Ceramic or semi-metallic brake pads — which should I buy?

Most verified-purchase buyers in this category gravitate to ceramic pads (like the Bendix, Bosch QuietCast, and Akebono sets here) because they run quieter and produce less visible wheel dust, which suits daily drivers. Semi-metallic and carbon-fiber ceramic formulations are generally preferred for towing, heavy loads, or harder use because of better heat handling. Match the pad to how you actually drive rather than to the marketing label.