Just sharing my experience: I went through this exact same dilemma last year with my 2014 Avenger! I'm still learning the ropes of DIY maintenance, but man, those squeaky brakes were driving me crazy! Honestly, I was so worried about losing stopping power with ceramics, but the dust from my old semi-metallics was just gross.

I ended up trying the PowerStop Z23 Evolution Sport Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads after reading about their technical specs regarding thermal stability. I was super excited to see they actually use a carbon-fiber infused ceramic formula, which is amazing because it handles heat way better than standard ceramic! For my daily city grind, they've been fantastic—no noise at all and my rims stay so much cleaner!

TL;DR: I switched to PowerStop Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads for the carbon-fiber tech and it totally solved my dust issues without feeling soft on the highway. Hope this helps!

> I’m looking to upgrade, but I’m torn between going with ceramic pads for less noise or sticking with semi-metallic for better stopping power.

Honestly, I've had issues with cheap semi-metallics on my Avenger before—the dust was a nightmare! For your city commute, I'd definitely go with Akebono ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pads ACT1058A. They're super quiet and way cleaner than stock.

Facts.

Respectfully, I'd consider another option before you drop big bucks on those premium ceramics. I've had issues with expensive brands not living up to the hype on my own Avenger, and honestly, it's frustrating when you pay a premium for "quiet" pads that still squeal after a month.

If you're looking for a better value-to-performance ratio, I'd actually suggest the Wagner QuickStop ZD1455 Ceramic Brake Pads. I've found they offer a much more consistent bite in city traffic than the Akebonos mentioned earlier, and they're usually way easier on the wallet. Unfortunately, many "ultra-premium" pads are overkill for a daily driver and can actually feel a bit wooden until they get some heat in them.

For the dust issue, just make sure you grab some CRC Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner to prep the rotors properly during the swap. Getting that old semi-metallic residue off is key to keeping the new ones quiet. FWIW, the Wagners have kept my rims way cleaner than the OEM setup ever did. What's your actual budget for the full set?

> I've had issues with expensive brands not living up to the hype on my own Avenger, and honestly, it's frustrating when you pay a premium for "quiet" pads that still squeal after a month. I totally agree with hvzwenzhfu on this. Ive spent way too much on big name brands in the past just to end up with noise issues after a few thousand miles anyway. The Avenger is just picky about material. I've found that mid-range brands often provide better consistency for city driving than the racing-focused stuff. If you look at brands that prioritize high-quality shim design, you usually wont have complaints about noise. Its really about the shim quality when it comes to these specific calipers.