How Long Do Car Brakes Last?

Part of regular vehicle maintenance is brake repair and replacement. Your vehicle’s brakes will eventually need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear. How long do car brakes last? Fortunately, brakes last a long time, and you can help them last longer depending on how you drive and what types of brakes you use. Learn more from our service team at Superior Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Of Northwest Arkansas.

How Many Miles Do Brakes Last?

Vehicle brakes last between 25,000 and 65,000 miles. But it’s impossible to give an exact number because it depends on several factors. When we talk about how many miles brakes can last, we generally discuss brake pads. Brake pads are the parts that wear out the most often since they contact the discs on the inside of the wheels. The greatest amount of friction occurs between the brake pads and discs, so that’s why the brake pads wear out the most often. Some sets of brake pads may even last over 80,000 miles.

Check your owner’s manual or driver’s information center on your vehicle’s touchscreen for the recommended service schedule for your brakes. Certain service intervals, like at every 15,000 miles, will include a brake pad inspection. The maintenance schedule might also recommend when to replace the brakes. 

Regularly taking your vehicle to an OEM-certified service center, like the team at Superior Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Of Northwest Arkansas, allows service technicians to accurately estimate when you’ll need to replace your vehicle’s brakes. Using the same service center since you bought your new vehicle allows them to keep vehicle maintenance records, such as torque calculations, performance specs, and other data, that can help them determine brake wear and brake lifespan. Our team can replace your brake pads with genuine OEM parts specially designed for your model to fit better and last longer.

What Factors Affect Brake Pad Life?

How long do car brakes last? It varies based on how you drive, where you drive, and what kind of brake pads your vehicle uses.

Take a look at the factors that determine how many miles brake pads last:

• Driving Habits: If you brake hard instead of pressing down softly along Fayetteville or Springdale streets, or if you ride on the brakes instead of coasting to a stop, your brake pads won’t last as long as they normally would.
• Where You Drive: Driving in the city means encountering more traffic, lights, and stop signs, so you’ll hit the brakes more. Driving on the highway usually means longer brake life because you don’t hit the brakes as often compared to stop-and-go traffic.
• Brake Pad Material: Carbon-ceramic pads last longer than standard metallic pads and organic brake pads. However, they are more expensive. If you don’t already know what type of brake pads you have, your owner’s manual or vehicle information center might give you more details. Typical vehicles have organic brake pads, but they (generally) last the fewest numbers of miles. Metal brake pads are in the medium range. Carbon-ceramic pads are the best and most expensive.

Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?

If your car shakes when you brake, bring your vehicle in for brake service immediately. The most common cause of this shaking comes from a problem with the vehicle’s brake system itself. However, there might be other things wrong when you experience shaking as you hit the brakes.

Look at some specific reasons why this shaking might be happening:

• One of your tires is experiencing “run out,” or is no longer perfectly round
• One of your wheels is unbalanced
• Your car’s front-end alignment is off
• A loose control arm or damaged knuckle is affecting your car’s steering
• Your car’s axle shaft is damaged
• Your vehicle has loose lug nuts

If your vehicle’s brakes are acting up, visit us for maintenance as soon as you can! Our team will diagnose the problem and tell you exactly why your car is shaking when you brake and recommend a remedy that will leave your vehicle in top shape.

Schedule Brake Service at Superior Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Of Northwest Arkansas

We offer service specialsto help you save money on some vital vehicle maintenance and repairs. Feel free to contact us or call if you have any questions. We’re happy to help in any way we can!