Ceramic brake pad experience anyone?

[johnw]

I'm in need of new rotor and pads for the Passat, however I'm looking at something that is better, in terms of service life, than VW genuine because the rotor life is the same as pad life (both needed replacing at 44000km and now 90000Km) which I find is a bit extreme given all other cars I've owned go through pads quicker than rotors.

Just wondering if anyone has tried ceramic brake pads (such as Hawk) with OEM rotors? Will ceramic pads be too hard for the rotor (ie shorter rotor life)?

I've been searching but have found conflicting information, some say it's bad and will eat through rotors faster and others say it's softer, quieter and gentler on the rotor.

Or is that just the way newer VWs are, rotor and pads changed at the same time?

If anyone has other suggestions for pad/rotor combo please advise

Thanks

[Transporter]

I'm happy with the RDA slotted discs and Bendix GCT pads in my T5, better than OEM. Fitted the same to our Touareg as well.

[johnw]

Thanks Transporter, not sure if slotted discs are needed for daily driver though Maybe for my A3

[johnw]

I've read that the MkVI use ceramic pads from factory, anyone know what the VW pad material is for the Passat 3c?

[GOLFBALLS]

Hi John.
Where I work we sell the Ate brakes which are the genuine OE brand sold by VAG. We've just started getting the ceramic pads in from Germany. They are quite a bit more expensive than the standard pads, but obviously last longer and create less dust. I'll see if I can find out the effects on disc wear directly from Ate.

I doubt anything will make the discs last much longer though, as they are designed to wear now as the pads are no longer being made with asbestos.

Call an hsy autoparts branch (there's 3 in Melbourne) and they might be able to give you some more info.

Cheers

[johnw]

Hi John.
Where I work we sell the Ate brakes which are the genuine OE brand sold by VAG. We've just started getting the ceramic pads in from Germany. They are quite a bit more expensive than the standard pads, but obviously last longer and create less dust. I'll see if I can find out the effects on disc wear directly from Ate.

I doubt anything will make the discs last much longer though, as they are designed to wear now as the pads are no longer being made with asbestos.

Call an hsy autoparts branch (there's 3 in Melbourne) and they might be able to give you some more info.

Cheers

Thanks, I guess I'll just have to get some ceramic pads and see how it goes.

[GOLFBALLS]

I've heard back from our Ate man in Melbourne. Apparently the ceramic pads DO help the disc last longer. Hence, hsy extended the warranty to 50,000km/3yrs if Ceramic pads and Ate discs are changed together...

Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch, but I'm just trying to help

[johnw]

I've heard back from our Ate man in Melbourne. Apparently the ceramic pads DO help the disc last longer. Hence, hsy extended the warranty to 50,000km/3yrs if Ceramic pads and Ate discs are changed together...

Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch, but I'm just trying to help

Hey sales pitch or not it's another option!

Thanks I'll give them a call to see what's available/pricing. (just not sure if they'll sell to me as I'm consumer not trade)

Just after OEM anyway

[PeDiES]

i went to an ATE info night about the ceramic pads, when asked how they performed the tec (german) said to think of brakes as a pie chart, 1 third is performance, 1 third is lifetime, and other is comfort (ie, dust, noise). When you gain one you loose another, a compramis. In most ceremic pads the compromise is performace for more lifetime and less dust (or more comfort).

They aren't meant for performance, well acording to ATE anyway

[johnw]

i went to an ATE info night about the ceramic pads, when asked how they performed the tec (german) said to think of brakes as a pie chart, 1 third is performance, 1 third is lifetime, and other is comfort (ie, dust, noise). When you gain one you loose another, a compramis. In most ceremic pads the compromise is performace for more lifetime and less dust (or more comfort).

They aren't meant for performance, well acording to ATE anyway

That shouldn't bother me as long as they perform the same as factory ones. I don't have the R36 (I wish)

I looked up the VW part number for the parts and apparently they are semi metallic WITH ceramic compound? didn't know that was possible.

[GOLFBALLS]

i went to an ATE info night about the ceramic pads, when asked how they performed the tec (german) said to think of brakes as a pie chart, 1 third is performance, 1 third is lifetime, and other is comfort (ie, dust, noise). When you gain one you loose another, a compramis. In most ceremic pads the compromise is performace for more lifetime and less dust (or more comfort).

They aren't meant for performance, well acording to ATE anyway

Yea we held an Ate night at our Perth hsy branch too. Thats the key issue a lot of mechanics/customers dont understand. They are not a 'performance' pad, just a low dust/long life option as a direct replacement for the normal ones.

[GOLFBALLS]

That shouldn't bother me as long as they perform the same as factory ones.

Ate brakes ARE the factory ones on the majority of VAG cars. VW dont make brakes, they are supplied at the factory by Ate, Pagid, Lucas etc

[johnw]

Ate brakes ARE the factory ones on the majority of VAG cars. VW dont make brakes, they are supplied at the factory by Ate, Pagid, Lucas etc

Ah sorry I understand now :-P Didnt know VW bought them, thought they where an equivalent replacement.

Posted from my idroid4 Galaxy HD 7

[bluey]

Reading the ATE blurb...
ATE Brakes -FAQ-Ceramic

"Does the use of ATE Ceramic brake pads have an effect on the service life of brake disks?

After ATE Ceramic brake pads have been used for a short time, a blue-gray “transfer film” consisting of very hard, wear-resistant carbides forms on the brake disk. As a consequence this transfer film, rather than the brake disk surface itself, is what does the braking. This substantially reduces wear on the disk."

ATE ceramic pads for Polo ($198.00) not in stock at my local HSY, so opted to try the Bendix General CT, which cost $116 and new ATE rotors ($284) to replace the warped one. Will get the old rotors machined for later. The warped one was worn about 1mm after 30k. Hoping to get more life out of the new rotors with the ceramic pads......

If anyone is interested, HSY could order the ATE Power Discs at about double the price and a couple of months wait. Might be easier to get someone clever to CNC machine the endless loop groove into standard rotors?

[GOLFBALLS]

Where'd ya get the Bendix ceramics from?