Thread: Brake pad life, disc rotor life

You answered it in your first sentence!

It really is the proverbial "how long is a piece of string"

As an idea, my original front rotors and pads were were stuffed at around 125,000km.
Rotors undersized, pads less than 1.5mm.

Rear pads had been replaced at approx. 90,000km, original rotors weren't at minimum but had a hell of a lip.

I picked the car up with 103,000km on it, the previous driver is much kinder to equipment than I am, and to me pads and rotors are consumables

It looks like that I am up for apd and rotor replacement in about 6 years then, ok 5 years. Alright 4 years. Maybe!

I have had my rear pads last me 1500km haha

Only 1500k, why does that not surprise me.

Once I talked with my local mechanic who is our business partner too. He recommenced a general rule with pads and rotor on a 4WD "replace pads twice, replace rotor once". However, I think it will depend on the real inspection at the time you replace pads.

My stock D2 TD5 manual has had two sets of rear pads and rotors and one front pads and rotors changed since new - only genuine parts, all done by the stealers for the previous owner. First set of rears lasted about 98K and the second set lasted 95K. The front set lasted 125K. The previous owner wasn't a lead foot and I believe the vehicle was used about 50/50 country and city driving but no serious towing or hard 4WD. At least with genuine parts it doesn't look like you can get two sets of pads to one set of rotors

I'm up for front pads and rotors in the not too distant future at 230K. The rear were replaced shortly before I bought the vehicle. Why is it that the rear wear out faster than the front (at least in my experience) when the front does more of the braking? Yes, I know the pads are smaller but not by that much. Sorry to hijack the thread but thought it was relevant.

If you go on a beach with no dust shields on the back , the rear pads can last in the hundreds of Km.

Ask me how I know.
Regards PhilipA

Originally Posted by PhilipA

If you go on a beach with no dust shields on the back....

Dust shields? What sort of trickery is this? How are they used as I have never heard of these before?