Brake pads wear a little every time you stop. Most last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles, but city driving, towing and heavy loads can halve that. The good news is that worn pads almost always give you a warning first.
The four signs
- A high-pitched squeal when you brake: the metal wear indicator is touching the disc.
- Grinding or growling: the pad material is gone and metal is scraping metal.
- A longer stopping distance or a soft pedal.
- The car pulls to one side when you brake.
Why waiting costs more
Replacing pads alone is one of the cheapest jobs in the workshop. Once they wear through, they score the discs, and then you are paying for pads and discs together.
We measure pad thickness at every service and send you a photo, so you can see exactly how much is left before you decide.
