Factors affecting the service life of brake linings
1. Driving habits
Sharp braking is an important factor affecting the life of brake linings. Frequent emergency braking will make the brake lining and brake discs or brake drums produce intense friction, in a short period of time to consume a large number of brake lining materials.
In addition, driving with the brake pedal depressed for a long period of time (e.g., using the brake for a long period of time to control the speed of the vehicle on a mountainous downhill road) can also lead to excessive wear of the brake lining. In this case, the brake lining is always in a friction working condition, and the heat generated is difficult to be dispersed, which accelerates the loss of material.
2. Vehicle type and use
The use of brake linings varies greatly between different types of vehicles. For example, high-performance sports car due to its strong power and high driving speed, brake lining use frequency and intensity are very high. When driving aggressively, such as frequent high-speed braking, brake linings may need to be replaced within a few thousand kilometres. For ordinary family cars, the service life is relatively long under normal city and road driving conditions.
For commercial vehicles, such as large buses and lorries, due to the large mass and inertia of the vehicle, the brake lining needs to withstand greater friction to make the vehicle braking, and its service life may be relatively short. Moreover, these vehicles are often driven under heavy loads, which further aggravates the wear of brake linings.
3. Road conditions
Vehicles travelling on mountainous roads, brake lining wear will be faster. Because mountain roads have more uphill and downhill, the vehicle needs frequent braking to control the speed. Especially in the continuous downhill section, the braking system will continue to work, the brake lining temperature rises sharply, not only accelerate the wear and tear, but also may lead to thermal degradation phenomenon, reduce braking performance.
On the contrary, vehicles running on flat motorways will have a relatively long service life as the brake linings are used less and only work during occasional deceleration or stopping. In addition, the cleanliness of the road also has an impact. Driving on roads with more sand and dust or in poorer road conditions, foreign objects are likely to enter the braking system, leading to abnormal wear of the brake linings.
General service life range
Ordinary family cars: under normal driving conditions, the service life of brake linings is generally around 30,000 - 60,000 kilometres. Some vehicles may be used up to around 80,000 kilometres before they need replacing, but this also depends on the factors mentioned above.
High-performance and sports cars: Due to their high power and frequent high-speed braking requirements, brake linings may only have a service life of 10 - 30,000 kilometres. Especially in extreme situations such as track driving, brake linings may need to be replaced after one race or a few track days.
Large buses and lorries: Depending on the use of the vehicle (e.g. how often it is fully loaded, routes travelled, etc.), the service life of the brake linings is generally around 20,000 - 50,000 km. Vehicles that travel frequently in mountainous areas or under heavy loads may need to be replaced more frequently.
