In 2002, the Ferrari Enzo was the first road car to be launched with Carbon Ceramic Brakes. Since then, the technology has trickled down to more mainstream (relatively) cars. Carbon Ceramic Brakes are known for their resistance to fading. These brakes can get extremely hot after hard use, yet still provide little to no loss in stopping power. CCBs are also lighter than traditional iron brakes, reducing a vehicle's weight by approximately 40 pounds. The weight lost is unsprung weight. By taking out weight not supported by the suspension, both handling/control and ride quality are improved. CCBs also are extremely durable. All components will usually last the life of the car. Finally, Carbon Ceramic Brakes produce very little brake dust.
Although Carbon Ceramic Brakes are a pretty incredible piece of equipment, they do come at a cost, both monetarily and metaphorically. Generally speaking CCBs cost between $8,000 and $16,000! The only way to truly justify the price tag is if the car will be frequently tracked. Aside from their cost, there are a few drawbacks. Some brakes perform poorly, offering little feel, when cold and at low speeds. Some also have been known to be very noisy. That said, as manufacturers have gained experience with CCBs, these issues have been taken car of. Most importantly, should a rotor crack or get damaged, the cost of replacement is astronomically high. A single new rotor could cost over half the price of the entire option.
While Carbon Ceramic Brakes are a testament to how amazing brakes have become, they are currently too expensive to be tempting. Should CCBs become less expensive and more refined, they will surely be more accepted.
