Should Front and Rear Brake Pads Be Replaced Together or Separately?
1 Answers
Front and rear brake pads do not need to be replaced together, as they have different replacement cycles. Compared to front brake pads, rear brake pads have a longer service life. Under normal driving conditions, front brake pads typically need replacement after approximately 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers, while rear brake pads can last around 60,000 to 100,000 kilometers before requiring replacement. Below is relevant information about brake pads: 1. Replacement Timing: There is no fixed time for replacing brake pads; the aforementioned figures are only relative. The replacement cycle of brake pads is not only directly related to their service life but also depends on the vehicle's driving conditions and the driver's habits. New brake pads are about 1.5 centimeters thick and should be replaced promptly when worn down to one-third of their original thickness, or about 5 millimeters. When replacing brake pads, both pads on the same axle should be replaced together to ensure balanced braking performance on both sides. 2. Materials: Brake pads are currently made from materials such as asbestos, high-carbon fiber, semi-metallic, ceramic, etc. Among these, asbestos brake pads have been phased out. The most common materials today are semi-metallic and ceramic. Semi-metallic pads are more affordable and widely used in household vehicles. Comparatively, ceramic pads outperform metallic ones, offering better wear resistance, high-temperature resistance, thermal stability, faster heat dissipation, and higher friction coefficient. However, they are also more expensive and commonly used in mid-to-high-end vehicle models.
