How Long Should Brake Pads Last?

“Why are my brakes already squealing? I only have 35,000 miles on my car, this shouldn’t be happening.”  Actually, even though it seems pretty early for your brakes to go out, 35,000 miles is not unheard of.  The normal range for brake pads to go bad is 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Just like most wearable parts, such as wheel hubs and starters, the length of time the part last depends on the many variables.

The main reason why some brake pads go bad faster than others is because of what the brake pads are made out of. Brake Pads come in four diverse types; Organic, Ceramic, Metallic, and Semimetallic.  Organic Brakes are made from bonded non-metallic fibers. They have the best stopping power, but this means that more of the pad is worn down during braking.  Thus, they are not the longest lasting pad and even though they are organic, you cannot buy them at Whole Foods.  Ceramic Pads are most often made out of fiberglass. They are half as heavy as other pads but more importantly they are stronger.  These pads last the longest but they cost the most.  Metallic Pads have basically become obsolete because of the emergence of organic and semimetallic pads.  So why did I bring them up? I guess I just like to waste your time.  Anyways, Semimetallic Pads is a hybrid of Metallic and Organic pads.  These do well with heat, last longer than organic, and are the type of pad found on most cars.

Other aspects also contribute to the lifespan of your brake pads.  A main cause of premature brake wear is hitting the brakes at high speeds.  For every 10 mph more you travel it takes a third more energy to stop.  So, stop tailgating me at really high speed to only stomp on your brakes before hitting me.  Not only is it pissing me off and dangerous, but it also decreases the lifespan of your brakes.  Another cause of going through brakes quicker is where you drive.  If you live in a mountainous area and your brakes have to work against gravity than they will wear quicker.  So, you may enjoy living in San Francisco but your brakes do not.  Size and weight of a vehicle also affects the brake wear in a vehicle.  The bigger and heavier the car the harder it is on brakes.

So, even though 35,000 miles is definitely in the low range it is still in the range.  To extend the life of your brake pads concentrate on gradually slowing down.  Let off the gas and let your car slowdown naturally before hitting the brakes.  If you have a manual focus on downshifting to slowdown instead of slamming on the brakes.