How long should brakes last?

agrinnall

I've just had a 50,000 mile service done on my Fiesta (owned from new since 2012) and had to have the front disks and pads replaced. Do people think that's a reasonable wear rate? Would the fact that I drive for at least a third of the year on Scottish roads liberally sprinkled with corrosive materials be a factor in increasing wear?

tonyh66

depends on your driving style, but yes 50,000 is good for a set of brake pads, discs were probably badly scored and needed doing.

Logie143

That's really impressive, you would expect to have your brakes changed much before that. discs and pads can be anywhere from 12,000 miles ish depending on your driving style.

colino

Depends mainly on driver. My ex had a driving style that treated the accelerator and brake pedals as switches, either fully on or fully off. Front pads lasted around 6000 miles on average. Any normal driver will get anything from 25,000 miles+ from pads, and double that for the discs.

Tilt

Agree with the above.

I often follow drivers who's brake lights on constantly on while going down the slightest of hills while I seem to be able to avoid braking once. So I would imagine that they have to change their pads a lot more often than I do.

EssexExile

Pads are consumables but I've never changed discs. I usually keep my cars for about 10 years.

Logie143

Discs are also consumables. they can suffer badly from corrosion and wear depending on the conditions. Although with sensible driving you shouldn't have to replace discs that frequently.

ratrace

Also the brand of the disc and pads is important brands like Mintex, Pagid are pretty good and last a while, also stop the car fairly quickly

bod1467

I've had my car from new (June 2012 - VW Golf 2.0TDi Bluemotion 140 PS) and have done just shy of 32k miles. It's still on the original brake pads etc. I imagine they'll be replaced at the next service.

agrinnall

Thanks to everyone who has replied, sounds like my braking style may be OK and that the rate of wear was on the good side. The disks had just gone below the minimum thickness but the pads still had a little life left in them, although I replaced them anyway. I had expected that the pads would wear out well before the disks, I don't think I've replaced disks on any car I've had for at least 15 years, but I've certainly had new pads on the ones that I've done higher miles in.

Wh05apk

Pads and disc wear seems far higher than it used to be, my current car is a 2 ton auto 4x4 so you would have thought would be heavy on brakes, but my pads have done 60k+, and still on original discs at 110k, recently serviced, and no need for replacement, wear is really down to driving style, I plan well ahead and anticipate hazards, as a result, I also tend to get close to manufacturers combined mpg figures, despite a "swift" driving style..