Many consumers are surprised to find themselves being told that they need new brakes before the manufacturer's warranty has even expired. Many more are surprised to find that they only need to replace the front brakes, while the rear brakes can be replaced later. Brakes are one of the most important aspects of vehicle performance--and one of the most misunderstood.
Why Front Brakes Fade Faster
Most cars use a front disc/rear drum brake setup, although most sports cars and most premium sedans use disc brakes at all four wheels. Disc brakes use a circular rotor (the disc) that rotates with the wheel. When the brakes are engaged, a set of pads that are attached to a caliper clamps down on the disc to help bring the vehicle to a stop. Drum brakes use pads--called "shoes"--that are mounted inside a round "drum." Those shoes push out against the rotating drum in order to provide stopping power for the car.
Because most of the vehicle's weight shifts to the front during braking, that means that the front brakes have to handle most of the work. That also means the front brakes wear faster--sometimes as quickly as 30,000 miles.
Brake wear will also vary on different types of driving. Aggressive drivers who slam hard on the brakes will obviously wear their front brakes out faster than those with a more sanguine style. Also, drivers who spend a lot of time in stop and go urban traffic will wear their brakes out faster.
Rotor Repairs
When worn-out disc brake pads are replaced, the rotors are usually machined or "cut." This is because the metal goes out-of-round over time. This often causes the brake pedal to pulsate when the brakes are activated. This is a condition often described as "warped" rotors.
While the pads are being replaced, the rotors are resurfaced, to alleviate the "warped" sensation. However, rotors can only be resurfaced so many times before they become too thin for safety. At that point, they must be replaced.
Why Good Brakes Go Bad
Obviously, certain driving conditions can accelerate brake wear. Stop and go traffic creates the most wear, but there are other types of driving that cause premature wear. Aggressive driving certainly will cause more wear, as will unnecessarily riding the brake pedal during driving. It follows, then, that the best way to maximize the life of brake pads is to avoid aggressive driving and avoid stop and go situations when possible.
It's also good to coast as much as possible, and to not rest feet on the brake pedal in non-braking situations.
Brakes will wear out eventually, but there are ways to make them last as long as possible. That's a good thing, since brake jobs are among the more costly of basic maintenance services, due mostly to labor involved. Keeping brakes in good shape may be costly, but it's worth it.
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