I have almost 185,000 kms on my original '03 brake pads. Still brakes like a 2-year old car. My car will be coming up on 9 years old this spring :-)EDIT: that's at least 85% city driving too.
03VibeOttawa–’03 Salsa 5spd. Fast Wheels Blade 17â€s/Fuzion Zr1s (summer),Blizzak Revo1/’04 WRX rims, (winter),Tokico HP Struts,Tein S-Tech Springs,Progress RSB,K&N Typhoon SRI,SLP ram air hood,Magnaflow CB,DC header. Sold 11/9/2012 w/ 217,633kms.
Quote, originally posted by rob12345 »Wow, I am all highway pretty much maybe I can go another 65K before I change them out !! I'm willing to bet you could. I'm approaching 60k, and my car still brakes like a champ. You can extend the life of them with your driving style, too. I'd like to think that's why mine are still in great shape, but I honestly believe they are a better quality pad from the start. Worst comes to worst, even if you have to change them, it's just about the easiest thing to swap on the vehicle when the time comes. If you don't mind taking the rims and a caliper bolt off, that is.
Quote, originally posted by jkm311 »You can extend the life of them with your driving style, too. I'd like to think that's why mine are still in great shape, but I honestly believe they are a better quality pad from the start. For sure... I constantly watch the traffic ahead, watch for flashing crosswalks, and use the throttle or coasting to control my speed whenever I can. I honestly can't remember when the last time I applied more than 50% pressure to my brakes would be...it rarely happens.Tires, on the other hand...I like to consume
03VibeOttawa–’03 Salsa 5spd. Fast Wheels Blade 17â€s/Fuzion Zr1s (summer),Blizzak Revo1/’04 WRX rims, (winter),Tokico HP Struts,Tein S-Tech Springs,Progress RSB,K&N Typhoon SRI,SLP ram air hood,Magnaflow CB,DC header. Sold 11/9/2012 w/ 217,633kms.
I'm at 40k and the last inspection the guys said the same thing they have been saying every year, "did you just put on new brakes?" I use a lot of engine braking and coasting. According to them the pads and shoes are barely broken in.... I suspect if I don't change them they would last me 150-175k.However, once the turbo goes in new upgraded front rotors and pads go in.
2010 Vibe & member of the yeargarage Email me if you need to talk to me, click my siggy and send the email threw the contact page.
* 2003 Vibe Auto Satellite Silver w / Moons & Tunes
* Kenwood Excelon KDC-X597
* Polk DB651-Speakers
* Soundproofcow Roadblock R sound deadening in all doors
* Drop In K & N Filter
* NGK Iridium IX Plugs
* 27 MPG City/Highway with AC on
Ok guys....here goes: 9 years old....159,000 miles and STILL the original brake pads! I will say though....I do need to look at changing them soon. I'll probably just go ahead and replace the rotors as well as the pads all the way around. I still have the original shoes on the parking brake as well.Jim
Abyss Vibe GT monotoneMoon & Tunes w/6 disc changerCargo nets and mat93 Octane w/ lots o' KISS in the CD changer
Let me start off by saying I was an idiot and I did it all wrong...I replaced mine at 100,000 miles, and my pads were gone. I might have had 1mm of material left on one side, and the other was down to the backing plate. I originally looked at them because the brakes were making odd noises when braking gently. When I saw how bad they were I immediately replaced them, and apparently I got super-duper-idiot lucky because my rotors weren't destroyed...Please check your brakes more often than I did.
I believe I got around 75k on my front pads. Unfortunately in the long morning commute I deal with heavy traffic so aggresive braking is hard to avoid. I just did my second set at 127,000 miles. I had Hawk HPS on it before. Stopping power was great but they wore faster, ate the rotors up more and had a lot more brake dust. In time we will see how the brakeperformance.com slotted rotors and premium semi-metalics do. So far so good.
Kevin - 2003 Frosty White Vibe (266,000 miles and counting) - 18'S/Tint/Hitch
Michigan State University Racing Club Forums - Co-founder and ex-president
I swapped out my factory pads for ceramic ones at ~45K miles. It wasn't that the OEM's were worn out (in fact, I was surprised how much meat was still left); rather, the occasional grinding and squeaking drove me nuts. No such problems w/the ceramics, though I'm sure the lifespan of the rotors will be shortened.
Had a (very) slight pulse in pedal when breaking heavily at higher speeds... Not that I do that a lot, BUT it wasn't normal! So I finally guilted my hubby into looking at/working on my brakes. First brake maintanence: 72,500miles in 5 years & 3 months. Rear drums are like new! Just got a cleaning and slapped back on. Front pads showed a decent amount of wear (IMO, I probably could have gone another 15k). But hubby replaced front pads and rotors (showed very slight warping). But it's done! Everything feels soooo much better in all braking situations! (and that "clunk" people keep posting about: mine started at about 68k, but now- it's gone!)
2007 sun & sound, preferred pack, 5-speed, mono Abyss with metallic blue pins... oooh aaaah
I can't remember how many miles on the Vibe, low 70k range I believe. Car was built in 10/02, so that's not bad.Man, they were toast! The brake fluid was almost at MIN from the calipers extended out so far.
Attached files
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey.
* 2003 Vibe Auto Satellite Silver w / Moons & Tunes
* Kenwood Excelon KDC-X597
* Polk DB651-Speakers
* Soundproofcow Roadblock R sound deadening in all doors
* Drop In K & N Filter
* NGK Iridium IX Plugs
* 27 MPG City/Highway with AC on
05 Matrix XR 4WD and 03 Vibe GT
"If you want Government to solve your problems, then you are the problem!" BMSR
Trix MODS: SRI w/ AEM filter, Vibrant/Magnaflow Cat-back, Alutec Lightweight Crank Pulley
GT MODS: Cosmo SRI, DRL, Auto Stop
changed mine out at 100k miles. still had about 40% life in them.my 07 that i sold with over 100k miles that i bought new, i never changed the pads and they always worked fine. A shot of lube on the backing plates will help any that dry out over time and squeak.
07 1ZZ 5spd Stealth - Sold
03 1ZZ 6spd Shadow w/NAV - For Sale
06 AWD Stealth - Current
07 Magnum SRT-8 - Current