Daily Maintenance Work for Ceramic Brake Pads

Compared with traditional metallic brake pads, Ceramic Brake Pads feature sophisticated materials and outstanding high‑temperature resistance yet relatively low material toughness. Their daily maintenance does not involve complicated operations. It mainly covers four dimensions: routine cleaning and inspection, proper driving habits, periodic testing and working‑condition protection. Proper basic maintenance can greatly prolong service life, guarantee braking stability and prevent abnormal wear and failures. To start with daily cleaning maintenance, fine, highly adhesive dust will be generated during braking of Ceramic Brake Pads. If such dust accumulates in gaps among brake calipers, pads and rotors over time, it will reduce braking fitting performance and may trigger abnormal noise. After driving on gravel roads or in rainy and snowy weather, blow off surface dust and silt from the brake system with an air gun when the vehicle is fully cooled down. Never rinse hot brake components directly with water, as thermal shock may cause cracking of ceramic pads and deformation of brake rotors. For urban commuter vehicles, simple cleaning is recommended every two weeks, while vehicles operating in exposed working conditions need cleaning every week.
Next comes regular inspection maintenance, which should be performed every 5,000 kilometres or every month. Focus on measuring the remaining thickness of Ceramic Brake Pads. The safe wear limit is 2‑3 millimetres; timely replacement is required once thickness falls below this value. Meanwhile, check brake rotors for scratches, grooves and heat‑induced discolouration, and verify smooth return movement of calipers. Prevent persistent contact between pads and rotors, which will lead to local overheating and abnormal wear. If abnormal braking noise, shaking or reduced braking force occurs during driving, stop the vehicle in time for inspection to rule out foreign‑object jamming and loose components. Never drive the vehicle with known faults.
Then maintenance guided by rational driving habits plays a core role in protecting Ceramic Brake Pads. Though Ceramic Brake Pads have a high temperature‑resistance threshold, continuous heavy braking will still damage internal ceramic‑fibre structures. Avoid frequent emergency stops and repeated heavy braking in daily driving. On mountain roads and long downhill sections, do not coast while keeping your foot pressed against the brake pedal. Instead, utilise engine braking for deceleration so as to avoid sustained overheating of the brake system, thermal fade and material ageing. Besides, a 300‑500‑kilometre break‑in period is required after installing new Ceramic Brake Pads. Apply gentle braking during this phase and refrain from harsh braking, so that pads and rotors can achieve full contact for improved braking performance and durability.
Last is maintenance under special working conditions. After travelling on rainy, humid and muddy roads, moisture and dirt will remain on brake assemblies and give rise to light rust and noise. Several light brake presses at low speed can evaporate moisture and clear surface rust via frictional heat. In low‑temperature winter environments, the rigidity of brake parts changes. Do not perform emergency braking immediately after vehicle start‑up to prevent micro‑cracks caused by low‑temperature brittleness of ceramic materials. Additionally, never grind or modify surfaces of Ceramic Brake Pads without authorisation, to avoid damaging original friction‑layer structures and endangering braking safety. Under normal conditions, excessive maintenance is not needed. Stable performance can be maintained through proper usage.