Brake pad wear varies with vehicle type and driving conditions

Brake pads are now mainly made from ceramic mixtures or semi‑metallic composites, and manufacturers typically recommend replacement after 30,000 to 70,000 kilometres. Heavy SUVs or loaded wagons brake more mass and thus wear pads faster, while city stop‑and‑go traffic causes more wear than smooth highway driving. A metallic squeal is the most common warning that pad thickness has reached a critical value, and if the squeal continues or a scraping sound appears, the pad may be contacting the disc. Wet roads and fallen leaves reduce adhesion, requiring brakes to engage earlier and more finely.