Which Brake Pads Are The Quietest? Ceramic Vs. Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

Looking for quieter brakes? What features will make your new brake pads less noisy? Let’s dive into the options here.

Brake Pad Noise – What’s Normal?

All properly installed brake pads will produce some level of noise when engaged. This is an inevitable by-product of the pads clamping onto the rotors. A good-quality brake setup should be quiet enough to be hardly noticeable; however, more aggressive braking components tend to be a little noisier.

Abnormal noises can stem from various issues within the brake system. The following types of noises are considered abnormal and may indicate a problem: 

• Squeaking
• Squealing
• Grinding

For instance, debris may get lodged between the rotor and pads, or there could be a malfunctioning caliper. In many cases, the brake pads may be the root cause of the noise issue.

A common cause of abnormal noise is incompatibility between brake pads and rotors. Brake systems are engineered for specific types of pads. If your vehicle is designed for ceramic pads but you install semi-metallic ones instead, you may experience unusual sounds. This happens because the rotor is optimized for ceramic friction material, not metallic.

Incompatibility doesn’t just cause noise – it can also lead to reduced braking performance, and accelerated wear, affecting your safety and overall driving experience. Always ensure you buy the correct brake pads for your specific make and model of car. If you need help deciding what is right, contact the brake experts at our online concierge service or at 888-257-7149.

Which Brake Pads Are Better: Ceramic Or Metallic?

If you’re seeking quiet brake pads, high-quality pads of both semi-metallic and ceramic varieties offer quiet operation. Each type is designed to accommodate different driving conditions and vehicle types. The key thing to remember is to seek out high-quality pads – they’ll grip great with less noise.

Ceramic Brake Pads: Best for daily driving, urban commuting, and drivers who prioritize low noise levels and minimal brake dust buildup. Ceramic offers quieter operation, less brake dust, longer lifespan, and they’re gentle on rotors. On the downside, ceramic brake pads may not dissipate heat as quickly as metallic pads, and they tend to cost a bit more than semi-metallic pads.

Semi-Metallic Brake Pads: Perfectly suited for high-performance vehicles, heavy-duty use, and aggressive braking scenarios. You get superior stopping power, better heat dissipation, and extreme durability under load. However, semi-metallic pads are usually a bit louder, and tend to create more dust.

Which Brake Pads Are the Quietest: Ceramic vs. Semi-Metallic?

Generally speaking, ceramic brake pads are the quietest option between the two, due to their inherent design:

• Material Composition: Ceramic pads are made from a dense, fine-grained ceramic material, often combined with copper fibers. This creates a softer, more consistent contact with the rotor, minimizing vibrations that cause noise.
• Less Vibration: They produce fewer harmonic vibrations, which are a major contributor to brake squeal.
• Low Dust Output: Ceramic pads create finer, lighter-colored brake dust that doesn’t stick to wheels as easily or cause noise over time.

Semi-Metallic pads are durable and offer greater stopping power, however, they can sometimes (not always) be noisier in certain applications due to: 

• High Metal Content: Semi-metallic pads contain 30–70% metal (steel, iron, copper), which makes them durable but also more prone to creating noise due to harsher interaction with the rotor.
• More Rotor Wear: The added abrasiveness can cause grooves in the rotor, leading to squeaking or grinding sounds. This is especially noticeable when the incorrect rotors are used.
• Temperature Sensitivity: Semi-metallic pads may be noisier in cold conditions or during light braking, as they often need a bit of heat to operate quietly. 

Your vehicle’s braking system is designed to work with ceramic or semi-metallic brake pads, so swapping between the two pad types isn’t recommended without considering a rotors upgrade as well.  Here’s a roundup of the quietest brake pads in our inventory of high quality performance brake pads:

The Quietest Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

If quiet braking operation is important, but you need the enhanced stopping power of semi-metallic brake pads, then these are our quietest semi-metallic pads currently available:

EBC Ultimax Stock Replacement Brake Pads

The EBC Ultimax Stock Replacement Brake Pads are designed as OE-replacement brake pads for daily driving. They offer superior performance, last longer and produce less brake noise.

• Boast the highest friction level legally permitted in street use brake materials
• Low dust pads with no heavy metals used in their production
• With shimmed, chamfered, and slotted design to ensure noise-free braking
• Unique break-in coating that helps new pads bed-in quickly to the existing rotors

EBC Greenstuff 2000 Series Street Brake Pads

The EBC Greenstuff 2000 Series Street Brake Pads are high-friction pads proven to stop your vehicle 25% sooner than stock pads. They also perform better under hard use and keep dust levels to a minimum.

• High friction pads that help prevent dust on your rims
• Built to offer improved stopping power and reduced brake fade
• Shimmed, chamfered, and slotted for silent braking
• With break in surface coating for a faster bed-in process after installation 

Centric Posi-Quiet 106 Extended Wear Brake Pads 

Constructed from a long-wearing semi-metallic friction formula, these Centric brake pads are designed for durability and performance. The 100% shimmed construction eliminates noise and vibration, and the positive molded design delivers even wear characteristics. 

• Low rotor wear
• Shimmed to eliminate noise and vibration
• Consistent performance throughout the service life
• Excellent for heavy-duty applications

The Quietest Ceramic Brake Pads

For those prioritizing quiet braking operation, along with long service life and minimal brake dust, then these ultra-quiet ceramic brake pads are a must:

EBC RedStuff Ceramic Brake Pads 

EBC Redstuff Ceramic Brake Pads are low dust pads designed for fast driving on street and prestige vehicles. The high friction formula improves the vehicle’s brake effect by up to 15%. 

• A great brake performance upgrade for prestige and faster cars
• EBC’s lowest dust brake pads with 15% brake improvement
• Rotor-friendly pads that are capable of repeated heavy brake use 

PowerStop Low Dust Evolution Ceramic Brake Pads 

These low-dust, high-performance PowerStop brake pads are designed for superior braking performance and reduced noise. Positive mold technology ensures consistent wear and performance, and the powder-coated backing plate resists rust and corrosion.

• Superior stopping power over stock pads
• Rust and corrosion resistant
• Quiet, noise-free braking 

Dynamic Friction 3000 Ceramic Brake Pads

Combining low dust and noise with longer wear, these brake pads are the ideal upgrade for passenger and light-duty trucks. They are engineered to provide the most reliable stopping performance in any situation. 

• Low dust, low noise pads for optimum braking performance at any speed
• DFC Premium Rubber-Steel-Rubber-Shims offer improved NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) characteristics
• Chamfers, slots, and underlayers for reduced noise when braking 

Top-Quality, Quiet Brake Pads From BuyBrakes.com

We stock a full range of ceramic and semi-metallic brake pads to suit every need. Whether you are after a set of ultra-high-performance semi-metallic pads and rotors for your track car or a quality ceramic pad that delivers smooth and silent stopping power, BuyBrakes.com is here to help. When you shop online with BuyBrakes you get:

• Broad Range Of Top Brake Brands: We carry Brembo, EBC, PowerStop, DFC and more braking components for almost any make or model.
• Nationwide Warehousing: Fast 2-3 days delivery across the country. With free shipping on orders over $99 in the lower 48 states.
• Lowest Prices Guarantee: We guarantee the lowest price on everything we sell.
• 5-Star Concierge Service: Real brake experts are available by phone, chat, text, or email, from 6am to 5pm PST Monday through Friday.
• No Hassle Returns: Satisfaction is guaranteed with a no-hassle return on every order. 

As a veteran-owned business, we bring decades of hands-on automotive experience to the table. Contact us today to get the best parts at the best prices. Guaranteed.