When you figure out you need to buy new brakes, one of the biggest things you have to worry about is how much it’s going to cost. If you don’t know how to change them yourself, you have to worry about the cost of labor, as well as parts.

So how much does it cost to buy new brakes, and how do you do it? New brakes can be purchased through auto parts vendors and can either be installed by an automotive repair facility or can be repaired by the driver themselves. The cost of a brake job varies greatly depending on whether it’s done at home or at a shop, but the average brake job runs between $100 and $300 per axle.

Buying new brakes and installing them yourself can save you a significant amount of money in labor, but it’s not something to be undertaken unless you know what you’re doing. Read on to find out more about when you need to buy new brakes and how to get it taken care of if you’re losing brake performance.

How to Know if You Need New Brakes

Before deciding to buy new brakes, the first thing to be determined is whether new brakes are even necessary. Getting brakes replaced can be inconvenient since it involves your car being off the road until the brake job is completed. That’s why it’s important that you maintain a balance between replacing your brakes too often and wasting money or replacing them too late and damaging your vehicle.

How Long do Brakes Last?

One of the issues with replacing brakes on a car is that there is really no clear-cut timeline for how often brake pads should be replaced. A person who drives a few thousand miles in stop-and-go commuter traffic where they are using their brakes constantly will wear their brakes out more quickly than someone who drives more miles, but all on open highway with little braking.

The best way to figure out how much longer you have on your brakes is to have your brakes regularly inspected whenever you get your oil changed or do other minor vehicle maintenance. A car mechanic can tell you by looking at the brake pad how much time it has left on it. So, if you get your oil changed at an auto shop, having them inspect the brakes at the same time is a good idea.

Another way to tell when you’re getting close to needing brake pads is by the “squealers,” or metallic shim indicators that are built into the brake pad. These cause the pad to start squealing and squeaking approximately a thousand miles before your brake pads really need replacing. You’ll be able to hear this symptom driving down the road every time you go to press down on the brakes.

This noise is to give drivers a heads-up that their brakes are going and that they need to arrange for replacement before any more serious damage is done to the rotors or calipers. It is important to address your brake issue before a squealing noise turns into a grinding one, however.

Signs That Brakes Need Replacing

If you haven’t had your brakes inspected recently, there are a few ways you can tell while driving down the road, whether you’re going to need to look at replacing your brake pads soon or not. Here are some of the signs you can look for when driving to determine when buying new brakes is about to move from a good idea to a necessary one:

There is less than a quarter-inch of brake pad left. You can check this by visually inspecting the brake pad to see how much thickness it still has.
You hear metallic grinding, rumbling, or growling noises when you brake. This is a potential sign that your brake problems have moved from the pads to the calipers. This can be caused by not replacing your brake pads often enough, or it can be caused by your rotors or calipers becoming bent out of shape due to collision damage or other issues.
Your brakes begin pulling to one side or the other or lock up when you begin to brake. This can be a sign that the calipers or rotors are not performing correctly or are having to over-correct for the loss of brake pad contact.
You have a brake light on in your dashboard. Some newer models of cars have brake lights that tell you when you need to do a routine maintenance brake pad replacement to help remind you, but most older models will at least throw up a brake light in the dash if you have damaged your brake system by riding around on bad brake pads.
There is loss of braking performance when going into a brake, or the car “shimmies” or shudders with a strong vibration when braking. Again, this can be a sign that the car is no longer safe to drive and that brake damage has progressed from the brake pads into the calipers or rotors, so a brake problem like this needs to be addressed by a mechanic immediately.

Half of these symptoms usually only occur after some damage has already been inflicted on the braking system that involves replacing more than just brake pads. That’s the main reason why divers should get their brake system checked whether they’re hearing and feeling braking malfunctions or not.

While the cost of a brake job is variable, a major factor in how much you’re going to spend depends on how quickly you catch a brake problem before it starts involving parts of the braking system other than the brake pads.

Why Brake Maintenance Is Important

Buying new brake pads is an extremely important part of car maintenance, because it is an aspect of car maintenance that impacts safety.

Not replacing your cabin air filter when it needs replacing might mean the quality of the air in your car isn’t as good, but it won’t kill you. Having your brakes go out while you’re driving (or fail at an inopportune moment) can be deadly not just for you as the driver, but also for anyone in the way of your runaway vehicle.

Driving around on bad brakes is also a serious legal liability since it constitutes neglect. If you get into a wreck and it comes out that loss of braking performance was the cause, the driver can be liable for not just any damages that occur as a result, but also for any loss of limb or life.

Why Are Some New Brakes More Expensive Than Others?

If you go shopping for new brake pads, you’ll quickly realize that there are several different tiers of pricing for brake pads based on what type of materials they’re constructed out of. Here are three basic categories of the different brake pads you’ll see for sale when searching for new ones:

Organic
Semi-metallic
Ceramic

The major difference in these brake pads is in how much brake dust they throw off, and how durable they are. Organic brake pads tend to throw off more brake dust than either semi-metallic or ceramic brakes and don’t last as long, but they’re more economical and a good option for light daily driving.

