How Long Do Brake Pads Last?

A well-maintained braking system is critical to keep you, your fellow passengers, and other motorists on the road safe. Brake pads wear down over time and typically need replacing after two or three years of driving. If you fail to replace them in time, you can cause damage to other components and risk an accident due to poor braking performance. Here at Longo Toyota, our professional service team handles brake maintenance jobs daily. We’ve put together a guide based on some of the most common questions we get asked about brakes.

What Are Brake Pads?

Brake pads are usually made from organic or ceramic material. When you hit the brake pedal, they squeeze against your vehicle’s brake discs to bring your car to a swift stop. Vehicles using drum brakes have a slightly different braking mechanism, and the pads are known as brake shoes. Whether your Toyota has brake pads or shoes, they’ll wear down over time and require replacing.

How Can You Tell When Brake Pads Need Replacing?

Most modern brake pads have a built-in mechanism to alert you when it’s time to replace them. It consists of a thin metal strip located inside the pad. When the pad wears down to a certain point, the thin metal strip is exposed to the brake disc, causing a squealing sound when you hit the brakes. Your pads will still be thick enough to work for a short while afterward, giving you adequate time to book a service appointment.

Keep in mind that there may be other reasons why your brakes are squeaking. For instance, brakes often squeal after a rainstorm due to moisture. If they only squeal two or three times, you don’t need to worry about the condition of your pads.

If you miss or ignore the built-in warning sound, you may hear a grinding or growling sound when you brake. This sound suggests that the metal backing plates are scraping directly against the brake disc. In this case, urgent action is needed to prevent severe damage to brake components that can be quite expensive to replace. Other symptoms of worn brake pads could be if your vehicle pulls to one side when you brake. You may also notice that your vehicle takes longer than usual to come to a stop.

An alternative to looking out for these warning signs is to inspect the thickness of your brake pads regularly. This task can take some time since you may need to remove your vehicle’s wheels. You can then look down to see the brake pad in the caliper. If it’s less than a quarter-inch thick, it’s time to make an appointment to get replacement pads fitted.

When Do Brake Pads Need Replacing?

Brake pads usually last anywhere from two to three years, and your driving habits can greatly impact their life span. For example, some drivers accelerate unnecessarily and slam on their brakes when they reach a red light or get caught in traffic. These habits will result in your pads suffering considerable wear and tear. They’re much more likely to last longer if you drive at a modest speed on city roads, meaning you can use your brakes more sparingly when you need to come to a stop.

The life span can also be affected by the type of material the pads are made from or the type of vehicle you drive. For instance, high-performance sports brake pads are designed to cope with high speeds better than standard brake pads, so they should wear and tear less rapidly.

What Other Brake Components Require Maintenance?

In addition to your brake pads, your rotors will eventually require replacing. These components tend to last longer. Their life span ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 miles, approximately four to six years for the average driver. How well you look after your pads will affect the life span of your rotors since poorly maintained brake pads can damage them.

When you hit the brake pedal, fluid travels through your brake cables to apply the necessary pressure to bring your Toyota to a stop. Over time, the fluid can get contaminated due to wearing parts or debris from an external source. Your cables can also become damaged or blocked by air. To guard against these problems, your fluid should be flushed occasionally during a regular maintenance check-up, and your cables should be inspected.

The most effective way to keep on top of any problems with your brakes is to have your braking system regularly inspected by a service professional. We can do that for you here at Longo Toyota as part of our multipoint inspection. These inspections allow us to look at the most important parts of your car during each maintenance visit to ensure they’re in good working order.

How Should I Choose Replacement Brake Pads?

You can get a recommendation for the best brake pads for your Toyota by consulting your owner’s manual. The recommendation may be the same original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brake pads originally put into the vehicle in the factory. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, one of our Toyota experts can advise you which brake pads to buy from our well-stocked parts department.

If you drive a large vehicle, such as a Tundra pickup, you may require heavy-duty brake pads. Sports car drivers may prefer high-performance brake pads, while most crossovers, such as the Highlander or RAV4, can manage just fine with a standard-designed brake pad.

Ready to Get Your Brakes Checked in El Monte?

Now that you know more about the importance of brake maintenance and when to change your brake pads, why not reserve an appointment at our service center in El Monte, California? You can choose a time to fit your busy schedule or drop by our dealership during opening hours. If you have questions about brake pad replacements or want to buy OEM pads at an affordable price, our parts team is on hand to help. Feel free to contact us today with any questions about your brakes or other maintenance issues.

Tags: Brake Pads, Toyota
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