As a core component of the brake system, the replacement cycle of car brake pads is not a fixed and unified value, but is affected by multiple factors such as vehicle type, usage environment, driving habits, and car brake pad material. Reasonable judgment of the replacement cycle is not only related to driving safety, but also affects maintenance costs. The following analyzes the key factors affecting the replacement cycle of car brake pads from seven dimensions.
Driving habits are one of the most direct factors affecting the life of car brake pads. Frequent starting and stopping, sudden braking on urban roads, or relying on brakes to control vehicle speed when continuously downhill on mountain roads will cause the friction frequency and intensity between car brake pads and brake discs to increase significantly. For example, operating vehicles such as taxis and online ride-hailing vehicles may have a replacement cycle of car brake pads as short as 20,000-30,000 kilometers due to their long daily mileage and high number of braking times, while vehicles that mainly travel long distances and high speeds (such as long-distance buses) have a low braking frequency, and the cycle can be extended to 80,000-100,000 kilometers. In addition, drivers with "heavy feet" are used to deep braking, which is more likely to accelerate the wear of car brake pads than those with "light feet", and the inspection cycle needs to be shortened.
The type and load of the vehicle directly determine the working intensity of the braking system. Heavy trucks, SUVs and other models require greater friction when braking due to their large body weight, and the car brake pads usually wear faster than cars. Taking common models as an example, the replacement cycle of car brake pads for ordinary family cars is mostly 40,000-60,000 kilometers, while trucks with a load of more than 10 tons may only need to be replaced after 10,000-20,000 kilometers. In addition, if the modified vehicle has increased power or replaced with larger tires, the requirements for car brake pads during braking will be higher, which will also shorten its service life.
Low cost, strong wear resistance, but poor heat dissipation, suitable for economical vehicles, the replacement cycle is mostly 30,000-50,000 kilometers;
The metal content is reduced, and more non-metallic materials are added to balance heat dissipation and wear resistance, with a cycle of about 40,000-60,000 kilometers;
Quiet, excellent heat dissipation, but low wear resistance index, commonly used in high-end models, with a cycle of about 50,000-80,000 kilometers;
Track-level material, extremely high temperature resistance, but wears faster in daily use (due to low friction coefficient at room temperature), and the cycle of civil scenes varies greatly (needs to be combined with specific usage intensity).
Road conditions have a significant impact on the loss of car brake pads. Vehicles that have been driving on congested roads for a long time, due to frequent low-speed braking, car brake pads are always in a "semi-friction" state, which is easy to cause surface hardening or abnormal wear; while on mountainous and plateau roads, vehicles need to use brakes continuously to control the downhill speed, and high temperatures will accelerate the thermal degradation of car brake pads materials, and even cause thermal decay (decreased braking performance). In addition, if vehicles are parked for a long time in humid and rainy areas, the car brake pads and brake discs are prone to rust and adhere, and the forced braking when driving again will also aggravate the wear.
The design level of the vehicle's braking system directly affects the working environment of the car brake pads. For example, ventilated disc brakes have higher heat dissipation efficiency than solid disc brakes, which can effectively reduce the temperature of car brake pads during high-intensity braking and delay material aging; ceramic-coated brake discs equipped with some high-end models can reduce the friction coefficient with car brake pads and indirectly extend the latter's life. On the contrary, a brake system with a simple design or poor heat dissipation may keep the car brake pads in a high temperature state for a long time, resulting in a 10%-20% shortening of the replacement cycle.
Regular maintenance is an important means to extend the life of car brake pads. For example, the deterioration of brake oil will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of brake force transmission, making the car brake pads bear greater pressure; insufficient lubrication of the brake caliper guide pin may cause eccentric wear of the car brake pads (severe wear on one side). In addition, if the electronic parking system (EPB) of some models has program abnormalities, it may slightly apply brakes during driving, resulting in hidden wear of the car brake pads. Therefore, checking the brake system every 10,000 kilometers (such as measuring the thickness of the car brake pads and cleaning the calipers) can timely detect early wear problems and avoid losing the big picture due to small things.
The impact of extreme climate on car brake pads cannot be ignored. In high temperature environments (such as areas with continuous high temperatures in summer), the resin in the car brake pad material is easy to soften, resulting in reduced friction performance and increased wear; while frequent alternations of hot and cold in cold areas may cause microcracks in the car brake pads, affecting the structural strength. In addition, the salt in the air in coastal areas and the acidic substances in industrial pollution areas will adhere to the surface of the car brake pads through brake dust, causing chemical corrosion, especially for metal-based car brake pads.
The replacement cycle of car brake pads is a "variable" rather than a "fixed value", which requires regular inspection (such as replacement when the thickness is less than 3mm) and dynamic judgment combined with the vehicle's usage characteristics. For ordinary car owners, it is recommended to observe signs of wear on the car brake pads every 5,000 kilometers and conduct professional inspections every 20,000 kilometers to avoid scrapping of the brake disc or even brake failure due to excessive wear. At the same time, choosing car brake pads materials that are suitable for the vehicle model, maintaining good driving habits, and paying attention to the maintenance of the brake system can maximize its performance and life while ensuring safety.
