How Often Should I Have Brake Service?
Under normal circumstances, it can take tens of thousands of miles before your pads begin to wear down. This is usually between 20,000 and 40,000 miles for most drivers, but a lot depends on factors like driving habits, environment, brand, and type of brake pads. You can get some guidance from your owner’s manual regarding manufacturer recommendations for brake service. The type of brake pads is also a key factor; there are three main types of brake pads.
Types of Brake Pads
All brake pads have a solid steel backing plate to which friction materials are bonded. The difference is in the friction material. The three main kinds of pads are:
- Non-Metallic: With a blend of synthetic materials like aramid, sintered, glass, and cellulose, among other compounds, these are made of quiet, softer materials, but because of these characteristics they also have the shortest life expectancy of the three main types.
- Semi-metallic: These pads use a combination of metals like iron, copper, and steel, blended with non-metallic compounds like graphite and fillers. These pads will last a bit longer than non-metallic ones, but they also tend to be noisier and harder on the rotors.
- Ceramic: Considered by many to be the best type of brake pad, these pads combine materials like porcelain and clay with copper fibers to provide quieter stopping, less damage to rotors, and longer wear life.
Regardless of what type of pad you choose for your vehicle, they will all eventually wear out. The best way to tell if your pads are wearing out is by measuring the thickness of the friction material. Most pads are manufactured with approximately 8/32 and 12/32 of an inch of material, which doesn’t include the steel backing plate. When the friction material reaches 3/32 of an inch, this is a good measurement to signal a brake pad replacement. If you don’t want to go to the trouble of measuring the thickness of your material, let our technicians inspect your brake pads and rotors and advise you how to proceed.
Signs of Worn Brake Pads
If you notice any of the following signs, this is also a good way to tell if you need Brake Pad Service:
- Squealing, screeching, or grinding noises when braking
- Poor brake performance (extended stopping distances)
- Grooves, damage, or discoloration on the rotors
- Pulsations in the brake pedal that doesn’t feel like an ABS response
- Pulling to one side when braking