Brembo Ceramic Brake Pad Experiences?

[jra85]

Has anybody tried Brembo's NAO Ceramic pads on their E9X? Curious how they perform compared to OEM pads!
https://www.brembostoreusa.com/produ...ad-set/P06046N

[TigerM3]

I bought my car with OEM rear brakes and F80 front rotors with C63 six piston calipers. I believe it had Mercedes pads in the front and they dusted a lot. I recently switched the front pads to the Brembo NAO's and the dust was reduced. Today, I finished swapping the rear brakes to F80 rotors and calipers. I installed NAO pads in the back also. Haven't had them long enough to fully evaluate but they seem to be good quality.

[jra85]

Originally Posted by TigerM3

I bought my car with OEM rear brakes and F80 front rotors with C63 six piston calipers.

Thanks for the insight! Have you driven an E9X with OEM fronts? Curious how the bite of the Brembo ceramics is compared to the OEM pads since that's a common tradeoff with using ceramic pads. Really would like to decrease the brake dust though.

[TigerM3]

Originally Posted by jra85

Have you driven an E9X with OEM fronts?

I have not, this is the first and only M3 I have driven.

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by jra85

Thanks for the insight! Have you driven an E9X with OEM fronts? Curious how the bite of the Brembo ceramics is compared to the OEM pads since that's a common tradeoff with using ceramic pads. Really would like to decrease the brake dust though.

What's the trade off? The ceramics don't have a good bite? I have BMW CCBs on my M2 and it was an eye opener when I first drove the E92. I initially came from a F82 to F87 so it was still definitely an improvement as I had the stock blue brakes on the F82. Comparing it to what imo is a substandard braking system for a M car in the E92, I definitely appreciate my CCBs. I barely have to press on those brakes because it's such an aggressive bite. On the E92 I definitely use the majority of the brake pedal when modulating the brakes which I don't have to on my M2. I did install ss lines, motul rbf600 and ferodo ds2500 pads f/r on the E92, it made a difference but nothing major. Of note, the CCBs do need to be somewhat warmed up to get this experience. It's garaged now but I drove my M2 in the winter last year and leaving work the brakes definitely took a hit on performance when it was below 20-30s outside. However, it won't take long to warm them up adequately

[jra85]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

What's the trade off? The ceramics don't have a good bite? I have BMW CCBs on my M2 and it was an eye opener when I first drove the E92.

I'm strictly asking about Brembo's ceramic pads on the stock E9X steel rotors compared to the OEM metallic pads, not full CCBs. Yes, full CCBs will pull your eyes out of their sockets!

[Reddevils7]

Originally Posted by jra85

I'm strictly asking about Brembo's ceramic pads on the stock E9X steel rotors compared to the OEM metallic pads, not full CCBs. Yes, full CCBs will pull your eyes out of their sockets!

Yeah no that's what I was asking too. Ceramic pads and steel rotors is poor initial bite compared to regular pads? I've never tried ceramic pads without the rotors

[jra85]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

Yeah no that's what I was asking too. Ceramic pads and steel rotors is poor initial bite compared to regular pads? I've never tried ceramic pads without the rotors

That's what I've always read, yes - one compromise for less brake dust with ceramic pads is that their bite is not as good as metallic pads. I've never tried ceramic pads but figured if Brembo is putting their name on them, they must be good quality and comparable to the factory metallic pads.