It is vital that your vehicle’s brakes are fully functional, which can be accomplished with routine maintenance services that check the brake pads, brake rotor, and brake caliper. These are the main components of your vehicle’s braking system.
Although brake pads and rotors all need to be replaced because of normal wear, the amount of time between changing your brake pads will vary based on several factors, which include:
Your Driving Style
Your driving habits will influence how often you should change your brake pads. If you press down on the brakes with too much force, the brake pads will diminish faster. In addition, drivers who are in the habit of riding too close to the car ahead and have to slam on the brakes often (as a result) may need to have their brake pads replaced more often.
Your Driving Route
If you regularly drive in stop-and-go traffic, it can influence the lifespan of your brake pads. In most circumstances, those who live in the city will need to have their brakes replaced more often than those who live in a rural area with long, straight roadways. In addition, if you live in an area with mountainous roads, the drastic changes in elevation can have an impact on your brake pads.
Brake Pad Materials
A vehicle’s brake pads are made with either carbon-ceramic brakes or standard metal brakes. The carbon-ceramic brakes will last longer than metal brakes, but carbon-ceramic brakes will usually cost much more than traditional brakes and are typically only seen on performance sports vehicles. Steel and metal brakes are more common and adequate when they are properly maintained.
How often should you replace your brake pads? As a general rule, you should have them replaced every 50,000 miles. However, some may need to have their brake pads replaced after about 25,000 miles, and some can wait for about 70,000 miles before replacing the brake pads. You can reference your owner’s manual for specific recommendations from the manufacturer, and here are some other tips to help you know if your brake pads need to be replaced:
When you have your vehicle serviced, such as tire rotations or oil changes, ask the technician to examine the brake pads to see if they are worn or damaged.
If you notice any squealing or scraping noises coming from your vehicle, have your brake pads inspected immediately. Small metal strands are at the bottom of brake pads, and they will cause the aforementioned noises when they are worn.
If you observe that your brakes are jerky, then the brake pads may need to be replaced.
In addition, if your brakes look visually worn or you notice that there is a decrease in performance, you should have them inspected by a mechanic.
Brakes that are fully functional are one of the best ways to increase safety when you are behind the wheel. Not only will replacing your brake pads (when recommended) keep your brakes intact, it will also help to boost your vehicle’s overall performance.