HUSCH New Carbon-Ceramic Brake Pads: User Experience and Insights
In January, HUSCH Brakes announced the official launch of its high-performance carbon-ceramic brake pads. This product aims to meet the dual demands for braking performance and environmental friendliness in new energy vehicles (NEVs) and special-purpose vehicles.
According to the release, these brake pads feature three standout characteristics:
- They effectively solve the issue of pads sticking to the brake disc due to disc rust.
- They utilize new environmentally friendly materials, completely replacing heavy metals like antimony, lead, cadmium, and chromium, resulting in pollution-free friction materials.
- They offer comprehensive advantages including strong braking force, excellent braking performance, comfort, wear resistance, low dust, and low noise.
With an average friction coefficient of PS 0.50 and a maximum operating temperature of 700 degrees Celsius, the product is suitable for various scenarios such as daily street driving and mountain road handling in NEVs.
HUSCH Brakes stated that the introduction of these carbon-ceramic brake pads will provide a safer, more environmentally friendly, and efficient braking solution for vehicles.
Note: HUSCH Brakes is a brand focused on high-performance braking solutions. This newly launched product is the "High-Performance Carbon-Ceramic Brake Pad," specifically developed to match carbon-ceramic brake systems. It is dedicated to providing safer, more eco-friendly, and efficient braking products for NEVs and special-purpose vehicles.
HUSCH Ceramic Brake Pad Use Case (User Feedback & Insights):
The fact that the MI SU7 comes standard with carbon-ceramic brakes surprised many car enthusiasts. Don't forget, a BMW M carbon-ceramic brake upgrade is an option costing around 70,000 to 80,000 RMB. Even excluding calipers, replacing four original equipment manufacturer (OEM) carbon-ceramic discs later can easily cost nearly 20,000 Euros.
Riding the wave of brands like Xiaomi, it seems carbon-ceramic brakes are entering the consumer sphere for models like the "56E+7U" segment. So, what's so special about carbon-ceramic brakes?
The full name is "Carbon Fiber Reinforced Silicon Carbide Ceramic Composite Brake System," which sounds quite advanced.
Simply put, it's made by blending materials like carbon fiber and ceramic, then sintering at high temperatures to form an extremely hard and wear-resistant brake disc.
High-Temperature Resistance: Standard brake discs can suffer from performance degradation under sustained braking due to high temperatures, commonly known as "fade." Carbon-ceramic brakes, however, are exceptionally resistant to high temperatures.
Light Weight: Compared to traditional cast iron brake discs, carbon-ceramic discs are over 40% lighter, reducing "unsprung mass." This helps improve handling and ride comfort.
Extremely Long Lifespan: Their wear resistance is exceptionally strong, with a service life often 3 to 5 times that of ordinary brake discs. Typically, a carbon-ceramic brake disc can last for most of a vehicle's lifetime.
Excellent Braking Performance: Whether on wet surfaces or during long descents, carbon-ceramic brakes provide stable braking performance, giving the driver more confidence.
Disadvantages of Carbon-Ceramic Brake Systems:
High Cost: The manufacturing process for carbon-ceramic discs is complex, making them relatively expensive. They are commonly found on luxury and high-performance vehicles.
Usage Characteristics: Carbon-ceramic brakes may feel somewhat hard or less responsive at low temperatures and require some heat to activate their optimal performance.
Higher Maintenance Costs: If damaged, repair or replacement costs are significant (e.g., a single BMW M disc can cost around 5,000 Euros). The brake pads are also more expensive and require higher temperature tolerance.
The Difference Between Standard Brake Pads and Carbon-Ceramic Brake Pads:
The extreme hardness and heat resistance of carbon-ceramic discs place special demands on compatible brake pads.
Standard brake pads wear out quickly and fail to fully leverage the advantages of carbon-ceramic brakes. They require dedicated high-performance pads to ensure stable braking force and reduce noise.
A Word of Caution on Modifications:
The formidable performance of carbon-ceramic brakes is undoubtedly attractive. Coupled with the more affordable prices of domestically produced carbon-ceramic discs, their popularity is sure to rise.
However, upgrading to carbon-ceramic discs affects the entire system. It's crucial to:
Install brake pads specifically matched for carbon-ceramic discs.
Use special high-temperature calipers designed to match carbon-ceramic discs. Proper compatibility is essential.
For performance modifications, consider purchasing complete OEM kits where possible to avoid unknown risks.
In summary: Carbon-ceramic brakes have their specific audience. There's a barrier to entry, but that barrier helps avoid indecision. Remember, matching high-temperature brake lines are also needed for carbon-ceramic discs. Both discs and pads can still experience fade under extreme conditions. For example, in heavier vehicles (like many 2-ton+ electric vehicles), the difference on a track might be one hot lap versus several consistent laps. But when performance is the goal, the upgrade often feels inevitable.