Thinking of Ceramix Brakes? Please Read!!!

[hockeyman]

There is a local Police Dept. just outside of Philly, and I know a few cops there and they gave me a horror story about the Ceramix Brakes that were installed on their squad cars around summertime 2001.
The Ceramix brake pads were installed on the cars because the old brakes faded Quickly from the numerous runs on the squad cars and all the fast acceleration(s) and decelleration(s). After about 2-4 months the rotors (on every car that had Ceramix Pads) were warping BAD and they couldn't figure it out. After a few months, someone called Ceramix and asked if there were any recalls on the brake pads, and Ceramix told the Police Dept. that the Brake Pads were supposed to be installed with VENTED ROTORS. The Pads can't dissipate heat without them and they will soon warp ANY un-vented solid rotor!
If there is anyone out there that have Ceramix Pads and you Don't have vented rotor's, be careful! I don't mean to alarm anyone, I just want to advise you of what CAN happen.
I own Hawk's Brake Pads and I called them and asked about their product. They said vented rotors will help, but not needed.
-Marc

[PiLOTLiTE]

Aren't all the rotors on 4th gens vented?

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PiLOTLiTE:
Aren't all the rotors on 4th gens vented?<hr></blockquote>

I don't think so. If they are supposed to be vented, I got ripped off at the dealership.
-Marc

[hockeyman]

I mean, the rotors have to be drilled or have the slots in them. That's what I meant by vented rotors.
-Marc

[PiLOTLiTE]

Oh, you mean cross-drilled and slotted rotors. :D

[Dominic]

Vented rotors are not solid discs, they have 2 parts and small vanes in between - I'm sure thats all you would need with the ceramix pads.

Solid rotors are prone to warpage because they don't dissipate heat well at all.

Cross drilled/slotted rotors don't dissipate heat any better than plain vented ones pretty much, so I doubt you'd need those to run Ceramix pads.

[Dominic]

http://www.napabrakes.com/ceramix_content.htm

[hockeyman]

Ok, here is what I was told. The vented rotors (what most of our cars come with stock) are NOT good enough for the Ceramix pads. The Police Dept had to order Crossed Drilled Rotors for any/all cars with Ceramix Brakes. Since December, they haven't had One Single Car have problems with warpage on the rotors. And there are 18 cars on their force. I was just passing on a warning, if anyone has the regular rotors and they haven't had problems yet, that's great. I wanted to give fair warning though of what can happen. The cops in the township spent about 1k (calipers, anti-lock system, etc.) on each car before they narrowed it down to the brake pads. I know how much that would suck for the rest of us to pay all of that money.
-Marc

[John D.]

If the cops had new brakes put on then YOU did pay for it. That comes out of the local taxes you pay.