Life expectancy of brake pads?

Question

I have a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire and I would like to know if anyone knows the life expectancy of brake pads for my car. I put about 10,000 miles a year (give or take) on my car. Any help is great. Thanks!

Answer 1

Thre's no sure-fire answer. First, it depends on how often you use the brakes and how hard you drive. Driving 100 miles on an Interstate will give less wear than 5 miles of stop and go city driving.

Second, how good were the pads installed? Original equipment? Quality replacements?

Without knowing more, it's tough to say, but as a shot in the dark, about 40,000 miles.

Answer 2

there isn't an answer for this. It depends on a couple things: How you drive your car and the quality of pads on your car. My Grandma's brakes have lasted her many years, but she doesn't drive maybe 6 times a month and they are short trips. If you wait till the last minute to slam on your brakes and have to push hard, that wears them out faster. There are so many variables with car maintenance that there is never just one answer. Except this one. Once a month take a few minutes to look over your car, check the fluids (Transmision, oil, antifreeze, power steering, washer fluid), check the air filter, when the oil get changed ever 3 months or 3000 miles change the oil filter too. Change your wiper blades every 6 months, rotate your tires every 3000 miles. And you can check your brake pads yourself: you see when the pads are new they are thick, like a 1/2 inch, when they are worn out they are thin, like about an 1/8 inch. If you let the pads go too long they will wear grooves into the rotors. when that happens the rotors and the pads have to be replaced and costs a bunch more money. So stick your finger through the rim til you feel the rotor. run your finger over it, it should be smooth. ANY grooves means it it time to have the pads checked. GOOD LUCK. Or you could just take it to a mechanic.

Answer 3

As many others have stated, it does depend on your driving habits. Driving 10,000 miles per year doesn't seem like a lot now a days. I would recommend the following:
1. Have the brakes checked whenever you get your tires rotated (every 6-8,000 miles).
2. Look at the rotors and look for grooves. If there are grooves, you may have to have your rotors turned/machined. This may be an indicator that your brake pads need to be changed.
3. If you begin to hear a high pitched squeal of metal on metal when you apply your brakes, have the brake pads changed. The squeal is actually a wear indicator to get your attention that the brake pads are wearing out.
4. If you are worried about any part of your car, ask around and get a trusty mechanic that you can take your car to and have general routine maintenance looks at your car. Preventative maintenance is usually cheaper than emergency maintenance.

Answer 4

No such thing as a life expectency with brake pads. Brakes wear depending on how much you use them, not how many miles you drive or the passage of time. Obviously, not everyone drives the same places and the same way. If you drive 10,000 miles a year and almost all of it is on the highway you are going to use a lot less brakes then someone who drives 10k a year in the city where they have to stop for a light every 3 blocks.

Answer 5

The answer will depend on how you drove those 10,000 miles. If you drive more than 50% of the time on the highway, that won't wear your pads as much as city only driving. That being said, there are many other things that can go wrong with your cars brakes, and it is cheaper to catch problems early. Getting your brake system checked once a year is a good idea.

Go to a regular mechanic, not of of those "just brakes" places.

Answer 6

Have them checked every 6 months. The life of the front brakes is about 10,000 miles on that particular vehicle.

Answer 7

With your usage and presuming you are not driving on the highway constantly about 3 years. The best thing to do is to check them yearly when you service your car.
It depends on how you drive as to the amount of wear on your brake pads and is very difficult to estimate.

Answer 8

countless this quite relies upon on weight, terrain, and utilising type. if you're a time-honored driver i visit purely estimate 25,000 to 60,000. I wish i ought to do extra effective yet their are to many variables for me to be any extra precise.

Answer 9

40-50,000 miles

Answer 10

40,000 miles