Why Do Brake Pads Wear Down? How Long Do Brake Pads Last?
The answer’s simple:Friction!
Remember, it’s the friction caused by the braking pad and the brake rotor that slows down your vehicle. And when the brake pads constantly rub against your rotors over time, they slowly start to wear away.
Note: Rotor wear happens a lot slower than brake pad wear. If you’ve noticed black dust on the wheels of your car, it’s most probably brake dust residue from your braking pad – not your rotors.
There’s actually no standard answer to this question.
Many car manufacturers estimate that a braking pad can last anywhere from 20,000 to 70,000 miles. However, on average, most car owners replace their brake pads after about 40,000 miles.
We know what you’re thinking…
That’s a lot of variance!
After all, there are a lot of miles between 20,000 and 70,000…
So, why does one braking pad wear out at just 20,000 miles, while another one goes up to 70,000?
