The merchants of speed may not like the admission that the ability to stop outweighs the need for lightening acceleration.

Failure to have a reliable braking system, i.e., brake pads, can lead to many fatalities. Brake failures account for significant causes of road accidents.

With that in mind, it is essential to understand that the best brake pads, whether organic brake pads or metallic brake pads, ensure motorists’ safety on the road.

Conventionally, brake pads were made using asbestos as the material that enhances friction. Asbestos was used primarily because it is a good absorber and dissipater of heat.

But here is the problem. Asbestos broke down to generate a lot of dust that became a respiratory threat.

Thus, to eliminate this drawback, more brake pads were made from organic materials that are safer.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luCvtWGibeM

What are organic brake pads?

Organic brake pads or non-asbestos brake pads, as they are sometimes known, are manufactured mainly from natural components such as rubber or glass.

Sometimes resins are used to make these brake pads to make them more resistant to the heat produced as a result of friction when stopping a moving car. Another material used to make organic brake pads include Kevlar.

All the components used to make organic brake pads are eco-friendly and can be disposed of quickly. However, they wear faster compared to other brake pads. Additionally, they also create dust as they wear off.

Due to the considerations above, organic brake pads may not be appropriate for heavy vehicles or sports cars that need instant braking from top speeds. They are more ideal for smaller cars.

The lightweight of the cars, coupled with less hard stops, enhances the performance of the organic brake pads and keeps the drive safer as well.

What are organic pads brake pads made of?

As mentioned above, the main components of organic brake pads are natural materials such as Kevlar, rubber, and glass. All these materials make organic brake pads softer on the rotors.

Additionally, these components make the brake pads more affordable and easy to manufacture.

An ideal situation for using organic brake pads is for daily commuting as opposed to long-distance trips. That’s because these materials wear out faster and might be replaced more frequently for better performance.

Organic brake pads pros and cons

Like any other brake pads in the market, organic brake pads come with some advantages and disadvantages. It is essential to weigh up options based on the efficiency of individual brake pads and how they are to be used.

Pros

Organic brake pads produce less dust compare to others like metallic brake pads.
The brake pads are made from natural materials, which make them easier to manufacture.
Rubber, glass, and Kevlar are all soft components, which make organic brake pads gentle on brake rotors.
Organic brake pads are suitable for use in a wide range of cars and are equally ideal for all conditions of weather.
Organic brake pads are quieter compared to others like metallic or ceramic brake pads.

Cons

Organic brake pads are softer and cannot withstand some temperature ranges.
These brake pads wear faster and thereby need frequent replacement.
They are not ideal for heavy vehicles or racing cars.

Organic brake pads v metallic brake pads

There are two main types of brake pads, namely metallic and organic. These two are sometimes known as sintered and resin, respectively. All of them come with various advantages and disadvantages and are suitable for different uses.

When it comes down to choosing between the two, you need to look out for the following factors.

The conditions of the trails and weather
The extent and type of riding you do
Rider weight.
The size of the rotors you run on.

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Sintered or metallic pads

These brake pads are manufactured from hardened metallic components that are fused using high pressure and temperature.

Pros

Sintered brake pads do not wear off quickly like the others.
Sintered brake pads perform better even in wet conditions.
They are usually long-lasting.

Cons

Metallic brake pads are noisy when braking down speed.
They do not have much initial bite.
They have a longer break-in time.
In metallic brake pads, the heat id conducted through the caliper as opposed to the rotor where it should be.

Metallic brake pads are suitable for heavy riders and in wet conditions where you are likely to be in muddy or dusty settings.

Additionally, they will serve you better if you are on small rotors or long descend.

When compared to the organic brake pads, the metallic ones boast of better performance, although they are noisier lack s much initial bite.

This situation is because heat is absorbed through the caliper instead of the disc.

Since the metallic components are more durable compared to organic materials, metallic brake pads are long-lasting.

The best way to choose the best brake pads is by going for the option that enhances the performance of your car better.

When it comes to the organic brake pads, their application is limited to lighter vehicles that do not need a lot of brakes.

The best thing about these brake pads is that they have the best initial grip (also called initial bite). These pads manage heat better in smaller rotors.

That means that the oil in your engine will not boil at a higher rate, and therefore you will preserve a lot of power. If you hate brake squeal, and most people do, then you will love resin brake pads.

Additionally, if you are running on organic brake pads, you will want to sand the surface to remove glaze.

When should you choose organic brake pads?

