how long do brake pads last?

I feel like I'm stirring the pot a little bit. I know this is a tough
question... anyway, for a manual car, driving in the suburbs (not New
York like traffic jam, but also not interstate highway all day long),
you know, the usual 5-10 miles to work every day, groceries, gym,
shopping, doctor, etc. so how long so the brake pads last, ON AVERAGE?
just throw some numbers. I mean, 1000 miles would probably be unheard
of, right? also, 200k miles would also be unheard of (remember, this is
mostly suburbs, not highway). I'm asking because I peeked at my pads
and there is some thickness left, need to get the caliper and measure
properly over the weekend. I am approaching 60k miles.

thanks

 

I had a similar question earlier, and was discussed here:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.autos.makers.honda/browse_frm/thread/8d4dffbbc4555908/1194d663db93080d?hl=en#1194d663db93080d

 

My experiences in that type of driving on my newest couple of cars has been
about 60k-70k on the front pads and 90k on the rears. Most cars now have
little wear bars attached to the pads to warn you when they are almost gone.
If you start hearing a scraping noise (it can be subtle on some cars,
screaming on others), that is the car telling you its time to check the
pads.

If you have one of the Hondas that does not have the tiny little parking
brake drums hidden in the rear rotors (Integras & Civics), expect the rear
pads to go before the fronts.

 

Somewhere between 100 and 200k miles. There is no specific answer. That is
why it is recommended you check the pads for wear at regular intervals.

 

well, smart guy, I asked what is the average. Imagine it is some soft
of Gaussian distribution, or whatever, and yes, some brakes wear out
faster (100 miles), some wear out very late (200k miles) as you said.
but these are UNUSUAL cases, 1 in a million or so. I wanted to know the
AVERAGE. If that concept is familiar to you, please let me know.

thanks
p.s. I am going to check tha pads tomorrow.

 

there is no average. the variables of location, driving style & typical
journey are just too broad to generalize. all you can do, as you about
to do, is check periodically and monitor wear rate.

 

I have a 98 Accord MT. 106K. Front pads still have 20% left, all original.

I do not downshift to brake, but often stay in a lower gear, and thus do
not brake nearly as much as autos I follow.

My 87 Accord's front pads usually only lasted 50K.

 

depends on your style of driving. if you treat the gas and brake as
on/off pedals, your pads wont last as long as coasting before stopping
and using engine braking correctly.

 

Well, if you're such a smart ass, figure it out for yourself.
G-O-O-G-L-E if you're having trouble getting started.

No one gives a big rodent's rectum!

 

Of course there's an average, and of course it could be helpful to know.

The distribution probably is Gaussian.

Unless one knows the standard deviation of the average is extremely high,
then the variables you name are no more too broad to generalize than, say,
adult male height. Even if the S.D. is extremely high, the original poster
could seek averages for simply his locale (and for OEM pads), and this would
reduce the S.D. and no doubt provide useful information to him.

 

I agree. Also, you could calculate several averages if you had the data.
An average for urban driving, an average for highway driving, an average for
suburban driving, an average for little old ladies, etc.

I have a 99 Accord with 4 wheel disc brakes that just turned over 70k with
the original brakes. I bought replacement pads a couple years ago but still
have not needed to put them on.

Sid

 

I have a 98 Accord MT. 106K. Front pads still have 20% left, all original.

Thanks, now this is what I consider useful information, unlike some of
the other "smart" answers.

 

Uh-huh.
So how long do brake pads last, based on that data?

 

I get 35K on OEM Honda pads on a 96 Civic coupe.

--
"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George "Dubya" Bush

 

it depends on how you drive car. There is a way to keep lasting a break
pad.
A soft driver usually keep their pad last while the violent drivers
does opposite.
It is not based on luck or sitution or type or condition of car. It is
based on
pure driving skill...

 

based on this answer (and other information I found searching older
threads) I would say the "average" lifetime of Honda pads is between
50k and 100k miles. Of course it depends on too many factors to list
here. But here are a couple of point I learned:

1 -50k miles is not unusual, that is for typical driving conditions. if
you do pizza delivery of course the pads will wear down faster, and if
you do only highway of course they may well last over 100k miles.

2 -usually you do not have to turn the rotors, they last almost 200k
miles if you use OEM pads and do not let the pads wear down to the
metal.

I check my pads and I have 2.1-2.2 mm left, that is at 59k miles. that
is just in line with what others experienced.

you give me more data for your specific case (auto/manual,
citi/highway, aggressive/moderate drivers, hilly/flat region, etc.) and
I will give you an even better *estimate*

remember, it is just an *estimate*.

 

I don't think there is an estimate for brake wear. There are just too
many factors. You might get an average and that's about it. The only way
to find out if the pads needed replacing are from regular inspections or
hearing the tell-tale noise.

 

I think it would hurt more than help. There is such a wide range of pad
life that you could think you are average, when you are really below average
and you ruined your rotors.

 

If you're willing to work the standard tranny, they'll last a very long
time. Quality of rotor and pads will play a big factor (along with driving
style) on the wear factor.

I tend to drive hard, but don't use the brake much (I prefer to downshift or
swing around the obstical). Anyways, my 1998 Civic is on it's 4th set of pad
up front and the rear drum are still on the orginal shoes. The car has
246,000km and the clutch is still orginal. I'm do for a new clutch in the
near future, but since the bad presure plate and stiff clutch pedal doesn't
bother me, I'm probaly gonna milk it for a few more season.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

 

Too variable due to driving style. My wife and I both had '90 Integras
years ago. She drove hers like a bat out of Hell and it needed 2
replacements on the front (one on the rear also, I think) before she
sold it at 89,000 miles.

Mine made it 105,000 before needing front pads, and the original rears
lasted until it was sold at 119,000.