What is the average lifespan of your disk brakes?

Question

I'n my case, My 2004 Tacoma Pre-Runner,bought new, 18,000 miles. I over-heard a fast-talking service tech telling a woman that 9000 miles could be normal, even on her brand new vehicle. Then they want $200 to fix them. And that is after they charged me $60 to "inspect and Adjust" the brakes. Besides the E-Brake, are there any "adjustments? Isn't this fraud?

Answer 1

Just the E brake. I change about every 25,000 miles. However I order Bendix brake pads,they are the best.Every two years,and always before winter. You don't want 3 brakes on Ice or Snow.Rear brakes can last over a 100,000.

Answer 2

"Normal" is a relative term. Brake life depends on both the driver and the pad quality. 9000 miles "usually" is a bit premature. As for the inspection, next time take it to a brake shop. They will inspect your brakes for free. The adjustment part is not so clear cut. Rear drum brakes can benefit from adjustment, but that is usually only performed at the time of pad service. E-brakes very rarely need maintainance (60k miles or more). I wouldn't assume fraud, because they may have actually adjusted some parts, but the service definately was not critical.

Answer 3

It mostly depends on the quality of the brake pads used. Quality and price of brake pads can vary widely. And with this part, you get what you pay for. Prices can run from $20 a set to over $100 a set. On my cars, I do the brake work myself. I used to use cheap brake pads, thinking I was saving some money. But the $20 pads were only lasting me 20,000 miles if I was lucky. I switched to using brake pads that are a little more expensive, in the $60 price range. After 40,000 miles, there is still lots of pad left. I also get less brake dust on the wheels. As to the brakes not squeaking when the pads were worn, I suspect that set of pads were either installed improperly or the wear indicator was somehow damaged. Brake pads have a little tab on them that contacts the brake rotors when they are worn to the point where they need service. This is what makes them squeak when they are worn. Somehow, this didn't happen on the set that did not squeak.

Answer 4

Depending on what kind of adjustments this tech was talking about... Does a brake bleed qualify as an adjustment? Perhaps the brakes were installed wrong and he has to set it right? Perhaps one pad is wearing in a way which it shouldn't be. Perhaps the caliper is sticking? Even though, the brakes are not that hard of a job and should not be costing $200.00. Most brakes that are worn wrong should just be replaced and not adjusted though. Life of the pads depend on quality, the driver, and the usage. For example if you live in Duluth, MN where the city is one big hill the breaks will be used more often; thus, need to be changed more often.

Answer 5

It all depends on your driving habits as stated by some other folks here.As for adjustments,front disc brakes have no adjustments,while rear discs or drums have the parking brake to adjust.

I've also been told to NOT buy warrantied disc brake pads(Ones that supposedly last a long time) as instead of the pad wearing out,they will wear out the rotor instead.I'm not sure as to the credibility of this claim,but as I'm usually strapped for cash and know how to change my own brakes,I buy the cheap ones.

Answer 6

Front pads last normally about 30-40,000 miles. The only adjustment is on the E-brake cables.
Some GM cars are experiencing front pad failure at less than 10, 000 miles. Gm admitted they were using a very aggressive pad .

Answer 7

I would say the average miles is between 15,000 and 30,000 miles .......depending on your driving habits . The front brakes tend to go first , and sometimes the rears can last almost twice as long . If you tend to drive fast , and brake hard , they can go sooner ...........if you have a standard and downshift while braking lightly , they can last as long as 35,000 to 40,000 miles .

Answer 8

for me a 100,000 miles