Timeline for Changing Brake Pads
Depending on driving patterns, environment, make, model, manufacturer, and type of brakes, brake pad replacement varieulling to one side or the other when braking s quite a bit. Brake pads are made to last tens of thousands of miles, and for most drivers, the time frame is between 20,000 and 40,000 miles. Eventually, they will need to be replaced. Here is some information that may help you know when to change your brake pads.
Types of Brake Pads
In general, there are three primary types of brake pads. The difference is in the engineering of the friction materials which are mounted to the metal plates that are common to all brake pads.
- Non-metallic or organic: With this type of brake pad, the friction material is a blend of synthetic materials like aramid, sintered glass, or cellulose and other compounds. These are quiet and relatively soft, so they don’t last as long as others.
- Semi-metallic: This type of pad is composed of metals like copper, iron, and steel, mixed with non-metallic compounds like graphite and fillers. These pads can be noisy, and they generate more wear to the rotors than the first category of pads, though they do last longer than the first type as well.
- Ceramic: The third type of pad combines elements like porcelain and clay with copper fibers for pads with quieter stopping, longer life span, and less rotor damage.
Regardless of the type of pad, one of the best ways to tell if you need to replace them is by measuring the friction material. Most pads begin with about 8/32” and 12/32” of friction material, not including the metal backing plate. When they wear down to 3/32” or thinner, it is time to replace the pads.
Signs You Need a Brake Pad Replacement
If you don’t want to remove the wheels and measure the pads, you can look for these signs:
- Brake squealing and grinding
- Extended stopping time and distance
- Grooves and imperfections located on the rotors
- Pulsation in brake pedal when applying brakes
- Pulling to one side or the other when braking