I have a set of high performance Ceramic Brake pads already by Friction Master.
I’m looking to buy a set of rear performance brake pads for my rear end. The brakes are made by Hawk’s & I’m stuck on either their ceramic brakes or the other high performance brakes. They both have the same amount of thickness and are the same brand. Here are the 2 links….
http://www.amazon.com/Hawk-Performance-HB112F-540-HPS-Brake/dp/B000CO71W4/ref=au_pf_ss_13?ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive&carId=001
http://www.amazon.com/Hawk-Performance-HB112Z-540-Ceramic-Brake/dp/B000CO71XI/ref=au_pf_ss_14?ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive&carId=001
It would be OK to have different pads on the front and year but the ceramic pads would be the better choice unless you intend to be doing a lot of hard stopping from high speed. Ceramic pads are quieter, produce less dust which might damage the finish on the car and wheels, and do not wear away the rotors. The other pads are semi-metallic which might give a bit more stopping power and will last longer but they will wear the rotors away faster and produce more noise. I doubt you would get much benefit from semimetallic brakes in the rear because the rear brakes usually less than 30% of the brake force.
There are four general types of brake pads for cars:
Ceramic: These are composed of ceramic fibers, nonferrous filler materials, bonding agents, and possibly small amounts of metal. Lighter in color and more expensive than other Brake Pads, ceramic pads are cleaner and quieter, and offer excellent braking characteristics without wearing down the rotors.
Semimetallic: This formula, containing about 30 to 65 percent metal, typically includes chopped steel wool or wire, iron powder, copper or graphite mixed with inorganic fillers, and friction modifiers that bond all the ingredients together. These pads are more durable and have excellent heat transfer, but also wear down rotors faster, can be noisy, and may not perform optimally at low temperatures.
Nonasbestos organic: Sometimes listed as organic or NAO, this type of pad is made from fibers, such as glass, rubber, carbon, and Kevlar, with filler materials and high-temperature resins. These pads are softer and create less noise, but they wear faster and create more dust.
Low-metallic NAO: These are made from an organic formula mixed with small amounts (10 to 30 percent) of copper or steel to help with heat transfer and provide better braking. With the added metal, there is more brake dust and they may be slightly noisier.
