Major performance advantages are available from a new ceramic-formula disc brake pad for heavy-duty truck and bus air-brake systems, according to Marathon Brake Systems.

Based on a combination of ceramics and brass chips, the new formula – not seen before — has shown wear and braking efficiency improvements in bus and transit coach applications, and helps control problems of brake noise and dusting, the company says.

“This material composition of ceramic fibers and brass chips is new for the heavy-duty brake industry,” says Rick Howell, general manager of Marathon. “Most semi-metallic disc brake pad formulas contain steel wool or iron fibers, and some have used Kevlar.

“Our new product is step-forward innovation in disc brake technology,” he says.

In benchmark testing against conventional semi-metallic pads, the new ceramic pads showed significantly less wear, along with less brake rotor wear, the company says.

The ceramic brake pads also feature a ‘secure-lock’ backing plate designed to ensure lining-to-plate attachment. They’re also said to put noise issues to rest.

Another advantage of the formula is what Howell calls “elimination of morning sickness,” an ailment he described as common to semi-metallic brake pads that results in poor stopping power when metallic brake pads are cold. The ceramic formulation is said to overcome the problem.