Key Practical Tips to Reduce Unnecessary Brake Pad Wear

Based on the abridged guide, 8 key measures are summarized from three dimensions-"driving habits, maintenance, and scenario adaptation"-which can reduce unnecessary wear by 30%-50%.​

I. Driving Habits: Control Wear from the "Source"​

1. Predictive Braking, Avoid Sudden Stops​

In congested urban areas: Maintain a "3-second following distance"; coast by releasing the accelerator in advance to avoid frequent brake use.​

On highways: Start decelerating 1 km before exits; do not brake suddenly when approaching.​

On downhill roads: Shift to a low gear (L gear for fuel vehicles, high regenerative braking gear for new energy vehicles) to reduce reliance on pure braking (10 km downhill using only brakes = wear equivalent to 50 km on flat roads).​

2. Eliminate "Half-Braking" Status​

When speed < 5 km/h: Switch to N gear and coast; do not drive slowly with the brake pedal pressed.​

When parking on slopes: First brake to stop the vehicle, then pull the handbrake/activate electronic parking, and finally release the brake-prevent the brake pads from bearing the vehicle's weight.​

3. Coast in Gear, Activate Auxiliary Braking​

For fuel vehicles: Keep D gear when coasting (speed < 60 km/h in urban areas, < 80 km/h on highways) and use engine drag to decelerate.​

For new energy vehicles: Use high regenerative braking mode daily; switch to low mode only in emergencies or when moving at low speeds to reduce brake pad engagement.​

II. Maintenance: Reduce Wear through "Hidden Hazard Inspection"​

4. Regularly Inspect Brake Calipers (Every 5,000 km)​

Visually check: Confirm the gap between brake pads and discs (normal range: 0.5-1 mm); excessive tightness may indicate rust on caliper pistons or damaged dust boots.​

After driving: Touch the brake discs to check temperature; if one side is abnormally hot, clean the piston and apply special grease to avoid dragging wear.​

5. Maintain Brake Discs Synchronously​

When washing the car: Rinse the brake discs to remove gravel and prevent abrasive wear.​

If the brake disc thickness is below the marked minimum (e.g., "MIN TH 22mm") or scratches are > 0.5 mm: Replace the disc promptly to prevent uneven wear of brake pads due to unbalanced force.​

6. Correct Replacement and Storage​

Replace brake pads in pairs for the same axle to avoid uneven braking and increased load on one side.​

For new pads: Do not brake suddenly within the first 200 km after installation to form a uniform friction surface.​

For spare pads: Store in a dry, ventilated place; replace even if unused for more than 3 years (due to material aging).​

III. Scenario Adaptation: Reduce Waste through "Precise Matching"​

7. Choose the Right Brake Pads for the Vehicle Type​

For fuel vehicles used in urban commuting: Select ceramic brake pads (quiet, low dust, and wear slower than semi-metallic brake pads).​

For new energy vehicles: Must use pads "adapted to regenerative braking" (friction coefficient: 0.35-0.45); do not mix with fuel vehicle brake pads (size mismatch may cause local wear).​

8. Adjust Usage Based on Road Conditions​

On wet/icy roads: Decelerate in advance; use intermittent braking instead of continuous braking to avoid increased friction from slipping.​

On rough/construction roads: Try to detour; if unavoidable, reduce speed and clean the braking system afterward to prevent gravel from getting stuck and causing wear.​

For family vehicles: Do not use them for track driving (ordinary brake pads tolerate temperatures of 300-400℃, while track temperatures easily exceed 600℃, leading to material cracking); do not overload (the braking pressure of a 2.5-ton SUV is twice that of a 1.2-ton sedan, and overloading accelerates wear by 50%).