Brake & Clutch Repairs Guides & Resources

Brake pads price

Labour charges are a significant expense when getting brake pads changed. The price of the front brake pads ranges from $150 to $350 or more, with costs varying from vehicle to vehicle and the type of brakes. For instance, the front brake pads for a BMW car will obviously cost more (approximately $160) than a Toyota car (approximately $75). Brake pads for luxury car models are costlier than lower-priced car models. Ideally, a car owner should find himself spending $200 on an average for the front brake pads, which excludes other additional expenses such as labour or mechanic charges. Labour charges are a significant expense when getting the brake pads changed. Usually, brake pads are changed on both sides of the axle, even if one side is relatively better than the other. You may need a [wheel alignment](/guides/auto-parts/how-much-is-a-wheel-alignment) after the repair. The estimated prices of brake pads per axle based on the car brand are as follows: - BMW: $160- $250 - Mini Cooper: $170- $200 - Volkswagen: $130- $150 - Subaru: $120- $150 - Toyota: $75- $100 Brake pads can become costlier if bought along with other spare parts such as rotor to avoid additional damage to the car. Following are the assumed prices of the brake pads when bought with different car spare parts. - Brake pad + rotor: $280+ - Brake pad + disc: $300+ - Brake pad + calliper: $240+ ## How much does it cost to replace all 4 brake pads? Front brake pads are cheaper than rear brake pads, though the rear brake pads do not require replacement as frequently as front brake pads. Therefore, do not multiply the cost of front brake pads by two to find all four brake replacement costs. Moreover, the cost of replacing all four brake pads includes labour charges in addition to the parts' price. Some car owners opt for cheaper brake pads that cost less than $100 and change them by themselves to save on labour charges. Ideally, a mechanic may charge approximately $150 or more for replacing all four brake pads. After summing up the brake pads cost and labour charges, a car owner is expected to spend $100 to $300 for one axle. The final price for all four brake pads replacement can settle between $200 to $400 on average. Some experts suggest that the cost to replace all four brake pads can go up to $600, which might reach $1000 or more in the case of a high-end luxury car model. Below is the breakdown of the expense incurred by a real customer in Australia on Ford Mondeo (make year: 2012): $260 (four brake pads) + $490 (disc rotors) + S230 (labour charges) = $969 (total payable amount). ## How do you know your brake pads need replacing? Typical brake pad replacement signs/warnings/indications are below: The brakes' performance begins to decline, causing the driving to press the brake pedal harder to apply the brakes. In some car models, the dashboard will show a flashing brake warning indication light. To ensure that the car has such an indicator light, check the user manual. While slowing down the vehicle, the driver might hear squealing noise caused by potentially defective brakes. Noise similar to grinding metal is a severe sign of faulty brakes that require urgent attention. The driver might feel a vibrating brake pedal if the brake pads are nearing the end of their life. Unsteady or vibrating brake pedal makes it challenging for the driver to stop the vehicle on time. The driver may feel the vibration all the time or only when applying the brakes. If the brakes are taking too long to stop the vehicle irrespective of the pressure applied to the brake pedal, it indicates the end of the brake pads' life. Ignoring this situation will cause complete brakes failure shortly. ## How long do brake pads last? The average life expectancy of branded brake pads is 45,000 to 60,000km, while cheaper pads might fail any time after 20,000km. Some car manufacturers claim the longevity of the brake pads to be up to 70,000km, while most people begin complaining after 40,000km. It is nearly impossible to determine life expectancy in terms of time duration, such as expected years or months. They can often be serviced with a [new set of tyres](/guides/auto-parts/what-tyres-do-i-need). Some factors responsible for the longevity of the brake pads are: Driver's driving style or pattern. Applying brakes aggressively and or frequent application hinders their life. Some drivers slow down on the accelerator instead of using brakes, which enhances their life. Applying brakes suddenly increases the friction generating a massive amount of heat around the brake pads, causing them to be worn out quickly. Increased weight in the vehicle directly affects the brake pads' life, hence carrying more weight for a long time will affect their life. Manual transmission helps keep the brake pads healthy because the drivers can downshift the gears to reduce the speed. The type of brake pads also determines their longevity. Organic brake pads are worn out soonest, while semi-metallic pads last a little longer, and the ceramic pads last the longest. Brake pads are supposed to work with rotors and callipers as a compliment, and their poor condition can fade the brake pads sooner than expected. ## Are brake pads expensive? Genuine brake parts are expensive (reaching $1000+), while a car owner can save money by opting for the cheaper pads (usually under $300). However, there is a substantial difference in the quality, longevity, performance, and warranty. Having your brake pads changed by a reputed professional mechanic will further increase the cost. The actual price of brake pads replacement includes the part's cost and labour charges. While the average brake pad costs are already discussed above, below are the assumed mechanic costs in different cities of Australia. - Adelaide: $180 to $525 - Brisbane: $195 to $720 - Canberra: $200 to $620 - Hobart: $250 to $870 - Melbourne: $170 to $490 - Perth: $180 to $600 - Sydney: $180 to $450 There is a considerable variation in the average mechanic costs in any given city. The number of brake pads changed in a single service also determines the actual labour charges. For example, getting brake pads changed on a single axle will be cheaper than getting all four brake pads changed. Time consumed to change the brake pads will further decide the final mechanic's bill.