Why did my rear brakes wear out first?

The one rear brake pad worn to metal contact can be from a variety of reasons. Some reasons could be a sticking brake caliper piston, dirty and sticking brake caliper slide pins or a restricted brake flex hose, to name a few.

What would cause rear brakes to wear out quickly?

But there is a reason why rear brake pads can wear faster than expected: traction control and electronic stability control. Besides (for some cars) the tire-pressure monitoring system, your ABS is linked to the ESC and traction control, Motor Trend reports.

Do rear brakes wear out first?

This means the rear brakes will often wear out before the front brakes. In vehicles with a conventional proportioning valve, the front brakes typically wear two to three times faster than the pads or shoes in the rear.

Do back brakes wear faster?

Your front brake pads will also wear down faster than your rear pads. The front of your vehicle handles a lot more weight transfer as you brake, causing more wear. Over time heat and friction also contribute to brake pad wear. Which axle your brakes are on will also influence how much wear and tear your pads sustain.

How long should rear brakes last?

Average brake life runs between 25,000 and 65,000 miles, though some people will have brake pads last beyond 80,000 miles. While it's impossible to give an exact number, the 40,000-mile range is the general mileage to keep in mind when planning for vehicle maintenance.

3 Causes of Uneven Brake Pad Wear

How much does a rear brake job cost?

You can expect that if you need rear brakes pads, your front pads are not far behind. The average rear brake pad replacement cost is between $115 and $300, this is about the same as the cost of front brake pad replacements. These materials range in quality from poor quality to premium.

What's more important front or rear brakes?

The front brake pads do most of the work, causing them to wear faster and need replacement more often. When you step on the brakes, your car lurches forward, landing squarely on the front wheels. This is where most of your car's braking power comes from.

How many miles do brakes last?

Most car brakes will last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles–between three and six years for most daily drivers–but some sets may last even longer for those who exercise good habits. Don't forget, we're talking about the brake pads.

How much should it cost to replace rear brake pads and rotors?

Expect a brake job of replacing brake pads and rotors to cost $250-$400 per axle on average. If you drive a heavy-duty pickup truck and haul or tow a lot, your costs may go up quite a built.

How long do brake rotors last?

Under normal driving conditions, rotors should last 30,000 to 70,000 miles or longer. But rotor type or design, along with city or aggressive driving (where brakes are applied harder and more often, generating excessive heat), cause rotors to wear differently.

How often are rear brakes used?

RE: How often are rear brakes used? Both front and rear brakes are used every time you depress the brake peddle. Because of the laws of physics the front brakes do as much as 70% of the stopping.

Do front or rear brakes engage first?

A lot more stability is provided by having the rear brakes engage before the front brakes. Applying the rear brakes first helps keep the car in a straight line.

Why does one side of my brake pad wear faster?

Slide Pins:

When these pins become corroded, the caliper can no longer slide. As a result, the caliper becomes stuck in one position; if it sticks in the right position, it can cause the pads to wear more quickly on that side. Typically, a wire brush and some grease will take care of the corrosion.

How do you know when a brake caliper is bad?

A technician can spot the early warning signs of a failing caliper – corrosion, dirt buildup, leak, reluctant guide pins, and more – before they become a major issue. If a caliper already has problems, the technician might notice uneven brake pad wear resulting from a caliper that is either stuck open or stuck closed.

Should you replace all brake pads at the same time?

But, when changing brake pads, should you do all four at once? Well, first, you absolutely should replace both front or both rear brake pads at the same time. Unless something's really wrong, one should be wearing out at about the same rate as the other.

Are rear brakes more expensive than front?

In a perfect world, sure they are. Unfortunately, our world is festooned with imperfections, and higher prices for rear brakes just happens to be one of them. If you have rear disc brakes, this repair (with just the standard pad/rotor replacement) will run $25-$75 higher than the front brake repair, on average.

Can I just replace brake pads and not rotors?

Yes, but it depends on the condition of your brake rotors. If they aren't damaged or thinned beyond the discard thickness, you can definitely change just the worn brake pads.

How do I know if I need brakes or rotors?

CARS.COM — If your car's brakes are squeaking, squealing or making ominous grinding noises when you apply the pedal, you might need new brake pads or rotors. Ditto if the brake pedal has more travel than usual before you feel much braking force, or if it just feels like your car requires longer distances to stop.

How do I know when my rotors are bad?

How long do rear drum brakes last?

The housing of drum brakes is designed to be operable typically for around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, while the shoes are meant to last for 40,000 miles although they usually last the life of the vehicle if the car owner uses their brakes properly.

How can I make my brakes last longer?

How much does a brake job cost?

You can expect to pay between $35 and $150 for parts for all four wheels. Labor can vary, but tends to be $80 to $120 per axle, for a total of $115 to $270 per axle.

Do rear brakes do anything?

Rear brakes typically handle less than 40% of the braking force, so they don't generate as much heat as the front brakes. The rear brake is designed to provide stability, or else they would lock up every time you hit the brake pedal.

What happens when rear brakes go bad?

When you drive with worn out brake pads, rotors, or calipers, you may find yourself slamming on the brake pedal more often to slow or stop the car. All this hard braking can wear your tires down quicker or cause them to become unbalanced, leading to uneven tire wear.

Do front and rear brakes work together?

The front brakes play a greater part in stopping the car than the rear ones, because braking throws the car weight forward on to the front wheels. Many cars therefore have disc brakes , which are generally more efficient, at the front and drum brakes at the rear.