ATE ceramic quick review

D_o_S · 10-12-2013, 07:51 AM

Hi,

just had ATE Ceramic pads installed on the rear of my car, together with new Brembo painted rotors.

The rotors: are OK, they're high-carbon, so they look darker than OEM. They're painted on the circumference of the hub, but not on the contact surface, where the wheel is attached - why I don't know. They have a wear indicator, which is handy.

The pads are rated FG vs OEM FF. Braking performance is EQUAL to OEM at WORST, personally I think it is a bit better.

Braking action is different, the pads do not bite as well initially, say the initial 1cm of travel of the brake pedal... then suddenly the pedal becomes hard and you can modulate how much you're stopping with pressure rather than brake travel.

Basically, the OEM brakes seemed to brake more the further you pressed the pedal... these don't do that, they stop the more force you apply, but the pedal itself does not seem to move much.

I like it, because I feel it stops better once you really get on it...

It's not like you feather the brake and whoa, you're slowing down, but more like you load the brake system and then modulate with pressure how you want to stop.

NVH - none.

Brake dust - same as before really. In terms of brake dust, these pads do nothing for me - I find there is the same amount of dust before, the only advantage being that the dust is a light (gold/copper) color, whereas with OEM it was black...

Feel free to ask about anything...

D_o_S · 10-26-2013, 04:59 PM

Just in case anybody is reading this...

Having second thoughts now... the brakes still feel better than OEM at high speeds, and are much easier to modulate, however off the race track, the lack of initial bite can be VERY scary...

Najt · 09-02-2014, 05:25 PM

so if i want to run long distances very agresively its better not to used the ceramic right?

can i use the ceramic with regulare ATE rotors?

john16443 · 09-03-2014, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Najt

so if i want to run long distances very agresively its better not to used the ceramic right?

can i use the ceramic with regulare ATE rotors?

If you're wanting to maintain aggressive braking for extended periods of time or numerous repeat heavy applications (like at the track), you don't want ceramic pads. You want semi metallic pads as they will be less prone to fade at higher temperatures.

Ceramic pads can be used with any rotor.

Meeni · 09-03-2014, 04:45 PM

This behavior is typical of new ceramic pads, it will get normal with wear. Ceramic pads are not recommended as a track application.

10-12-2013, 07:51 AM	#1
D_o_S LCI'd 271 Rep 822 Posts Drives: 335i LCI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (1)	ATE ceramic quick review Hi, just had ATE Ceramic pads installed on the rear of my car, together with new Brembo painted rotors. The rotors: are OK, they're high-carbon, so they look darker than OEM. They're painted on the circumference of the hub, but not on the contact surface, where the wheel is attached - why I don't know. They have a wear indicator, which is handy. The pads are rated FG vs OEM FF. Braking performance is EQUAL to OEM at WORST, personally I think it is a bit better. Braking action is different, the pads do not bite as well initially, say the initial 1cm of travel of the brake pedal... then suddenly the pedal becomes hard and you can modulate how much you're stopping with pressure rather than brake travel. Basically, the OEM brakes seemed to brake more the further you pressed the pedal... these don't do that, they stop the more force you apply, but the pedal itself does not seem to move much. I like it, because I feel it stops better once you really get on it... It's not like you feather the brake and whoa, you're slowing down, but more like you load the brake system and then modulate with pressure how you want to stop. NVH - none. Brake dust - same as before really. In terms of brake dust, these pads do nothing for me - I find there is the same amount of dust before, the only advantage being that the dust is a light (gold/copper) color, whereas with OEM it was black... Feel free to ask about anything...
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10-26-2013, 04:59 PM	#2
D_o_S LCI'd 271 Rep 822 Posts Drives: 335i LCI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (1)	Just in case anybody is reading this... Having second thoughts now... the brakes still feel better than OEM at high speeds, and are much easier to modulate, however off the race track, the lack of initial bite can be VERY scary...
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09-02-2014, 05:25 PM	#3
Najt Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 262 Posts Drives: e92 325D 2008 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	so if i want to run long distances very agresively its better not to used the ceramic right? can i use the ceramic with regulare ATE rotors?
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09-03-2014, 04:45 PM	#5
Meeni Gateropode 332 Rep 2,846 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	This behavior is typical of new ceramic pads, it will get normal with wear. Ceramic pads are not recommended as a track application.
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