How often to replace brake pads ?

If you ask about how often to replace brake pads and rotors with new ones, I'm sure you will find many different answers. Some people might argue if the brake pad replacement is every 50,000 miles, but others say it's done after 25,000 miles.

The brake pads and disc rotors on all cars wear out eventually, but brake wear varies based on several factors. Different vehicles and uses, up to brake pads materials, will produce different times for replacement brake pads.

Maybe we can say that replacing brake pads every 25.000 miles is correct, but replacing every 50.000 miles can also be right.

how often to replace brake pads and rotors

So, how often to replace car brakes? To ensure this, the following are some of the factors that caused the difference in brake pad replacement.

I. Brake pads replacement factors

1. Driving habits

Driving habits contribute significantly to the wear of the brake pad. Race style driving makes too often accelerating and pressing the brake pedal firmly, while elegant style driving gives a smooth and gently braking performance.

Pressing the brake pedal too strong and often will accelerate the wear of the brake pad. Smooth, gradual braking increases pad life span, but of course, it's important to brake firm when you need it for safety.

2. Transmission type

The transmission type used also influences the life of the brake pad. Cars with manual transmissions have a brake pad service life that is relatively longer than an automatic transmission car.

The automatic transmission car uses almost all the brakes to reduce speed and stop. Moreover, the automatic transmission has some mechanism that forces the car to keep moving even though the acceleration pedal is not pressed. It is called a creeping phenomenon, especially when the transmission lever is in a drive position, such as D,2, L, and R.

This condition makes the driver always press the brake pedal firmly or activate the hand brake to prevent the car from moving forward. As a result, the brake pad's work increases and speeds up its useful life.

3. Driving environment

Cars on urban roads with heavy traffic conditions generally have a faster brake pad life span than cars on rural roads with quiet traffic conditions. Brakes that are used too often due to traffic jams are one of the factors. It will be different if the road is traversed so that it reduces the use of brakes.

4. Brake pad hardness and material

Brake pads are available in different compounds to suit different driving needs. But for general use, brake pad hardness and material are influenced by the originality of parts used for each vehicle. Generally, low-quality brake pads have a lot of damage, such as disc rotors and brake pads that wear out quickly.

The four factors above are important factors that influence the lifetime and use of the brake pad. Generally, for normal use, brake pads need to be replaced after about 50.000 miles. Still, it all depends on the factors listed above to know how often to replace brakes pad. To get a more accurate number for your car's specific needs, consult the owner's manual.

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However, we must not rely too much on that number. Every car generally has a warning system if the brake pad has started to wear out. Here are some signs on the vehicle that we can use as reminders to check and replace the brake pad.

II. Signs for brake pads replacement

1. Brake indicator warning light

Many modern cars put a sensor on their brake pads. If the brake pad starts to wear out and scrap the sensor, the brake warning light is activated on the dashboard panel. You will notice "Check Brake Pad Wear", "Brake Pad Monitoring", "Brake Pad Worn", and other things like that in front of your dashboard panel. If this warning light is on, then it's time for you to check and replace the brake pad.

2. Grinding or squealing noise

If your car doesn't use the sensor on the brake pads, it uses some warning plate put on your brake pads. This plate is used to remind the driver when the brake pad is worn out.

Yes, when the brake pad wears out, this warning plate will rub against the disc rotors to cause grinding or squealing noise. So, when you start to hear grinding or squealing noise when braking, immediately replace the brake pad to avoid more severe damage to the disc rotor.

3. Brake pad thickness

The last sign that we can use as a reminder to replace the brake pad is the brake pad thickness. Some car models make it easy for us to do a brake pad thickness check through a hole in the wheel. If the brake pad thickness is less than 1/8 inch (3.2mm), immediately replace the brake pad.