How Long Should Brake pads Last? Brake pad wear varies based on a number of factors, including:
Factors for Brake pad wear
- Driving habits: How hard a driver pushes their brakes greatly affects how long the brake pads last. Some drivers ride the brakes and stop abruptly, while others gently coast to a stop. Smooth, gradual braking increases pad lifespan, but of course it’s important to brake abruptly when safety calls for it.
- Environment: Due to stop-and-go traffic, driving in the city is harder on brakes than driving out in the country or on long straight roads because braking is required less frequently. Driving in mountainous areas with steep elevation changes can wear brakes out quickly as well, because it’s often necessary to ride the brakes to control downhill speed.
- Brake pad hardness: Brake pads are available in different compounds to suit different driving needs. Hard compound pads last longer, but usually need to be warm before they perform well, and are more common on performance cars. Soft compound pads perform better at low speeds, like in urban areas. Too much heat can melt pad compound onto the brake rotor and reduce brake performance if the driving gets too extreme.
- Materials: The materials that make up the brake rotor and brake pad also factor into the brakes’ durability. Carbon-ceramic brakes last longer than standard metal brakes, for instance, but they need to be warmer than the alternative to be effective. However, carbon-ceramic brakes are extremely expensive and found almost exclusively on high-performance sports cars. Steel or other metal brakes are much more common and still more than adequate to suit a variety of driving conditions.
How long should they last?
The biggest concern with many drivers is how long are the pads going to last. Hard and abrasive pads tend to be able to run longer distances but the damage they cause to your rotors far outweigh the savings incurred. NiBK set of brake pads from JNBK Corporation, for example, should allow you to drive about 40,000km before they are worn out. But this is also dependent on your driving style and the current condition of your rotors.
Remember, longest drive is not always the best choice!
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Thank you for pointing out that the longevity of your brake pads can depend on your driving habits or environment. My brother has been wondering why he needs to get his brake pads replaced so often now. He just moved on top of a hill, so I wonder if that could be why they’ve worn down so quickly