Fiber brake pads are made, as the name suggests, out of fiber and provide a number of specific advantages and disadvantages to the vehicle that they are installed on. Understanding the features that fiber brake pads offer you can help you decide if fiber brakes are the right choice for your car.
The Advantages of Fiber Brake Pads
Rotor Wear: Fiber brake pads are softer than ceramic or metallic brake pads and, as such, result in minimal wear on the brake rotors. This is a significant advantage in ensuring the long term effectiveness of your brakes, as brake pads are much easier to replace than brake rotors are.
Price: In general, Fiber brake pads will cost much less than ceramic brake pads (though the actual difference will depend on the make and model of your car and pads), which makes them a better choice for vehicle owners who are operating under a tight budget for car parts.
Cold Weather Performance: Unlike ceramic brakes, which only perform well when warm, fiber brakes are able to provide stopping power to your vehicle in cold weather conditions, which is ideal for climates that experience harsh winters.
Smooth Braking: As a soft material, fiber brake pads provide a very smooth brake, which is ideal for city and urban driving, as there is less jolting and sudden stoppage, especially when moving at high speeds.
The Disadvantages of Fiber Brake Pads
Lifespan: As fiber is a softer material when compared to metallic or ceramic brake pads, they will wear away much quicker, resulting in a shorter lifespan for your brake pads. This means that you will have to replace your brake pads much more often, which represents a long term cost. However, the fact that fiber brakes cost less than ceramic and metallic brake pads helps to offset this long term cost, keeping fiber brakes financially viable.
Noise: Over time, fiber brake pads can cause squeaking or squealing when applied. This is because fiber brakes have thin metallic fibres interwoven throughout, which can cause high pitched noises as the brakes become worn. However, this is a minor problem, as replacing the brake pads can reduce or remove the noise entirely.
Brake Fade: If applied rapidly in a short period of time, fiber brake pads can experience brake fade, or unresponsiveness due to increased friction and heat in the brakes. However, this is a rare problem that does not occur in most driving situations and is only a consideration for drivers looking to race with their vehicles.
For more information about your options for brake pads and brake repair, contact a company like Alaskan Auto Center Inc.
Share15 June 2015
Hello. My name’s Samuel Jacobs. I retired from my job as an auto mechanic last year. During my years as a mechanic, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Some have remained friends to this day. When I was working, there is one thing that I came across at least weekly. That is how uneducated people are when it comes to their vehicle’s tires. Properly cared for tires are crucial to the safety of your vehicle. Without them, your car isn’t going anywhere. If they give out on you while you are driving, there is the potential for serious injury. I’m going to share some tire safety information here. Things like the importance of correct inflation, how to check the tread, when to replace tires, tire rotation, and what to do in case of a blow-out. I hope you find this information to be helpful.