HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS?

BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. SO HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS?

Replacing brake pads is one of those maintenance items you’re just going to have to bite the bullet and do a few times during the life cycle of your vehicle. So, how much should it cost to replace them?

That’s going to depend on a few different factors, so let’s stop for a moment (see what we did there?) and break it down:

• What kind of vehicle are you driving? Brake pads for, say, a Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins truck will cost a lot more to replace than brake pads for a Ford Focus. The bigger and heavier the vehicle, the higher the cost. It’s just part of the equation.
• What brand of vehicle are you driving? Typically, all sorts of replacement parts for European makes like BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, and Audi will cost more than their counterparts on American vehicles. The same goes for many Japanese vehicles as well.
• What brand of brake pads do you want to get, and what material? The quality and cost of aftermarket brake pads can vary a great deal. The friction of brake pads is composed of organic, semi-metallic, or ceramic materials, all of which have different performance properties and different price points. Premium national brand brake pads from a manufacturer like Brembo, Akebono, or Wagner will be higher. Store brand aftermarket pads are generally lower in price, and original equipment pads from your vehicle’s manufacturer are about the most expensive option of all.
• What kind of driving do you do? If you like to push your vehicle to its limits and need a performance-style braking system, you’re going to pay more. High demands mean a higher price tag.

So, back to the original question: How much will it cost to replace brake pads? It’s not an easy answer. The brake pad ballpark is anywhere from $20-$50 for a front or rear set, all the way up to a couple of hundred dollars. Armed with the information presented, however, you can make the best call for yourself, your vehicle, and your budget.