Brakes are something that we take for granted. You expect them to work each and every time that you're driving your vehicle, but there comes a time when you need to replace your brake pads (or brake shoes). On average, your brake pads should be replaced around every 50,000 miles, but that number can change depending on several different factors including environment, driving style, driving frequency, and brake pad composition.
City Versus Highway Driving
One big factor in the lifespan of your brake pads is where you live and drive. If most of your drive time is spent in an urban city environment, you're going to have to replace your brake pads a lot more often than someone who spends most of their drives traveling down the highway. City driving puts more strain on your brakes due to braking frequency, whereas highway driving typically needs significantly less use of your brake system.
Driving Style
If you're more aggressive behind the wheel, chances are you're braking a lot more frequently and harder than a conservative driver. If you add that to the type of driving you'll be doing (city or highway), you may need to replace your brakes pretty frequently. High heat from aggressive or frequent braking can cause brake pads to melt onto the brake rotor, reducing the life of the brake pads.
Brake Pad Composition
Not all brake pads are the same. There are several different types of brake pads, and they all perform slightly differently to accommodate for different driving styles. From hard to soft composition, choosing the right brake pad for your driving environment and style is crucial for the longevity and safety of your vehicle. As a quick guide, harder brake pads typically last longer than soft pads, but need more heat to perform well. You'll typically find harder brake pads on higher-end sports cars, whereas softer brake pads are typically found on standard consumer vehicles and perform better at low speeds.
How To Tell If Your Brake Pads Need to Be Replaced
There are a few things that can signal the need for a brake problem diagnosis. If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, it's probably time to drive your vehicle over to a reputable brake repair shop to receive a diagnosis.
- Grinding, screeching, squealing, rubbing, and other high-pitched noises
- Vibration or pulsing during their
- Excessive brake pedal travel
- A burning smell
- Your brake warning light is on
Let A Mobile Brake Service Replace Your Brakes
Finding time to take your car into a repair shop is never easy, and driving around with faulty brakes is a safety hazard. Mobile brake repair services provide all the same services you expect when taking your vehicle in for brake services, but offer the added convenience of handling your brake repair needs around your schedule.