Ceramic brake pads are designed primarily for high-performance vehicles that are required to brake at high speeds often, such as race cars. Metallic brake pads are the brake pads found conventionally on most commuter vehicles.

Semi-metallic is a metallic brake pad with ceramic materials integrated, so while semi-metallic brakes are typically a bit more expensive than metallic brakes, these mid-range brake pads can offer some of the benefits of high-durability ceramic brake pads at a lower price.

That means semi-metallic may be a better choice for those drivers who are forced to drive in more strenuous braking circumstances, such as in mountainous terrain or stop-and-go traffic. These brakes will typically last much longer than metallic brakes under the same circumstances.

Where to Buy New Brakes

When it comes to buying new brakes, you have a couple of options where you can source your parts. Here are some of the places you can buy new brakes:

At an auto parts store (brick and mortar)
Online markets
Car dealership
At an auto repair shop (the shop will purchase and source the parts)

If you are replacing your own brake pads at home, your best bet for purchasing pads will be at a parts supply store or an online market.

These options are the most cost-effective, though with online markets you’ll have to wait for your brake pads to be delivered (and will have to pay shipping) whereas with auto supply shops like O’Reilly or AutoZone you can usually just walk in and purchase brake pads right off the shelf.

If you are getting your brakes replaced at a dealership or an auto repair shop, in all likelihood, you’ll need to just let the dealer or the shop source their own parts.

While you’ll end up paying a mark-up on getting parts this way, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that the parts ordered are correct and under warranty. Many shops will not give you a warranty if you source your own parts, even if they’ll allow you to supply them for the repair.

DIY Brake Jobs vs. Using a Mechanic

If you have a few tools and you’re the least bit handy, it can be a good idea to learn how to replace your own brake pads. Not only does this give people a sense of self-reliance and teaches them about how their vehicles work, it also can save you a lot of money.

However, replacing the brakes on your car is a repair job that should only be done if you’re absolutely sure you know what you’re doing. Those who aren’t confident in their mechanical skills should refer the job to a professional automotive technician. These are people who train for years to diagnose and repair vehicle issues. Knowing a good mechanic is vital for maintaining your car before repairs become an emergency.

While it can be costly to get a mechanic involved in the repair of your car, there’s a reason that mechanics are expensive. Cars are intricate machines, and it is easy to accidentally damage them in the course of trying to fix them.

Since a botched brake job on a car can be both expensive and dangerous, amateurs shouldn’t attempt to fix their own brakes unless it’s under the watchful eye of a more experienced mechanic. A do-it-yourself brake job is not the cheaper option if you end up losing brake performance and crashing your car afterward.

Are Brake Pads Sold in Pairs?

New brake pads are typically sold in pairs for either the front or the rear of the car. The pads on either the front or rear of a vehicle should wear evenly unless there are issues with alignment or a problem with the brake caliper or brake rotor.

Because the wear is usually even, this means when people replace a front brake pad on the left wheel of their car, they’ll usually replace the one on the front right too. In many cases, people will replace all brake pads on the car at once if they can afford it, as this helps keep wear more even.

This is the most cost-effective way to get new brakes since if you waited and had the brake pads replaced separately, you would end up paying double the labor to have the work done. Brake jobs are usually a standard price that includes the replacement for brake pads on two axles.

Brake Calipers and Brake Rotors

Brake calipers and brake rotors can either be sold in pairs or as a single unit. This is because sometimes if the brakes are bad on a car the caliper on one side can become bent, while the other side is still useable. Occasionally, a caliper can be bent back into proper shape with automotive tools rather than replaced, or a rotor can be resurfaced.

Rotors and calipers are less likely to be replaced as a pair than brake pads because it takes more effort to damage them, and they’re more expensive to replace. But new brake pads will almost always come as a set.

What Comes in a Box of Brake Pads?

A box of brake pads typically comes with four pieces (two pads for each wheel). It’ll include other accessories such as fitting shims to seat the brake pads more securely, wear sensors that hook into the vehicle’s digital system to indicate when the brake pads require replacement, or lubricants to help prevent excess brake dust or brake noise during the breaking-in process.

If a car’s maintenance is performed regularly on the braking system, these are the only parts that should typically need to be replaced in the car’s lifetime. Calipers and rotors can potentially last for hundreds of thousands of miles, with one caveat—the brake pads must be religiously replaced on time to avoid damage to these other components.

If you’re replacing your own brake pads, this kit is enough to get you started. But keep in mind that if you’re putting new brakes on yourself, you’ll also need the following equipment in addition to the brake pads themselves:

A jack
Jack stands
Protective gloves
Lug wrench
Adjustable wrench
C-clamp
Turkey baster
Bungee cord
Brake fluid

Once you have your brake pads and the above tools, you’re ready to take on a new brake job yourself.

How to Replace Your Brakes Less Often

A major factor that goes into how much it costs and how often you have to get new brakes is your braking performance. Individual drivers use their brakes very differently, and those who go easy on the brakes find themselves replacing them far less often than those who ride their brakes.

