Q: How often do the breaks need to be replaced?

The brakes in most cars and light trucks should last at least 24,000 miles, or about 3 years, before the brake pads in the front brakes get worn down (the front brakes usually get worn out first as they take on more of the stopping load). The rear brakes should last at least 36,000 miles, or 4 years. However, all of this is only an estimate of how long they will last, since driving habits, vehicle loads, and even weather have a lot to do with how much the brakes will wear. For example, if you do a lot of city driving with stop-and-go traffic, then you may only make it to 12,000 or 15,000 miles between brake pad replacements because of all the extra stopping. What I would recommend is having an experienced technician, like one from YourMechanic, inspect your brakes on a regular basis, such as at every oil and filter change and tire rotation, so that you’ll know when to replace the brake pads. This way, if your vehicle’s pads are wearing out very quickly, then you will be able to catch the problem early before it causes damage to any calipers or rotors.