When presented with the choice of organic or semi-metallic brake pads a car owner should consider a number of factors. The car owner will then have to decide which material is best for his car.
Semi-metallic brake pads are partially made with small pieces of metal while organic brake pads are made of softer materials. The metal in semi-metallic pads provides an improved grip to the rotor and will stop a car quicker. This is especially true at higher temperatures, when organic pads become softer.
Organic brake pads cause less noise as the pads are made of softer materials. However, organic pads wear quicker and the resulting buildup of brake pad dust can cause squealing.
Semi-metallic pads will have a longer life span as the metal in the pad wears more slowly than the softer materials in the organic pads. However, semi-metallic pads will wear the rotors more quickly than organic pads.
