Question: Brake Pads Worn Out in 3 Months? Here are the Main Reasons

While brake pads deteriorate over time, you expect them to last long enough before replacement. Typically, your car brake pads will last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles. This longevity will depend on a number of factors.

But why do brake pads wear out in 3 months or less? If you’re always changing your brake pads before their service life, you’ll need to dig deeper to know the cause. Such premature wear might stem from bad driving habits, low-quality brake pads, damaged calipers or rotors, and poor road conditions.

As a mechanic, I detail the causes of brake pads worn out in 3 months and what to do.

Question: Why Do Brake Pads Wear Out in 3 Months?

Brake pads contact the rotors when braking, applying the necessary pressure to slow or stop your car. The constant pressure creates friction that makes pads wear out.

If there’s excessive friction, your brake pads will wear out quickly in three months or less. Below are the common reasons your brake pads wear out faster than usual:

  • Low-quality brake pads
  • Bad driving habits
  • Poor road conditions
  • Damaged calipers
  • Excessive weight
  • Using the car too often
  • Misaligned wheels

Answer: Low-Quality Brake Pads

Brake pads are available in different qualities from various brands. You’ll find high-quality but costly or low-quality and cheap brake pads. Low-quality pads will wear out sooner, regardless of your driving habits.

The determining factor behind a brake pad’s lifespan is the material used. Usually, ceramic, organic, metallic, and semi-metallic are common in making brake pads. Each of these materials comes with unique characteristics, including varying lifespans.

For instance, ceramic brake pads last the longest, making them ideal for daily driving. But you should note that these pads might perform poorly in extreme cold. Next on the line are metallic, semi-metallic, and organic pads.

Organic pads will wear out quickly due to their composite nature. That means you’ll need to replace them more often. When replacing your worn pads, go for ceramic, metallic, or semi-metallic pads that guarantee more than 50,000 miles.

Answer: Bad Driving Habits

Driving habits can also affect your brake pads’ longevity. Braking at high speeds and sudden braking can wear down your pads faster than usual. These braking habits are common with individuals who drive at high speeds.

Driving at high speed requires braking harder to slow or stop the car. Similarly, if you want to come to a sudden stop, you’ll need to press the brake pedal harder. Such braking habits cause excessive friction between the pads and rotors, leading to brake pads worn out in 3 months.

Some individuals will tailgate other cars on the road, resulting in regular use of brakes. Such driving habits strain the pads due to excessive friction, leading to premature wear.

It’s important to adopt a smoother and safer driving technique. Drive at lower speeds and avoid tailgating other motorists.

Answer: Poor Road Conditions

Have you changed your route and wondered why your brake pads wear out faster? If the previous route was smooth and flat, the current course could be the cause of significant wear on your pads.

Rugged, hilly, and rocky terrains can affect your driving habits, including how often you apply brakes. If driving on rugged or rocky terrain, you’ll brake your car more often to navigate the route. Similarly, you’ll need to brake regularly if your current route has multiple slopes.

Such road conditions will deteriorate your pads faster than flat, tarmacked roads. If you can’t change the route, consider installing more durable brake pads. Moreover, utilize lower gears when descending to avoid using the brakes excessively.

Luckily, lower gears are available in manual and certain automatic transmission cars. Whichever car you own, start learning to use lower gears to moderate your car’s speed when driving downhill.

Answer: Damaged Calipers or Rotors

Another possible cause of brake pads wearing out in 3 months is damaged calipers or rotors. Brake calipers house your pads and force them against the rotors when you apply brakes. On the other hand, rotors come into contact with the pads, creating pressure that slows or stops the car.

Like other braking components, calipers and rotors can get damaged and affect the structural integrity of your brake pads.

Sticking calipers might fail to disengage the pads from rotors, leading to excessive wear within a short period. Also, damaged, grooved, burnt, or pitted rotors can cause rapid brake pad wear.

If you suspect the calipers and rotors are the culprits, take the car to a service center for further diagnosis. A professional will replace the damaged rotors and calipers and fix other issues in the braking system.

Answer: Excessive Weight

Carrying excessive weight or towing trailers with your vehicle can also result in brake pads worn out in 3 months. The more weight your car carries or tows, the more stress you’ll put on your brakes.

Excessive weight increases the momentum of a moving vehicle. In this case, you’ll need to exert more energy when applying brakes to slow or bring your car to a halt.

You can avoid this issue by removing heavy clutter in your car, especially if you don’t need them. Additionally, if you tow a trailer with your vehicle, disconnect it when it’s not needed. The goal is to reduce braking pressure and friction, thus prolonging the service life of the pads.

Answer: Using the Car Too Often

Your vehicle usage frequency can also determine how long the brake pads will last. If you use your vehicle more often daily, the pads will wear out quickly due to regular braking. Besides, bad driving habits, poor road conditions, damaged rotors, and excessive weight will accelerate pad wear, especially if you drive too often.

Installing high-quality and durable brake pads can reduce the rate of wear and tear. Use your brakes responsibly and conduct regular brake maintenance.

Answer: Misaligned Wheels

Do you experience unusual wear on some brake pads and don’t know the cause? If so, your car might have misaligned wheels. Bad wheel alignment can cause steering difficulties, uneven tire wear, and excessive vibrations.

Moreover, driving on misaligned wheels causes uneven brake pressure when braking. When pressure is applied to certain wheels, their brake pads wear out faster than the rest.

You can prevent this by properly aligning the wheels at a service center. Proper alignment allows equal pressure to each brake pad, preventing rapid wear of certain pads. Additionally, wheel alignment makes your brakes more responsive, ensuring maximum performance.

Wrapping Up

Brake pads worn out in 3 months is a common problem many drivers encounter. If you’ve just noted this issue, it’s vital to identify the root cause before installing new pads. In most cases, driving habits, road conditions, damaged rotors/calipers, and low-quality brake pads are to blame.

After replacing damaged rotors or calipers and installing high-quality pads, adopt smoother driving techniques. Then, avoid putting too much weight on your car. Lastly, maintain proper wheel alignment to ensure maximum performance of your tires and brakes.

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