Your car or truck’s braking system requires periodic maintenance just like any other system in an automobile. If you have been driving your vehicle for a while you may have begun to notice a pattern when it comes to brake wear. Generally, the front brakes wear out faster than the rear. But why exactly is this the case?
On many modern cars, the rear brakes wear out faster than the front brakes. This is an engineered feature, meant to enhance handling of the car. Front brakes will absorb most of the energy when stopping. Because of this the front pads are built more robustly than pads that go on the back wheels.
This feature of modern cars is meant as both a safety feature as well as a means of increasing the comfort of the ride. Continue reading below to find out more of the specifics of how rear brakes work like this, as well as some helpful insight into the lifespan and replacement timeframe of your vehicle’s brake components.
Do Front or Rear Brakes Work More?
As you use up multiple sets of brakes throughout the life of your car, you will most likely notice that the front and back do not wear at an even rate. Because of the fact that the rear brakes wear out faster than the front ones, we might question whether maybe one set of brakes does more work than the other?
The rear brakes of your car do not work better or more than your front brakes. ABS, stability control, and other electronic features apply brakes differently to your wheels depending on speed and conditions. The rear brakes are designed to grab harder to keep the front of the car from diving.
Understanding why the rear brakes may wear out faster on your vehicle, We should also consider what the expected longevity of your rear brakes should be. You will need to replace your brake pads several times if you have your vehicle for a reasonable amount of time, but how often is this due?
How Long Should Rear Brake Pads Last?
The life of your brake pads will depend on several factors. These include,
- The quality and type of your brake pads.
- Your habits behind the wheel.
- What kind of conditions and environment you drive in.
But all these factors accounted for, what can the typical driver expect for a timeframe when it comes to the life of their brake pads, and how long should the rear brake pads last?
For the average driver, in the average vehicle, brake pads will likely be replaced within the 50k-70k. This applies to both front and rear brake pads, and it is important to remember that depending on your driving habits, road conditions and how aggressively you brake, it could be as soon as 20k.
Some drivers opt to replace all of their brake pads at the same time as soon as any of them are wearing down. If you are the kind of person that only likes replacing things when they are an absolute necessity and you find that your brakes are wearing unevenly in the front and the back, you will find the next section especially helpful.
Should You Replace Front and Rear Brakes at The Same Time?
This 50K-70k range of mileage is not specific to the front or back set of pads. So if the wear seems to be less severe on one set of pads compared to the other, can the brakes be replaced separately or should all the pads be replaced at the same time?
It is not necessary to replace all 8 brake pads at the same time if only one set is worn out. However, you absolutely should replace either the whole front or whole rear set as a matter of safety. When buying new pads they come in packs of four for this reason.
Replacing brake pads is affordable enough with average costs for economy cars ranging about $150 per two wheels or one axle. Being able to potentially replace one set at a time could make this even more affordable.
Staying Safe on The Road
Whether it is your front brakes, rear brakes, or all your brakes at once, your brake pads will inevitably wear down. When this happens it will be crucial that you recognize this fact and take action quickly. The most important part of driving is to be able to stop before you can go.
