Tips to Extend Brake Pads
Tips to Extend Brake Pads
Brake pads are an essential safety feature on your car and should always be replaced once they wear out. If you notice your brakes are starting to "screech" or are working at a decreased performance, then it may be time to get them replaced. At Acura of Oakville, we offer brake pad replacement services using quality genuine parts for those in Oakville and surrounding areas such as Mississauga, Milton, and Burlington in Ontario. Visit our service centre for more details or to book an appointment.
How Long Should Brake Pads Last on Average?
There's no exact science when it comes to brake wear. However, on average, a brake pad should last anywhere from 60,000 km to 150,000 km, depending on many factors. Here are some ways to make your brake pads last longer:
- Drive with the flow of traffic and try to avoid any unnecessary heavy braking
- Give yourself plenty of following distance from the car in front of you so that you can come to a nice, easy stop whenever necessary.
- Remove any unnecessary weight from your vehicle, so it is easier to stop.
- If you are driving in traffic, keep a low speed and avoid sudden, heavy braking.
- Optional: spray off your rotors when you wash your car to avoid any debris causing extra friction.
Why Are My Brake Pads Wearing Out So Fast?
Well, it depends. Brake pads wear out due to general day-to-day mileage, the surrounding environment, and personal driving habits. Consider these examples and see if you can contribute your brake pad wear to any of them:
- A city driver is more likely to wear out their brake pads faster than those who use the highway with little traffic or those who live in rural areas.
- Those that come to harsher stops due to driving at higher speeds are more likely to wear out their brake pads faster than those that do smaller, low-speed stops. This is also why congested highways cause more brake pad wear.
- Over time, heat and friction will contribute to brake pad wear.
- The axel that your brakes are on will also cause brake pad wear to occur faster, with the front brake pads wearing out more quickly than the rear.