plaquettes et disques de frein

Brake discs and pads: uses, lifespan and buyer’s guide

Publié le 9 December 2025 par Pistonelle Vectalia

The braking system plays a crucial role in a car. Therefore, it must be regularly maintained. Among the most important parts are the brake pads and discs.

The Role of Brake Discs and Pads

The disc is a metal part that is fixed directly to the axle of a car. The brake pad, when you want to slow down or stop, rubs against the disc to stop the wheels from rotating. When the pads are too worn, you may experience a loss of braking power. Similarly, if the disc is worn, it can warp the pads, preventing the brake fluid from circulating.

When should you change your brake pads and discs? To prevent accidents, you should periodically change your brake discs and pads. Brake pads should be replaced every 10,000 to 30,000 km, while brake discs should be replaced every 50,000 to 120,000 km (see here: how to change your brake pads). However, it’s important to note that in addition to these parameters, the lifespan of brake pads and discs can vary depending on:Vehicle usage: If the car frequently travels on hills or roads requiring frequent braking, the brake system may wear out more quickly.

  • Driver behavior: When driving at high speeds, brake pads can be subjected to temperatures exceeding 800°C during braking. Consequently, their wear rate can easily increase tenfold. What are the signs of worn brake pads?
  • When the brake pads are pinching the brake discs and you hear a grinding noise, it means you should plan to replace them soon. In addition, if the car takes longer than usual to slow down or stop, it’s often an early sign of worn brake pads. Finally, excessive brake fluid consumption could also indicate that the pads are starting to wear down significantly. Where can you buy brake discs and pads?
Before buying brake pads, you should consider several factors (disc size and type, presence or absence of ABS, car make and year, etc.). To make things easier, the simplest option is to go to a specialized shop like Autodistribution. Besides selling brake kits for all makes of cars, they also offer various other car accessories (transmission, suspension, battery, ignition kit, etc.).

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