Based on the advantages and the disadvantages of organic brake pads, you may want to use them if:

The weather conditions and your trail are dry.
You are a fan of the initial bite/grab.
You are using a light vehicle.
You do not require sharp/instant brakes.
On the other hand, you may want to use metallic brake pads if:
You are using a heavy vehicle or a sports car.
You are riding on wet conditions.
Your ride requires instant braking, such as car racings.

Although this article recommends the situations where you need a specific type of brake pads, the final decision rests with you.

You have to consider your ride and other factors before you decide to buy any brake pad. What is contained in this article should be a guide to getting the best brake pads for you.

Factors to consider when purchasing brake pads

The role of brake pads is to grab the brake disc to slow down the car.

The sections that push the brake pads to the disc to reduce velocity are called pistons. Each brake pad is placed in a caliper.

Brake pads are usually subjected to a lot of friction and always suffer from wear and tear.

This scenario means that they have to be replaced frequently to enhance their performance over time.

Wear and tear in brake pads is measured by the thickness of the material that brings friction.

This material is the component that comes into contact with the brake disc to slow down and bring the vehicle to a halt whenever you apply brakes. The same happens when traction control or the ESP kicks in to bring the car to a slow stop through one of the wheels.

The type of brake pads is determined by the friction material used to make it. In all vehicles, the brake pads rely hugely on the metallic component that holds the friction material.

However, the composition of that material determines the efficiency of the pad. The bottom line is that there is no strict rule that can be followed to pick one brake pad as the best among the others.

Such a revelation will depend on many factors and the applicability of the pads.

With that in mind, the best brake pad will depend on how you intend to use it. For instance, some pads are more ideal for an occasional drive, while others serve better when you are a regular driver.

Additionally, some brake pads may be suitable for all-weather conditions while others are only limited for use in tracks.

In the case of such pads used for racing, using them on the roads may be illegal.

The logic behind this is that some components used in racing brake pads are specifically designed for those conditions and may not be compatible with daily road uses.

Before you go into the specifications of the brake pads, it is essential to check your brake frequently and observe if the performance is deteriorating.

This measure will help you replace them in time and keep safe on the road. Try not to hold back on brake pads and always make sound decisions when buying. If the pads are more affordable to be accurate, then it would be better to avoid them.

Below are some aspects that you need to look out for before purchasing any brake pads:

Heat: When the vehicle is moving at high speed, a lot of friction is generated at the time of applying the brakes. In this regard, you need to consider the type of ride you engage in.

For instance, if you are driving a heavy vehicle over an extended distance, then you will have to buy brake pads that can withstand a lot of heat. The best brake pads should be heavy enough to absorb and dissipate heat that is generated when you apply brakes.

Nevertheless, the brake pads should not be too heavy that they affect the overall weight of the car.

Noise: Brake pads that are noisier can irritate you and affect the subjective experience of driving. All brake pads that are made from metallic components may be resistant to heat, but they also make a lot of noise when braking.

The best brake pads that reduce the level of noise are made from softer components like fiber and glass, which are gentler to the rotors.

Durability: Brake pads that need regular servicing and replacements are more expensive when you consider the overall cost over time. Organic and semi-metallic brake pads are often vulnerable to wear and are therefore the least durable. Depending on your preference, the best brake pads should be ones that last longer.

Dusting: Every time the brake pads come into contact with the rotors, a substance is produced. This substance is what we call dust. The best brake pads should generate the least amount of dust when you apply brakes.

Organic brake pads are often made from carbon components, which make them create a lot of dust.

On the other hand, ceramic brake pads produce little dust, which is less sticky and therefore does not blemish the wheels of the car.

The bottom line

We can all agree that you cannot drive a car without a functional braking system. Brake failures stand out as one of the major causes of road accidents.

When you apply pressure on the brake pads, a hydraulic system transmits the pressure to the brake pads, which in turn grip the rotor to slow down the car.

The entire braking system may be under constant check, but the brake pads stand out as the ones that receive the most scrutiny if there is a failure.

That’s because the brake pads are the ones that come into contact with the rotor to reduce the velocity of the vehicle. In that sense, brake pads are prone to a lot of friction and wear.

Choosing the best brake pad may not be a walk in the park, as many think. It requires a lot of considerations and reviews.

Organic brake pads offer an alternative to conditions that other brake pads do not fit well.

They are more suitable for people who engage in moderate driving and have other advantages that make them ideal for some applications. On the other hand, they have their shortcomings.

It is, therefore, essential to evaluate all the possibilities to determine the one type of brake pads that can serve you better.

This article has narrowed down some of these aspects to help point you in the right direction.

However, the decision to buy lies with you, and it is up to you to make the most informed choice.