Life expectancy of brake pads?

[ismlv]

My 99 SUS Ltd is almost at 100K miles and I was talking with someone who just had major brake work done on their car (non Subaru). I went
back through my service records and found by front pads were replaced at about 41K miles and my rear at 65K miles.

Wondering what the life expectancy is? If my front were gone at 41K, seems the 2nd set on the front is getting me further than the first
did. Brakes are working just fine. I know the dealer probably doesn't look at brakes on a routine oil change but nothing was said at the big
90K service either.

When I have the 105K work done (timing belt, water pump, etc.) I'm figuring the bill will be so much above my "standard" (oil change,
balance and rotate as needed) that it might be a good time to have any needed brake work done since what's a few more bucks but of course,
I'm not going to do it unless needed.

 

[David Ryeburn]

It all depends -- on the brake lining material (which isn't as durable
these days as it was when it was made out of dangerous asbestos), on
whether the car has a manual or automatic transmission, and on how and
where you drive.

My 1988 manual transmission 4x4 Subaru GL wagon went 210,000 km (about
130,000 mi) before the front brake pads needed to be replaced. The rear
pads lasted longer.

My 1997 manual transmission Legacy Outback went 240,000 km (about
149,000 mi) before the front brake pads were replaced, earlier than they
otherwise would have been since I was about to begin a transcontinental
trip and didn't want to have to have the brakes worked on before I
returned home. The rear pads are still the original ones, now at
271,000+ km (about 168,000 mi).

Both vehicles have had lots of high-speed long distance driving, but
both were also driven in daily Vancouver, BC traffic, and others who
live here will confirm that one *does* use brakes quite a bit (but the
guy in front of me seems to use his about three times as much as I do,
partly because of the way he drives and partly because he's probably got
an automatic transmission). The 1988 vehicle descended 300 m (about 1000
ft) daily coming home from work; the 1997 vehicle hasn't had to do that
since it was bought as a retirement present to myself, but it does go up
and down in the mountains the way its predecessor did.

So as I said, it depends.

David

 

[TG]

My OEM pads lasted about 25,000 and my new aftermarket full-metallic pads
have 90,000 miles on them and lots more to go. TG

 

[sale]

rally drivers can burn out a set in 1 day
it all depends on your driving

My 99 SUS Ltd is almost at 100K miles and I was talking with someone who

just had major brake work done on their car (non Subaru). I went

back through my service records and found by front pads were replaced at

about 41K miles and my rear at 65K miles.

Wondering what the life expectancy is? If my front were gone at 41K, seems

the 2nd set on the front is getting me further than the first

did. Brakes are working just fine. I know the dealer probably doesn't look

at brakes on a routine oil change but nothing was said at the big

90K service either.

When I have the 105K work done (timing belt, water pump, etc.) I'm

figuring the bill will be so much above my "standard" (oil change,

balance and rotate as needed) that it might be a good time to have any

needed brake work done since what's a few more bucks but of course,

 

[etienne]

I have a Forester MY'01, with 74,000 miles (116,000km). It is an Auto
Trannie, and just changed only the rear pads. The front still had 30%
left. So it really depends more on the driving style than transmissions
type.

 

[Jim Stewart]

I have a Forester MY'01, with 74,000 miles (116,000km). It is an Auto
Trannie, and just changed only the rear pads. The front still had 30%
left. So it really depends more on the driving style than transmissions
type.

It also depends on when you want to
change them. I change mine when they
are 30% *gone*

 

[Bonehenge]

It also depends on when you want to
change them. I change mine when they
are 30% *gone*

Why?

Do you toss out beers after a few sips?

Barry

 

[Rick Courtright]

Do you toss out beers after a few sips?

Don't know if Jim does, but I do if they're warm (I'm a Yank, ok?) and
flat! Which is to say, I've had pads go "hard" with age on vehicles that
didn't get driven much. A fresh set often helps the "feel" even if
there's no real difference in stopping power. But I'll admit that's
pretty subjective.

Rick

 

[Jim Stewart]

Bonehenge wrote:

Not when I'm drinking Optimator. Which I usually do.

Don't know if Jim does, but I do if they're warm (I'm a Yank, ok?) and
flat! Which is to say, I've had pads go "hard" with age on vehicles that
didn't get driven much. A fresh set often helps the "feel" even if
there's no real difference in stopping power. But I'll admit that's
pretty subjective.

Agreed. I still get 40k miles out of a set and would
much rather change them early than buy new rotors because
the pads hardened and cupped them.