Brake pads @ 25%: time to replace?

[rcantor]

I have a 2009 Sienna AWD with 65K miles. I just got my 60K mile service and the shop did a good inspection - caught a tire bubble on the inner sidewall. They told me my brake pads are down to 25%. They recommended replacing them. Is that right or can I go another 10K miles?

[aanders]

I would think you can go another 10 K easily, if the 09 is the same as the 05 and most new cars there are tabs on the brake pads that start squeeking when the pads need to be replaced, listen for the squeek as you drive and when you apply the brakes it will go away and come back when you take your foot off the brake. Andy

[techtalk]

If your brake pads are currently at the 25% life expectancy mark then I would expect you to be able to squeeze out at least 15,000 more miles out of them before they have to be replaced. Of course, this brake pad life estimate is entirely dependent upon your driving style and where you live. Here in Los Angeles I find myself using the right pedal far more often than the left so I eat through brakes like Kevin James eats through buckets of fried chicken Consequently I replace front brake pads every year or so. Thankfully the front pad kits are $55 for OEM replacements from toyotapartszone.com or else I'd be more ticked off at my voracious brake pad appetite

Out of mere curiosity how often do you find yourself replacing brake pads?

[Mikeman]

Originally Posted by aanders

if the 09 is the same as the 05 and most new cars there are tabs on the brake pads that start squeeking when the pads need to be replaced, listen for the squeek as you drive and when you apply the brakes it will go away and come back when you take your foot off the brake. Andy

The only problem with that approach is that the tab is only on one side of the pad (at least it is on my 2007). If the pad wears unevenly either side-to-side or front-to-back (they almost always do) on the side where there isn't a tab, you could ruin the rotors. I measured the brake pad thickness when I replaced the pads. While they looked pretty even, there was about a .020 inch variation from the thickest to the thinnest parts of the pads. If there's anything wrong with your brake setup, it could be more.

Generally speaking, brake pads don't wear at an even rate. If you got 60k out of 75%, don't assume you'll another 20k out of the last 25%. There's less pad material and the pads get hotter during braking as there's less mass to absorb the energy.

If you got 60k out of yours, you're doing pretty well. I only got 45k on the front and 48k on the back. I could have gone a little longer on the back, but they're so easy to change, it's not worth the risk to me.