Brake pads are the tiny heroes behind every smooth stop. But even the best of them need a break eventually.
Curious how long your brake pads will last before they call it quits?
Read on to explore the lifespan of your brake pads and some warning signs of a bad brake pad to help you resolve issues quickly.
This Article Contains:
- How Long Do Brake Pads Last?
- How to Know When Your Brake Pads Are Worn Out
- How to Make Your Brake Pads Last Longer
- 4 FAQs on Brake Pads
How Long Do Brake Pads Last?
New brake pads (on both rear and front brakes) can last anywhere from 20,000 to 70,000 miles. On average, most car owners replace brake pads after about 40,000 to 60,000 miles.
That said, the longevity of your brake pads can depend on several factors.
5 Factors That Affect Your Brake Pads’ Lifespan
From driving habits to brake rotor conditions, here are the most significant factors that affect brake pad life:
- Driving habits: When you drive at high speed and suddenly hit the brakes, your vehicle needs a lot of stopping power to come to a halt. Adopting a slow-driving style means your brake pads won’t have to exert much force to stop the vehicle, which makes them last longer.
- Brake pad material: Organic brake pads are made of materials like glass, fiber, carbon, rubber, and kevlar mixed with resins. These organic pads have the lowest lifespan of 20,000 miles and are prone to faster brake fade.
Semi-metallic brake pads (or metallic pads) are made for extended durability and have a better braking response than organic brake pads. A semi-metallic pad will last about 50,000 miles.
Ceramic brake pads are usually found on luxury cars for comfortable braking. But they aren’t meant for high-performance conditions as they can’t absorb heat well and may damage other braking components. That said, ceramic brake pads have a long durability of about 70,000 miles. - Type of transmission: Car owners with manual transmission systems can use engine braking to slow down without relying solely on their brake pads. Engine braking slows down a car by downshifting gears, reducing the wear on brake pads.
Note: If you own a car with an automatic transmission system, engine braking isn’t recommended, as you can damage the transmission system. - Driving conditions: If you live in a hilly area, you’ll need to use your car’s brakes more often than on flat terrains. Even regular stop-and-go traffic situations can affect your brake pad life because of the frequent use of brakes.
- Brake rotor and caliper condition: A stuck brake caliper or a warped rotor can wear out the car’s brake pads faster. When you have a stuck brake caliper, your brake pad won’t completely disengage from the brake rotor. This means you’ll always be driving with slightly engaged brake pads.
Next, let’s review the warning signs of a worn brake pad.
How to Know When Your Brake Pads Are Worn Out
Watch for these warning signs of worn brake pads to ensure road safety:
1. Squealing Brake Pads
Ever hear a squealing or screeching noise when you push down on your brake pedal?
That’s a safety feature on modern brake pads.
Brake pads generally have a wear indicator that makes a squealing noise when the pads become excessively worn and rub against the brake rotor. If you hear these squeals regularly when braking, get your pads inspected ASAP.
2. Metallic Grinding Noise
If you hear metallic grinding or screeching when braking, slow down your car to a halt immediately.
A metallic grinding noise means your brake pads are completely worn out, and the brake rotors are rubbing directly against the metallic backing plate of the brake pads. This can severely damage your brake system, so you should get it inspected by a qualified mechanic.
3. Thin Brake Pads
Checking your brake pad thickness is a smart way to see if they’re too thin or worn.
New brake pads are usually 8 to 12 mm thick, and your brake pads should be above 6.4 mm (1/4 inch thick) to function correctly. If the brake pads are thinner than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch thick), your vehicle’s brakes are at serious risk of failing.
4. Indicator Lights
Some modern vehicles have an indicator light that flashes when it’s time to change your vehicle’s brake pads.
However, changing your vehicle’s brake pads after the indicator lights up may also require changing the indicator’s sensor. These sensors are designed to break when your vehicle’s brake pads wear down, triggering the indicator light.
Additionally, the brake warning light will turn on when your brake pad wears out and needs replacement.
5. Vibrating Brake Pedal
Worn, damaged, or warped brake pads may cause vibrations in the brake pedal. Brake pads contaminated with dirt, oil, or other toxins can also lead to a vibrating brake pad as they try to grab the rotor.
