Are GG rated ceramic pads good for everyday driving(normal) as compared to FF?
Excessive Brake Dust
- Thread starter coopns
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Are GG rated ceramic pads good for everyday driving(normal) as compared to FF?
The reason that I ask is, I just ordered and received from RA, Centric C-Tek ceramic pads Front/Rear and both are GG. I am replacing the Centric Posi-Quiet Ceramic(worn out...6 yrs) and they are I believe GG as well. However, I can't find any info on this. The PQ Ceramic stopping power is fine.
Are GG rated ceramic pads good for everyday driving(normal) as compared to FF?
The reason that I ask is, I just ordered and received from RA, Centric C-Tek ceramic pads Front/Rear and both are GG. I am replacing the Centric Posi-Quiet Ceramic(worn out...6 yrs) and they are I believe GG as well. However, I can't find any info on this. The PQ Ceramic stopping power is fine.
Originally Posted By: bbhero
Go by DOT code on the actual brake pads... Most "ceramic brake pads are rated FF. The first letter stands for "cold" braking performance, the second letter stands for braking performance at 600°F and what percentage chance the pads will fade. I have Akebono Performance street brake pads on the front of my car that are rated GG. They have been really good. The chance of brake fade on these is listed as very, very rare. FF rated pads have a 22%-0% chance of fade at 600°F. So, there is a fairly good difference there. Plus they have good cold performance has well.
Outside the USA DOT codes are not always present on pads. The brembos don't have them, not sure if the Ferodo do.
Go by DOT code on the actual brake pads... Most "ceramic brake pads are rated FF. The first letter stands for "cold" braking performance, the second letter stands for braking performance at 600°F and what percentage chance the pads will fade. I have Akebono Performance street brake pads on the front of my car that are rated GG. They have been really good. The chance of brake fade on these is listed as very, very rare. FF rated pads have a 22%-0% chance of fade at 600°F. So, there is a fairly good difference there. Plus they have good cold performance has well.
Outside the USA DOT codes are not always present on pads. The brembos don't have them, not sure if the Ferodo do.
Originally Posted By: Jetronic
Originally Posted By: bbhero
Go by DOT code on the actual brake pads... Most "ceramic brake pads are rated FF. The first letter stands for "cold" braking performance, the second letter stands for braking performance at 600°F and what percentage chance the pads will fade. I have Akebono Performance street brake pads on the front of my car that are rated GG. They have been really good. The chance of brake fade on these is listed as very, very rare. FF rated pads have a 22%-0% chance of fade at 600°F. So, there is a fairly good difference there. Plus they have good cold performance has well.
Outside the USA DOT codes are not always present on pads. The brembos don't have them, not sure if the Ferodo do.
Then it probably doesn't matter much!
Originally Posted By: bbhero
Go by DOT code on the actual brake pads... Most "ceramic brake pads are rated FF. The first letter stands for "cold" braking performance, the second letter stands for braking performance at 600°F and what percentage chance the pads will fade. I have Akebono Performance street brake pads on the front of my car that are rated GG. They have been really good. The chance of brake fade on these is listed as very, very rare. FF rated pads have a 22%-0% chance of fade at 600°F. So, there is a fairly good difference there. Plus they have good cold performance has well.
Outside the USA DOT codes are not always present on pads. The brembos don't have them, not sure if the Ferodo do.
Then it probably doesn't matter much!
Someone on here (Critic?) told me that Toyota dealers stock two different brake pads: one for warranty work and one for customer pay. Customer pay pads are cheaper so as to better compete with chains. But... don't get something for nothing.
You could try mailordering OEM pads. I ordered a set for mine, and have on the shelf for when it's time.
You could try mailordering OEM pads. I ordered a set for mine, and have on the shelf for when it's time.
Yeah of course GG rated brake pads are fine for everyday driving. They stop great while cold... Will not fade due to high heat. Plus with a higher coefficient of friction the GG rated brakes will stop a car shorter than FF rated brakes. A win win there. My Akebono Performance street pads have held up great. My sorry Wagner Thermoquiets FF rated were shot in no time. FF rated brake pads are quite good. Don't get wrong. They are that. But for the extra money the GG rated brake pads are worth it.
Even on cars with FE rated pads I can lock the wheels up when braking. How will GG pads improve that? They'll achieve lock-up with less pedal pressure, but I'm not sure that's a good thing by itself...
I believe the brembo HP2000 sold in the USA are GG rated
I believe the brembo HP2000 sold in the USA are GG rated
Originally Posted By: supton
Someone on here (Critic?) told me that Toyota dealers stock two different brake pads: one for warranty work and one for customer pay. Customer pay pads are cheaper so as to better compete with chains. But... don't get something for nothing.
You could try mailordering OEM pads. I ordered a set for mine, and have on the shelf for when it's time.
Yes, I work at a Mitsubishi dealer, and there 3 tiers of brake pads exist. The original are best and get ordered if the customer cares about low/no dust and is willing to pay. Some do. We use the middle tier for others.
Someone on here (Critic?) told me that Toyota dealers stock two different brake pads: one for warranty work and one for customer pay. Customer pay pads are cheaper so as to better compete with chains. But... don't get something for nothing.
