and the number of automakers that choose to include them as standard features may climb as brake manufacturers seek to make them more affordable.

This is a system that works in tandem with the standard brakes installed on the vehicle. In normal driving conditions, the antilock brake system is not in use. There is also a learning curve in terms of the characteristics of the system functions. Drivers will occasionally feel the ABS system kicking in, and some grinding or pulling can be felt when brakes are applied.