Car Brake Lifetime

[JimD]

My son and I checked the brakes on my 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara today and they were much less than half worn. It has a manual transmission and over 95,000 miles. We didn't replace them. At this pace it shouldn't need them until well over 150,000 and I'm hoping to be driving something else before then. My previous Suzuki got similar life out of it's brakes.

Anybody drive a car further without it needing brakes?

[woodturner]

Anybody drive a car further without it needing brakes?

Probably depends a lot on geography - is it pretty flat where you are?

With all the hills and mountains around here, 30,000 miles is about the best we can hope for on pads, probably twice that on shoes.

[capncarl]

Brake wear also depends a lot on driving technique. If you drive like you are in a race and have to brake when you are coming up on someone, approaching a curve or wait till the last minute to start breaking for a stop sign or signal, they will not last nearly that long. The weight of the car will use up brakes.

[dbhost]

I get about 40 thousand on a set of pads. I tow a lot though...

[Condoman44]

Back in January I looked at mine and estimate another 20K miles remain. I am at 70k now. Will have a look next year.

[MBG]

I think it depends on the vehicle design too. I have a 2005 Malibu and it requires a brake job about every 30-40K miles. Back pads are about the area of 3-quarters (well maybe 4).

Mike

[Black wallnut]

We just traded in our Samuri with over 200k miles. I put over 100k on it after buying it from my dad in the late 90's. I never had to change brakes pads or shoes and I don't think he did either. Suzuki's are light weight vehicles which should add to brake life. My Yukon on the other hand is on its second set of rear pads since we purchased it. The good thing though is the pads are reasonable in price.

[JimD]

I think the fact that my zuk is a manual helps. It is pretty flat around here. I tow but only occasionally. It's made one trip from SC to Illinois towing a 5x8 U-Haul (full), through the alleghanies but that is a small percentage of it's miles.

I had a SideKick before the Grand Vitara and it was also easy on brakes and clutches. The Grand Vitara is heavier, however, at almost 3,500 pounds. Light for a SUV but not for a vehicle in general.

I was talking to a guy at work with an automatic transmission Ford sedan and will get his first brake replacement at about 100K. I think that is really good but it isn't what I'm looking at on the Zuk.

I drive a bit above the posted speed limit most of the time but not enough to get a ticket. I try to pay attention to the lights ahead of me so I can get off the gas when the light is red anyway. I downshift through the gears when I can. But I don't rev the engine over 2,000 rpm downshifting. Usually it's more like 1,500. I'm not "hyper-mileing" or anything but I confine my racing to the occasional autocross (in my bimmer, not my SUV).

[durango dude]

My 4Runner does pretty well ----- 30k ---- but we're in Colorado, and I tow and drive off-road.

[JoeyGee]

My 2006 Civic once went 130,000 on brakes. I live in pretty flat NW Ohio and I am pretty easy on brakes.

[Stytooner]

I have about half the pads left on my 06 Dakota. Just over 60,000 miles. It also has the 100,000 mile spark plugs, so top quality stuff installed at the factory. I bought it Factory re-certified with just over 39,000 miles almost 5 years ago. The longest trip it has been on is to New Orleans twice. All flat down here.

[Carpenter96]

I have been getting around 130000 kilometres (81250 miles) for a set of brake pads and shoes on my focus wagon. I am typically easy on brakes.

Regards Bob

[cwsmith]

Where you live, what you drive, how you drive, and probably your age are all contributing factors I would think.

For example, in my Painted Post house I live on a hill over looking the village. When I leave my driveway I have to go down a fairly steep hill with an S-turn act the bottom and then a stop sign at the nearby intersection. One block to a traffic light, then another traffic light at the next block. That's four braking situations within the first few minutes of driving!

Here in Binghamton, on in a fairly flat valley, pull out of the driveway and drive almost a quarter mile before I may have to brake for a light and then another few blocks (about two miles before I come to another light) and then I'm on the highway to wherever.

My Dodge van probably takes a lot more braking power than my Miata.... but then I drive my Miata with a lot more aggression, usually taking it someplace where I can. But generally, I'm a pretty mild driver under most circumstances.

However, a long time ago when I was young, I drove like a maniac. My first new car, a 65' VW, went through three full sets of drum-brakes in 93,000 miles (three years)! By comparison, my Dodge van just turned 72,000 miles and my front discs are still in good shape (though I bought it used, so can't speak for what the other driver may have done).

CWS