Brake at a lower speed. Braking at high speeds is the number one contributor to increased brake pad wear, causing brake pads to wear down much more quickly than those who were used at lower speeds. Let your foot off the accelerator and glide up to stops rather than slamming on your brakes at the last minute.
Don’t have your foot on the accelerator and the brakes at once, or rapidly go back and forth between the two extremes. This improper method of driving is called two-footing and causes your brake pads to wear down faster. Try to maintain a consistent speed as much as possible on the road.
Don’t leave heavy stuff in your car. If you have a bad habit of leaving heavy items in your car or loading it down with possessions, this can cause brakes to wear more quickly in a stop to compensate for the added weight. Heavy stereo equipment and other aftermarket accessories can also add to a car’s overall weight and wear brakes faster.
Keep your brake lines bled and flushed. This process should be undertaken approximately once every two years in order to maintain the car’s braking system. This maintenance job is done to prevent any kind of corrosion or internal damage caused by moisture building up in the system over time.
Buy high-quality brake pads. Ceramic pads might cost you a bit more during the course of a brake job, but if you have a heavy braking foot or tend to put your car under a heavy load performance-wise, these pads can often go 75,000 miles or more in comparison to the much shorter lifespans of either organic or semi-metallic brakes.

Since it makes a huge difference how long your brakes last depending on how you ride on them, it’s worth it to make an effort to “baby” your brakes and do more coasting when you’re behind the wheel in order to make your new brake pads last longer.

How to Find a Good Mechanic for a Brake Job

If you’ve determined that you need new brakes, it can be intimidating to try and find a car repair shop if you don’t have a regular place that you go when your cars need maintenance. After all, many small shops have a bad reputation of trying to take advantage of drivers who don’t know anything about how their car works in order to make more money off of their ignorance.

Here are a few tips you can use to find a reputable car mechanic to put new brakes on your car if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself:

Check for a warranty up front. Any reputable shop will have a warranty for their work on labor. Most will also provide a parts warranty as long as the parts aren’t being supplied by the owner of the car. Make sure that the work is warrantied before you agree to have any repairs done.
Get a cost estimate over the phone before coming in. Many shops can estimate the cost of a brake pad replacement without having to actually look at the vehicle by going on its year, make, and model. This is a good way to do some comparison shopping between repair shops and get the best deal on your new brakes.
Ask to see the old parts. If you’re told that a part is broken or damaged, ask the mechanic to allow you to see the damaged part before agreeing to replace it. Most reputable mechanics will have no problem either escorting an owner back to see their car on the lift or bring the old part to the owner to inspect or keep prior to replacing it.
Check for customer reviews. Almost all auto repair shops (even small mom and pop places) have an online presence now. Through Google or Yelp, you should be able to see reviews from other customers to make sure that the shop has a good reputation for being affordable and fair with their customers.
Ask someone for a recommendation. Many people (especially older generations) have been using the same mechanic for years and can give you a good referral for a local mechanic that can help you out. Name-dropping the person who referred you can even lead to preferential treatment or “friends and family” type discounts depending on how close that person is with the repair shop.

Most cities will have dozens of auto repair shops available for you to browse and see where you can find the best deal or the shop with the best reputation. Thanks to the Internet, making comparisons between shops on either qualifier can be done from the comfort of your home.

Barring a smaller shop, you also have the option to have your car repaired at a dealership for your make of car. The downside to having repairs done at a dealership is that their labor rates tend to be the most expensive out of any repair shop available.

The upside to having repairs done at a dealership is that they are usually more knowledgeable about your particular model of vehicle. This can be useful if you drive a model of car that is more uncommon or complicated to work on.

How Long Does It Take to Break in New Brakes?

It takes roughly a hundred miles for new brakes to get broken in, so it’s important during this time period that the driver avoids emergency stops or other hard braking maneuvers. Braking too hot and too fast during this transitional period can cause the brakes to become glazed by the heated rotors and calipers. This makes them both louder and less effective than if the brakes were broken incorrectly.

A good rule of thumb is to perform thirty stops at less than thirty miles an hour with thirty seconds between each braking operation. This process helps the resins in the brake pads to cure more quickly and prevents the new brake pads from glazing over due to overheating.

There are anti-squealing brake treatments that can be sprayed on brakes to reduce their noise temporarily, but these chemicals should not be used on new brakes that are squealing a bit during the break-in process.

Excess noise after a new brake job can be prevented by making sure that the brake rotors are resurfaced when the brake pads are replaced, and by making sure the brake system is well lubricated during a brake pad job.

Buying New Brakes Doesn’t Have to Be a Hassle

If you don’t know much about your car past what it takes to start it up and get going in the morning, you might find the prospect of a brake job daunting. However, it’s important not to be put off and postpone a brake job, or you might end up doing much more expensive damage to the braking system in the meantime.

The best option to prevent brake problems is to keep on top of your brakes through regular routine maintenance and get new brake pads when you need to, and not after your squealing brakes have turned into grinding ones.

How to Buy New Brakes and How Much It Will Cost