You could try mailordering OEM pads. I ordered a set for mine, and have on the shelf for when it's time.
Yes, I work at a Mitsubishi dealer, and there 3 tiers of brake pads exist. The original are best and get ordered if the customer cares about low/no dust and is willing to pay. Some do. We use the middle tier for others.
Originally Posted By: bbhero
Yeah of course GG rated brake pads are fine for everyday driving. They stop great while cold... Will not fade due to high heat. Plus with a higher coefficient of friction the GG rated brakes will stop a car shorter than FF rated brakes. A win win there. My Akebono Performance street pads have held up great. My sorry Wagner Thermoquiets FF rated were shot in no time. FF rated brake pads are quite good. Don't get wrong. They are that. But for the extra money the GG rated brake pads are worth it.
Thank you, great explanation!
These pads I speak of; Centric C-Tek ceramic pads(F&R) are ECONOMY pads that I paid very little money for(F:$12/R:$10) and was very curious about their stopping ability(being GG) in what I call; "EVERYDAYNESS" type of driving. NO spirited driving(track days). Just "Normalness" on the street everyday!
Not that there wouldn't be some aggressive driving e.g., due to being in a hurry or having that, one too many cups of coffee. But otherwise, the driving is what most people do in the daily grind!
I just don't want brake pads that requires extra )))HEAT((( in order to work properly as I've made that mistake before(Performance Friction's "Carbon Metallic...worst brake pad I've ever used in everydayness). These PF/Carbon Met's SUUUUUUKKKKED when cold...OMG!
The first STOP of the morning is as important as the last STOP in the evening.
Yeah of course GG rated brake pads are fine for everyday driving. They stop great while cold... Will not fade due to high heat. Plus with a higher coefficient of friction the GG rated brakes will stop a car shorter than FF rated brakes. A win win there. My Akebono Performance street pads have held up great. My sorry Wagner Thermoquiets FF rated were shot in no time. FF rated brake pads are quite good. Don't get wrong. They are that. But for the extra money the GG rated brake pads are worth it.
Thank you, great explanation!
These pads I speak of; Centric C-Tek ceramic pads(F&R) are ECONOMY pads that I paid very little money for(F:$12/R:$10) and was very curious about their stopping ability(being GG) in what I call; "EVERYDAYNESS" type of driving. NO spirited driving(track days). Just "Normalness" on the street everyday!
Not that there wouldn't be some aggressive driving e.g., due to being in a hurry or having that, one too many cups of coffee. But otherwise, the driving is what most people do in the daily grind!
I just don't want brake pads that requires extra )))HEAT((( in order to work properly as I've made that mistake before(Performance Friction's "Carbon Metallic...worst brake pad I've ever used in everydayness). These PF/Carbon Met's SUUUUUUKKKKED when cold...OMG!
The first STOP of the morning is as important as the last STOP in the evening.
Last edited:
I had Sparco T-51 pads once. The first stop was horrendous, like you say. But to be fair, with that car I could overheat the brakes very quickly as I was younger and more stupid then. 5 Braking events in close succession (from 100-30 Mph or thereabouts) and on the 6th it would be like someone stuck a log behind the brake pedal. The Sparco pads did prevent that from happening.
I have no idea what compund was used in those pads though, but it seems they are currently made by Ferodo.
I have no idea what compund was used in those pads though, but it seems they are currently made by Ferodo.
Last edited:
Higher coefficient of friction will help stop you shorter. Let's say you have EE rated brakes and have to make a panic stop. They will not work as well as FF rated brake pads. And again, FF brake pads are really pretty good. I am saying that the GG rated brake pads are just a decent amount better. Especially given the chance of not having any brake fade due to high heat. This would've been nice to have had on my Ford Fusion when I was in the mountains. Where I had no option at all because transmission did not give me a way to use engine compression to help slow the car down. There was no doubt my brakes were WAY too hot going from the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,054 ft down to 3400 feet.
Last edited:
No problem Char Baby. I always enjoy reading your post on here.
I have to say that the Akebono Performance street brake pads have been absolutely great. I would recommend them to anyone. Mine were $75 for the front pads. About $25 more than the FF rated ceramic brake pads. Not really all that bad and worth it my opinion. I hope you have a good day today.
I have to say that the Akebono Performance street brake pads have been absolutely great. I would recommend them to anyone. Mine were $75 for the front pads. About $25 more than the FF rated ceramic brake pads. Not really all that bad and worth it my opinion. I hope you have a good day today.
I fitted the Brembo HP2000 today after work. They still need to bed in properly which I'll get on to in the morning commute (back roads), but already it's obvious the friction coefficient is significantly higher.
But even with the lower friction coefficient I could lock the brakes up at which point more braking effort didn't do me any good. I got them because the standard Ferodos dusted too much. I'll likely fit Ferodo DS2500 at the back though, which is also low dusting.
But even with the lower friction coefficient I could lock the brakes up at which point more braking effort didn't do me any good. I got them because the standard Ferodos dusted too much. I'll likely fit Ferodo DS2500 at the back though, which is also low dusting.
- Status
