When we talk about the service life of brake pads, what do we mean?

This is simply the period in which the brake pads are manufactured to function to their optimum level.

Beyond this period, you will not be getting the best results out of your brake pads.

In fact, you will be putting yourself at a very high risk of being involved in accidents.

You will also risk damaging other key components that form part of the car’s braking system

For this and many other reasons, you should never ignore anything that entails the service life of brake pads.

Estimating the Service Life of Brake Pads


New brake pads source frontech china

When buying tires for your car, the dealer will always tell you about the expected mileage. Does the same work on brake pads?

Most brake pads manufacturers give an average service life of 40,000 miles. The mileage range of most brake pads is between 25,000 and 65,000 miles.

However, most of us have heard of or even used brake pads whose millage went beyond 70,000 or even 80,000 miles.

This means that the service life of brake pads is not fixed. Instead, it varies depending on many factors.

You should not rely on the brake pads manufacturer’s promises about the service life of the brake pads. The ratings should only give you a guideline or headway of what to expect on your brake disc life expectancy.

How Driving Habit Affects the Brake Pad Life Service


Image of brake pad warning source Pixabay

Do you know that your driving habit is one of the things that will determine the ultimate brake pad and brake rotor lifespan?

How you handle your vehicle will either make the brake pads to serve you for long or for a short period.

If you are used to braking hard on a frequent basis, expect to get a very short service life on your brake pads.

Do you want to increase the brake pad life mm? Drive like an old lady. Here are some of the notable driving habits that you can mimic from old ladies:

-Don’t Overspeed: If you are a speed demon, then y ou should start reforming your habit. This is because speed has a detrimental impact on brake pad life.

-Don’t overload: Don’t carry heavier goods than what is required regardless of the type of vehicle that you are driving.

The extra weight will cause a strain on the brake pads hence reducing their lifespan. This is because it will need more power to stop the vehicle.

-Refill the brake fluid: Very low levels of the brake fluid will have a negative impact on the lifespan of the brake pads.

It is always advisable to flush the brake fluid after every 25,000 miles.

How the Material of the Brake Pad affects its Service Life

Different types of brake pads have a different service life. The main cause of this difference is the type of material used.

Some brake pad materials can serve their purpose for long while others for a short period.

So, what are the key differences in the brake pad materials?

To find the answer, let’s have a brief look at some of the main materials for brake pad;

-Ceramic brake pads: As the name suggests, these brake pads are made of ceramic fiber. They also encompass other materials to minimize heat and eliminate the chance of burnt brake pads.

Ceramic brake pads tend to last for long.

-Semi-metallic brake pads: This type of brake pad is made of shaved metals and other organic elements. Although they are not as responsive as the ceramic material, they last for longer.

Your choice on the material of the brake pads will depend on the brake pad lifespan or the results that you would like to get from the brake pads.

Image of ceramic vs metallic brake pads

Do Brake Pads Get Old?


Old vs new brake pads source Pixabay

Still, on the issue of brake pad service life, you may be wondering whether brake pads get old.

If the answer is yes, you may still wonder whether the brake pads get worse with age.

Just like other major components of a vehicle, brake pads will not remain in pristine condition for long. They also get old.

The number of mileage that you have covered, your driving habits among many other factors will determine the state and nature of the brake pads.

Some brake pads are old but still seem to be in good condition. On the other hand, some are new but look out of shape.

What if I have not been driving for long, will my brake pads get old?

Your brakes pads can still get old even if the car has been lying in the garage for long.

This is possible because it will be exposed to various chemicals that can have negative impacts on the brake lining.

Now that you know brake pads get old, you should focus on buying new brake pads in China.

They are always in their best condition to meet your needs.

How Many mm Should I Replace the Brake Pads

Another thing that will tell you about the service life of the brake pad is its thickness. The brake pad thickness is usually measured in terms of mm.

In most cases, the thickness of the new brake pads is 12mm.

So, at what thickness should you consider doing a brake pad replacement?

Once the brake pad gets to 3 mm or 4mm, then it means that its service life is over.

It is at this point that you will have to contact the brake pad manufacturer or supplier with the intention of buying the new ones.

Buying New Brake Pads in China?

At the end of the brake pad service life, you can go ahead and import new brake pads in China.

The first thing that you should do is to find a reliable and reputable brake pad manufacturers or suppliers in China.

Once you agree on the price of the brake pads, you can go ahead and complete the purchase.

Read More

Do brake pads get old?

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