Do I Need to Replace Both Front and Rear Brake Pads?
2 Answers
Front and rear brake pads do not need to be replaced together. Here are the specific details about brake pads: 1. In terms of replacement cycles, rear brake pads have a longer service life. Front brake pads need to be replaced every 30,000-50,000 kilometers, while rear brake pads can last for about 60,000-100,000 kilometers before replacement. 2. New brake pads are approximately 1.5 centimeters thick. If they wear down to only one-third of their original thickness, which is about 5 millimeters, they should be replaced promptly. When replacing brake pads, both pads on the same axle should be replaced together to ensure balanced braking performance on both sides. 3. The most common brake pad materials currently are semi-metallic and ceramic. Semi-metallic pads are commonly used in household vehicles, while ceramic pads are generally better—more wear-resistant, heat-resistant, with better thermal stability, faster heat dissipation, and higher friction coefficients. Ceramic pads are more often used in mid-to-high-end vehicle models.
Last time I went for maintenance, I specifically asked the master technician, and he said that the front brake pads wear out two to three times faster than the rear ones. This is because during braking, the weight shifts forward, and the front wheels bear the majority of the braking force. From my experience, you need to replace the front pads twice before replacing the rear pads once. Normally, just pay attention to the friction sound when braking—once you hear a metallic sound, it means it's time to replace them. The rear pads aren’t as urgent; you can wait until they’re down to about 3mm in thickness. A money-saving tip is to choose reliable ceramic pads from reputable brands, which last 30% longer than regular pads. A full set replacement costs around 400 yuan, which is even more cost-effective than replacing just the front pads at a 4S shop.
