How long do car brakes last? We will also tell u the factors that affect brake pad life, signs when your brake pads are worn out, and how to extend your brake pad life.
The average car’s brakes last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles or three to six years for most daily drivers, but some sets may last even longer for those who practice good habits.
Don’t forget, we’re talking about the brake pads. Keep reading.
Why Do Brake Pads Wear?
Friction is ultimately the cause of brake pad wear. Brake pads are harmed by daily use, vehicle mileage, the environment, and the driver’s driving style.
Compared to drivers who reside in rural areas, those who live in crowded cities with stop-and-go traffic are more likely to wear out their brake pads. Lower speed braking means that your brake pads won’t need to apply as much pressure to bring your car to a stop. However, stopping quickly can be extremely damaging to your brakes. Your car’s front brake pads deteriorate more quickly than the back ones because the front handles more weight transfer than the back.
The lifespan of your car’s brake pads can also be affected by the type of brake pads you use. Ceramic, semi-metallic, and organic brake pads are the three main categories of brake pads.
Since they are made from a combination of materials, including rubber, carbon, glass/fiberglass, and resin, organic brake pads typically have the shortest lifespan of the three types of brake pads.
Due to the fact that they contain 30% to 70% metal, semi metallic pads are more durable. An approximate 50,000 miles can be counted on from a semi-metallic pad.
Ceramic pads are made from ceramic materials mixed with copper fibers. These car brake systems are typically found in luxury vehicles and are designed for smooth braking. Although they aren’t designed for high-performance environments, they typically have a long lifespan when used in the proper settings.
What Factors Affect Brake Pad Life?
Just as your gas mileage will change depending on how and where you drive, the answer to “how long do car brakes last” will change depending on a number of factors:
- Driving Habits: If you have a propensity to brake abruptly on Souris streets, you’re unnecessarily wearing down your brake pads. You’ll notice that your pads last longer if you work on developing a lighter touch.
- Brake Pad Material: Brake pads come in a variety of varieties. Compared to typical metallic pads, carbon-ceramic pads have a longer lifespan. You can find out which kind came with your car by consulting your owner’s manual.
- Environment: You will brake more if you live in an urban area because there are more stop signs, stop lights, and traffic encounters. Your brakes will undoubtedly last longer if you do this.
How to Know When Your Brake Pads Are Worn Out?
There are a variety of warning signs that can indicate your car may need new brake pads including:
- Indicator light turns on. When a brake sensor determines that the brake pads are too thin, some contemporary vehicles have an indicator light that flashes.
- Squeaking or squealing noise coming from brakes. As the brake pad surface wears down, you’ll eventually hear a squealing noisebecause the pads and rotors are making contact.
- Vibrating brake pedal. Another factor contributing to brake pedal vibration may be damaged or overly worn brake pads.
- Deep grinding metal sound. Heavy brake pad wear grinding against the rotor is the usual cause of the metal-on-metal sound.
- Brake pads appear less than a ¼ inch thick. The recommended wear limit of your brake pads has been reached if they appear to be thin.
- Car pulls to one side of the road when you brake. Your car might start to pull to one side as you brake if your brakes have uneven wear (stuck brake caliper).
- Brake pedal is less responsive when pushed. Your brake pads may be worn out if you notice that it takes longer for your car to stop after pressing on the brake pedal. Read more: how often should you replace your brake pads?
What Can I Do to Extend My Brake Pad Life?
Although nobody should ever drive with brakes they aren’t confident in, everyone wants to get the most for their money. Whether you’ve just picked up fresh brake pads or you’re just trying to extend the life of components that you’ve had for a while, these tips can help:
- whenever possible, coast to a stop! Most motorists drive faster and slower than necessary, which results in excessive wear on their brake pads.
- You’ll ride the brakes a lot if you commute by car a lot. You might not be able to change where you drive, but it’s a good thing to consider when organizing a commute or day trip.
- Before you invest in a new set of brake pads, check the material of the brake pads. Spending a little more on carbon-ceramic pads might be wise if you want to spend less time in the store. Metallic brake pads are most frequently used. Always refer to your owner’s manual to learn what is advised.
A great way to reduce the cost of brake replacement is to change your own brake pads and rotors. So, how to change the brake pads?
How Do Car Brakes Work?
With disc brakes, pressure is applied to the brake pads, which resemble a hockey puck split in half, using calipers that resemble and perform essentially as clamps. All that friction between the brake disc (or rotors) and the pads causes kinetic energy from your car’s forward motion to be converted into heat energy.
Cost to Replace Car Brakes
The price to replace a car’s brakes can differ. For maintenance work, mechanics typically bill by the hour, plus the additional cost of parts.
Replacement brake pads for all four wheels can cost anywhere from $35 to $150. Additionally, labor costs per axle can range from $80 to $120. Since brake pads can last anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 miles, it’s best to check how your brake pads are doing when you have your car serviced to see where they are in their general lifespan.
In addition, new brake rotors can cost anywhere from $30 to $75 each. Paying a little bit more is reasonable if you require a higher-quality rotor.
If you decide to do this yourself, you will be able to save some money. The DIY method might be right for you if you are experienced. You’ll need to buy brake rotors, brake calipers, and brake pads.
Why does my car shake when I brake? There are a few reasons why your vehicle might experience shaking, and it’s important to address this issue before it becomes a bigger deal.
FAQs
Can Brake Pads Wear Out in 3 Months?
Every six months or every 15,000 miles, you should check your brake pads. Most brake pads will wear out in about 25,000 to 65,000 miles, however, the wear and tear on your brake pads depends on a wide variety of factors including your driving style, what surfaces you’re driving on, and the weight of your vehicle.
How Much Does a Brake Job Cost?
A complete brake repair that includes pads, rotors, and calipers typically averages between $200 and $800.
Do I Need to Replace All 4 Brakes at Once?
You can replace your brake pads in pairs (the front or the rear) at the same time or separately. Your mechanic can take care of this problem on their own if you need to replace or repair your front brake pads. The fact that your front and rear brake pads deteriorate at very different rates is also crucial to remember.
Can You Drive With Worn Brake Pads?
Unfortunately, when your car’s brake pads become worn out, the metal becomes exposed. This metal-on-metal grinding can further harm the entire braking system by heating it up and possibly breaking it. Therefore, driving while using worn-out brake pads is a risky game you should avoid playing.
Summary: How Long Do Brakes Last?
Simply put, “it depends on how you drive” is the most accurate response. The average car brakes last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles, or three to six years for most daily drivers, but some sets may last even longer for those who practice good habits.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. KV Auto tries to give you the best car industry information. Thank you for reading.
