When it comes to brake pads, there are three types available: organic, semi-metallic, or ceramic. Organic pads are by far the cheapest alternative, but they offer inferior quality and durability and also cause a great deal of dust. Semi-metallic brake pads are perhaps the most common model on the market and consist of between 30% and 65% metallic elements like iron, steel, graphite, and copper. Ceramic brake pads are costlier than their counterparts, but they are the quietest and longest-lasting of the three and offer superior quality and performance.