If your brakes are still functioning well, but you feel it is time that you had them changed to maintain them and your car, then you may want to consider getting them changed around every 50,000 miles.
Of course, this completely depends on the make and model as well as the frequency of driving. The range can be anything from 20,000 miles up to 100,000 depending on your mileage and the conditions that you drive in.
There are a few factors that may influence how often you should get your brakes changed, including:
Your driving habits
Different people will have a different approach to driving and braking. Some drivers will stop more abruptly, whilst some drivers start slowing down earlier.
Gradual braking will increase the lifespan of brake pads, so when possible, this is the method that should be used.
Brake Material
As expected, different brakes will be made up of different materials and this can have an impact on durability and life span. Standard metal brakes won’t last as long as carbon-ceramic brakes, but they are less expensive and more commonly used on low to mid-performance cars.
Environment
The area that you live in or otherwise commonly drive around can have an impact on how quickly your brakes wear down.
Driving in the city wears brakes down more because of the constant stop-start nature of city driving. In comparison, driving on longer stretches of road and in more rural areas can help brakes last longer. Although, driving in areas with lots of hills will also wear brakes out more quickly due to having to ride the brakes to control speed whilst going downhill.
When changing your brakes, it is handy to know that there are different types of brake pads available to suit different driving needs. Brake pads can come in different compounds, either hard or soft. Hard compound pads are better for performance cars as they need to be warm to perform well. In comparison, soft compound pads work better at low speeds and are better for urban driving.
Keeping your brakes well-maintained and getting the different brake parts changed before they become badly worn will save you a lot of money in the long run.