6. Less Responsive Brake Pedals
If you need to push the pedal almost to the floor to engage your car brakes, get the brake pads checked out. This could mean you have air in the brake fluid, low brake fluid, or thin brake pads.
7. Car Pulls to One Side
Sometimes, brake pads can wear unevenly and cause an imbalanced braking pressure. This imbalance can make your car pull to the side with a stronger brake pad, leading to a noticeable steering pull.
Wondering how to extend the life of your brake pads and avoid these issues?
Let’s find out.
How to Make Your Brake Pads Last Longer
Here are some handy tips to prolong your brake pad life:
1. Slower Driving
As mentioned above, driving slower requires less braking force to halt your car, helping extend the brake pad life. Of course, this also depends on the speed limits and roads.
2. Reducing the Car’s Weight
Check your cargo carrier, backseat, and trunk to see if you’re carrying any unnecessary weight. The heavier your car, the greater the force required to stop it. Shedding such unnecessary weight is one of the easiest ways to lengthen pad life.
3. Engine Braking
Engine braking can significantly reduce the stress you place on your brake pads.
How do you do it?
To engage engine braking, you should take your foot off the accelerator pedal and gradually downshift through the gears to slow the car down.
Note: Although engine braking doesn’t damage the brake system, applying it without following good driving habits can damage vital parts like the transmission. For example, remember not to skip to lower gears at high speeds.
4. Use High-Quality Brake Fluid
Opting for a reputable brake fluid brand helps maintain the efficiency of your entire braking system, including the brake pads.
For example, good-quality brake fluids have high boiling points that can handle the heat from brake friction. However, low-quality brake fluid may evaporate due to a lower boiling point, reducing brake effectiveness.
5. Apply Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control systems can apply the brakes to maintain a preset distance from the car ahead. The system applies the brake gently, and if it detects more or less brake power than necessary, it adjusts the pressure immediately.
6. Routine Brake Inspection
It’s essential to schedule routine car inspections and a brake service according to intervals specified in your owner’s manual.
A worn brake pad puts more stress on rotors and other parts. So, replacing brake pads before they become too worn will help save the other parts of your braking system from further damage.
Have some brake pad-related questions?
Read on to resolve them.
4 FAQs on Brake Pads
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions on brake pads:
1. What Are Brake Pads?
Brake pads are located inside the brake caliper, on either side of the brake rotor.
When you press down on your brake pedal, the brake lines carry hydraulic fluid to the caliper, which engages the brake pads. The pads then clamp onto the brake disc (brake rotor) to slow down your tires.
2. Can I Drive with a Failing Brake Pad?
No, it’s best not to drive with worn car brake pads.
Worn-out brake pads make your brakes function slower and less efficient, leading to accidents. It can also damage other vital components of the brake system. For example, thin brake pads expose metal that grinds against the rotor, resulting in a cracked or warped rotor.
3. How Can I Inspect the Brake Pads?
Although checking brake pads without removing your tires is straightforward, it’s best to get a qualified mechanic for a brake pad inspection.
Here’s what a mechanic would do to check brake pads:
- Turn the steering wheel fully to one side to get a view of the brake components through the wheel spokes.
Note: This method only works on alloy wheels with good space between spokes. Otherwise, the mechanic will need to lift the car to access the brake calipers and pads. - Insert a straw through the wheel spokes until it touches the brake pad. They’ll mark the straw at the point where it reaches the edge of the brake pad backing plate.
- Remove the straw and measure the distance between the mark and the end of the straw. If it’s less than 6.4 mm, you might need a replacement.
4. How Much Does a Brake Pad Replacement Cost?
Replacing the front or rear brake pads can cost around $180 to $420 per axle.
The total cost depends on:
- How many pads need replacing
- The type of brake pads used, like semi-metallic brake pads and ceramic pads
- Your vehicle model
- Labor charges
Fix Brake Pad Issues with AutoNation Mobile Service
Driving around with worn brake pads can reduce braking performance, cause dangerous accidents, and further damage other vital braking system parts.
That’s why you need experts like AutoNation Mobile Service to handle brake pad replacements and brake service.
We are available seven days a week and offer a 12-month, 12,000-mile repair warranty.
Get in touch with us to get your brake pads replaced or any other brake repair services done right from your driveway.