How many miles before new brake pads?

Have a look at them, see how much is left? You can even just about do this without even taking the wheels off.

For a data point, we're around 80K kms (50K miles) on our 2010, and extrapolating from the last inspection I did, I'd guesstimate with our fronts we've got around 6 mm left. New they're around 10, and I'd never want to go below 2, so I'd say for us at least, 100K miles. This is mostly around town, stop-and-go.

Rears are similar wear rate I'd say. Their wear-rate is a little up-in-the-air, since I messed up on the first inspection, and ended up replacing the pads early.

You do know: Toyota USA recommends a full brake inspection, tri-yearly or 30K miles, whichever comes first?

 

121,692

 

220k and counting

 

Given the nature of what an "average" really IS, even if you could find that figure it would be useless to any one individual.

It depends mostly on how the vehicle is driven.
A quick pad inspection is easy when the tires are off for rotation.......and given the age/mileage of yours, I think that inspection should be done at every rotation.
You DO rotate the tires.......right ??

 

I'm with Sam here; the answer to "how long will the pads last" is "longer if you regularly inspect".

The inspection doesn't have to be a big deal. I flip all four calipers up when I'm rotating tires, and shove the slide pins in and out to get the grease loosened. (Some people regularly remove the pins and regrease them; I have the grease, and I'll do that if they ever feel like they need it, but so far they've stayed perfectly greasy-feeling as long as they get pushed in and out now and then.) I check for no damage to any of the rubber boots, and that the ears of the pads move smoothly in the support bracket.

The little springy bits that support the ears of the pads are separately replaceable, called the "fitting kit" for about 15 bucks. When they're new they have a dry, Teflon-like slippery coating, which eventually wears off and they rust. So far at about 14x,000 those are the only brake parts I've replaced.

I do write down the pad thickness each time, so if I wanted I could make a plot and predict where they'll hit the minimum. I haven't so far, just eyeballed and said "won't happen by my next inspection".

The benefit of the regular inspection is if you aren't doing it, you can miss any little problem that crops up and makes a brake drag, and then suddenly you'll have pads worn out way before you were expecting.

There's an even easier (no disassembly of anything!) check for incipient brake drag you can routinely make, if there's a lightly-traveled road near you with a big-enough parking lot 15 minutes or so away.

 

195,000 miles and counting.

 

I'm at the dealer now, 171k miles, pads are only at 50%.

 

'Forever' if you rely primarily on regenerative braking. But do remember to grease the caliper sliders and flush the brake fluid on schedule.

 

Just cleaned and grease the sliders on mine at 220k.
Ensure sure proper break release from rotor will make breaks go long time.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Just don't fall into the trap of thinking there's nothing to look at but the slide pins.

 

Toyota USA makes no mention of brake fluid change. FWIW, Toyota Canada says tri-yearly or 48K kms, roughly 30K miles.

 

The fluid is a different story m8. Break fluid exorb moisture from atmosphere rusting out the break lines. Not much about break pad wear there. The changing of fluid really has nothing to do with miles since driving has nothing to do with how often break fluid exorbs moisture. Dryer places you may never need changing. Tropical places fluid should be changed more often then suggested.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Now the rubber break lines may need changing when the car pulls to one side when breaking. This is a sign the inner rubber has deteriorated and is restricting fluid passage. This happens to all cars.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

But I was pointing out something that had no obvious signs. Thanks for playing

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Wait a sec, you're arguing with yourself?

Good info btw.

 

The fluid takeing on water has nothing to do with break pad wear.
It has everything to do with proper pressure being put on pad to break And how stiff the break peddle is when break pads are engaged thus not a part of how long pads will last.
Makeing sure the pads are not getting stuck against rotor wearing themselves out has everything to do with break pad wear.


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

But if all things are in good condition it would all depend on how heavy ones foot is on both peddles.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I had a recent test result very similar to one reported by hobbit some years ago, both indicating this happens in the Prius surprisingly slowly.

Test by hobbit at 110,xxx miles:



Test by me at 145,xxx miles:

 

There is little doubt that your car will be unsafe if you do break one of the brake lines. Even on ebay, trying to peddle your brake pedal is unlikely to bring much satisfaction. I try to absorb all I can from the internet, but trying to sell car parts for a profit might require exorb(itant) pricing.