How Many Brake Pads Does a Car Have?

Generally, brake pads experience the worst situations of how the vehicle owner drives and stops the car. However, brake pads work harder to keep the car and the rider safe from every unwanted situation. The truth is that many vehicle owners or drivers don’t have any idea about “how many brake pads does a car have.”

Therefore, learning about the number of brake pads will help improve the working life of brake pads.

Through this article, you will be able to learn a lot of information related to brake pads.

So, let’s give a closer look.

Number of brake pads on a car

However, a typical vehicle model has 2 pads on each wheel, front and back. A few car models are available there, which use 2 brake pads on single tires, which makes them 8. Along with brake pads, calipers are also an important part of a vehicle that has 4 pads. And some vehicles come with 2 calipers.

A vehicle driver or a driver will need first to understand what vehicle type they are using. And based on that, s/he will get the answer to the question, “how many brake pads does a car have.”

It means it would be difficult to give a straightforward answer to the question because a wide range of vehicle manufacturers and models are available in the market.

Types of Brake Pads

Learning about the types of brake pads is significantly essential because it will assist you to

avoid unwanted situations while riding a car.

Generally, regular cars have 4 types of brake pads which are

1. Semi-metallic

It is the most widely used brake pad type, and almost all vehicles use semi-metallic brake pads. These brake pad types gained much popularity because of their Long lifespan and impressive heat transferability. Some brake pads are made of graphite or copper, and some are steel wire or wool-made.

However, it contains 30% – 65% metal. Besides, it is not very efficient at low temperatures, generates much noise, and rotors wear down quickly.

2. Non-asbestos Organic

This brake pad type is a combination of fibers, high-temperature resins, and filler objects. Non-asbestos organic brake pads are vice-versa of semi-metallic brake pads. It performs silently, and characteristically it is softer. But it generates dust as well as deteriorates faster. Non-asbestos organic brake pads can also be enlisted as NAO or organic.

3. Low-metallic NAO

10 – 30% metal (copper or steel or a combination of both) and organic materials are used to manufacture low-metallic NAO brake pads. Although noises created by them are high and create dust, their heat-transferring capability is tremendous.

4. Ceramic

Very less amount of manufacturers uses ceramic to manufacture brake pads. Although it is known as ceramic, it is a combination of fibers of ceramic, materials of non-ferrous filler, and bonding agents.

Compared to the above 3 types of brake pads, they don’t create much noise and dust and slowly wear down. The only disadvantage of Ceramic brake pads is they are costly.

Tips to Improve the Lifespan of Brake Pads

• To improve your vehicle brake pads’ lifespan, try to guess the stops so you can avoid pressing the brake pedals harshly. If you are aware that you will need to stop, slow the speed before you intersect. Try to adhere to the speed limit as your vehicle brake pads will wear down because of faster speed.
• Try to understand the traffic flow. Don’t press the brake pedals too frequently when you are in traffic. All you need to do is, drive slowly with the vehicle in front of you and maintain a safe distance. This way, brake pads will not wear unnecessarily.
• Don’t carry too much weight in your car, truck, pickup, or S.U.V. If your vehicle is carrying any unnecessary weight, remove it. Be noted the more weight you carry in your vehicle, the more your vehicle will wear down.
• Remember, brake pads are made of quality materials and are thicker; you will get long-term service from them. Thinner brake pads wear down quickly and require replacement within a short time. But thicker brake pads will give you an extended period of service for sure. Besides, semi-metallic, low metallic NAO, and ceramic brake pads’ lifespan is more than non-asbestos organic brake pads.
• It would be best if you decide to replace all your vehicle brake pads at a go. This way, you will always provide the optimal braking power you need to avoid accidents on your journey safely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do brake pads work?

Brake pads allow you to stop your car by applying pressure and friction. It is a part of the vehicle’s braking system. Together they put pressure on the car’s rotors. When the brake rotor is pressed, it stops the wheel of the vehicle.

While purchasing, which brake pads material should I consider?

First of all, you have to know your budget and the driving condition. Ceramic brake pads will be a wise pick if you put a lot of pressure on the brake pads and your budget is high. On the other side of the coin, if your budget is low and you are not pressing the brake pads frequently, choose organic brake pads.

Do I need to call an expert to replace my vehicle’s brake pads?

Replacing brake pads is not a challenging task. Even many beginner mechanics can replace brake pads quite comfortably. If you know how to handle some specialized tools, how can these tools accomplish the brake pad replacing tasks – you can complete the task by yourself. But it is always advisable to call an expert to finish the task efficiently.

Final Thoughts

By now, you have already understood the types of brake pads, how they work, and how many brake pads a car has. The number of brake pads number depends on the model and type of car. Also, it is vital to replace the brake pads after a certain period.

To learn about the right replacement period for brake pads, you can read another article written on when brake pads need to be replaced.