How often do you change your brake pads?

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yelnatsch517
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I've had my '95 240sx for about 4yrs and have driven it for close to 40k miles and have had to change my pads 4 times already and the rotors once.

I could have sworn brake pads usually last a lot longer than 10k miles average.


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Jesda
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On average, I'd say every 15k, but the Q45 is quite heavy.

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nsrZ32
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They sure should last longer than that! On a street car atleast

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PoorManQ45
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Whenever I go into Autozone.

HEHE. Lifetime Warranty Brake pads and rotors FTW!

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brisknfade
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PoorManQ45 wrote:Whenever I go into Autozone.

HEHE. Lifetime Warranty Brake pads and rotors FTW!


Although my brake pads were the 2 year warranty ones.

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NSR_s30
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Brakes don't need to be changed...just let the caliper grab into the rotor after the pad has wasted away.

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bt2s14
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When they start to squeak.

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Oatmealman
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Thats not nessecairly true,i've had brake pads that had another 8k miles or so on them,but they squeaked from a build up of brake dust

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ddgsxr504
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NSR_S13 wrote:Brakes don't need to be changed...just let the caliper grab into the rotor after the pad has wasted away.


My brake pads usually last about 2 years before the wear indicator starts to squeak. At that point I usually replace just the pads. On severe occasions I will turn the rotors.

I take the pads off every 6 months and hit them up with 320 grit sand paper to clean the pads. I have cross-drill/slotted rotors so all I do is clean the slots out and scuff the rotors since you can't turn them.


sanioll
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About a year. Change pads and rotors everytime. Autozone rotors $25 each, brake pads $50.

total $100 vs. $250 [taking to a mechanic which only includes changing brake pads, not even resurfacing.]

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yelnatsch517
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sanioll wrote:About a year. Change pads and rotors everytime. Autozone rotors $25 each, brake pads $50.

total $100 vs. $250 [taking to a mechanic which only includes changing brake pads, not even resurfacing.]
Autozone rotors are only $25?!? Anyhow, I just thought it was weird to have to change the brake pads so often. If it is normal, I guess it can't be helped. Now the question is, are there certain brand pads that last longer or work better for my car? The mechanic put on some pads from Wagner... Together with the oil change, the total cost came to $103.

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Jesda
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yelnatsch517 wrote:Autozone rotors are only $25?
And terrible. I have a new pair sitting on my shelf if anyone wants them. They caused some terrible 55-65mph vibration.

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Bubba1
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yelnatsch517 wrote:I've had my '95 240sx for about 4yrs and have driven it for close to 40k miles and have had to change my pads 4 times already and the rotors once.

I could have sworn brake pads usually last a lot longer than 10k miles average.
It's dificult to say how long your pads should last without describing how you drive it or the type of pads you're using. But replacing it that often implies some rather hard use. Is that true?


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positron1
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ddgsxr504 wrote:


My brake pads usually last about 2 years before the wear indicator starts to squeak. At that point I usually replace just the pads. On severe occasions I will turn the rotors.

I take the pads off every 6 months and hit them up with 320 grit sand paper to clean the pads. I have cross-drill/slotted rotors so all I do is clean the slots out and scuff the rotors since you can't turn them.
So you can't turn drilled/slotted rotors? I've been in dispute with someone over this question.

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NSR_s30
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ddgsxr504 wrote:


My brake pads usually last about 2 years before the wear indicator starts to squeak. At that point I usually replace just the pads. On severe occasions I will turn the rotors.

I take the pads off every 6 months and hit them up with 320 grit sand paper to clean the pads. I have cross-drill/slotted rotors so all I do is clean the slots out and scuff the rotors since you can't turn them.
You laugh but its definitely true. Had a lady come in a couple weeks ago saying her brakes just stopped working that day. Came to find out that the pads somehow weren't there anymore and the the caliper was maxed out and grabbing into the rotor.....Had to use the e-brake to stop it.

