Car brake pads: cost and service life

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Brake pads ensure that you feel safe on the road. When you press down on the brake pedal, they press against the brake disc and thus bring the vehicle to a stop. Car brake pads: find out about the cost and service life of these important components here.

Your car manufacturer generally specifies the time at which your brake pads must be replaced. You generally work on the basis of a replacement interval of between 30,000 and 100,000 kilometres.  The service life is determined both by the quality of the pads and the driving style of the vehicle owner.

But how can you get the longest possible service life out of your pads? These 3 tips will help keep your brake pads in good working order for the longest possible time.

  1. Rust on the brake disc is your brake pads’ worst enemy. It is therefore important that you clean any corrosion off the discs. This is a very simple process: Accelerate to around 80 km/h on an empty country rood and then brake more heavily than usual. There is no need for an emergency stop. This strong braking will release the rust from the discs after no more than three attempts – and your brake pads will last longer.
  2. It is not just the components that determine the service life, but also the vehicle owner’s driving style. If you tend to brake more abruptly, over time this can increase the wear on the pads.  However, with a moderate driving style there should be no major impact on the brake pads.
  3. The brake fluid should be replaced every 2 years. The reason: With time, the brake fluid absorbs humidity from the air. The result: when the brakes are under heavy strain (e.g. on a downhill) the water trapped in the brake fluid can begin to heat up on account of the friction. This can significantly reduce the braking effect, or the brakes may even fail completely.

How much will new brake pads cost me?

In and of themselves, the brake pads are not a big expense. They can already be found online for fewer than 50 Swiss Francs. You can search for the suitable brake pads by entering your vehicle model here.

However, if you are not an expert, it is recommended that you have this work performed by a specialist. This will of course incur additional costs for the work carried out. However, the price is low compared to the value of your precious life.

Do you know anyone who should urgently check their brake pads? Then share this article with them!

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