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bobotech
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yelnatsch517 wrote:I've had my '95 240sx for about 4yrs and have driven it for close to 40k miles and have had to change my pads 4 times already and the rotors once.

I could have sworn brake pads usually last a lot longer than 10k miles average.
EVERY OIL CHANGE!!! ITS REQUIRED BY MANUFACTURER!


R6_240sx
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Don't get the lifetime warranty brake pads at autozone, they're a piece of sh*t ruined my rotors and leave horrid, HORRID brake dust.

Autozone brakes =

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PoorManQ45
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R6_240sx wrote:Don't get the lifetime warranty brake pads at autozone, they're a piece of sh*t ruined my rotors and leave horrid, HORRID brake dust.

Autozone brakes =
LOL.

That's why you get lifetime warranty rotors too!

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otterman
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sanioll wrote:total $100 vs. $250 [taking to a mechanic which only includes changing brake pads, not even resurfacing.]
If a mechanic charged me $250 for changing brake pads I would take the pads out then slap him across the face with them.

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GrilledCheese33
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^

brake jobs are the easiest

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yelnatsch517
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Bubba1 wrote:It's dificult to say how long your pads should last without describing how you drive it or the type of pads you're using. But replacing it that often implies some rather hard use. Is that true?
How hard you drive usually indicates what kind of mileage you get, right? Well, I guess the best way to describe how I drive would be to say about 19-21mpg.

scotttak
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i can get centric rotors for about 10 bucks each. pads cost about 25 bucks per set for oem sumitomos.

R6_240sx
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PoorManQ45 wrote:LOL.

That's why you get lifetime warranty rotors too!
Jesda wrote:And terrible. I have a new pair sitting on my shelf if anyone wants them. They caused some terrible 55-65mph vibration.
Nah I'd rather not.

Horrid brake dust and vibration? Nah, I'd just pay for some decent brakes.

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PoorManQ45
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Don't trust jesda.

He can spin around with a wrench in his hand and he'll lose it!

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Bubba1
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yelnatsch517 wrote:
How hard you drive usually indicates what kind of mileage you get, right? Well, I guess the best way to describe how I drive would be to say about 19-21mpg.
Hmmm. I think the answer is not necessarily. For example, If you do a lot of highway driving and slam the brakes every single time you slow down, your mpg would look pretty good, yet your brakes would wear pretty quickly.

There are many factors that influence brake wear.inlcuding:

1. the type of driving you do (highway vs local)2. How aggressively you drive (tailgaters tend to wear brakes more quickly)3. how hard you use the brakes when you use them,. Do you coast or do you leave the braking to the last second. 4. If you use the transmission to help slow down (downsfhifting).5. how aggressive a pad you're using. The grabbier the pad, the faster the wear6. the condition of your rotors.7. How heavy your car is. The heavier the vehicle, the more braking effort needed to stop in the same distance.

I'm sure there are plenty more.


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ricebike
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PMQ... waitaminute...

there's a lifetime-warranty aftermarket brake rotors out thurr? i need a link, please...

the max i've seen for warranty-against-defects-from-the-manufacturer is one year Y is jesda using them as bookshelf paperweights??? biring them back for a refund!

i've got no problems w/ lifetime warranty pads; been doing that w/ pepboys in the late 90's until they wised-up soo autozone lifetimers FTW

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Mr1der
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NSR_S13 wrote:Brakes don't need to be changed...just let the caliper grab into the rotor after the pad has wasted away.
it sounds like a freakin' train trying to stop....for some reason or another...the T Bird decided to throw a pad off a caliper once...

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PoorManQ45
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ricebike wrote:PMQ... waitaminute...

there's a lifetime-warranty aftermarket brake rotors out thurr? i need a link, please...
Autozone used to have them. They may have stopped that. Lately I have been seeing the 1 and 2 year warranties. Remember that the first screen they show you isn't all the options they have. Ask them to scroll down.


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