When do you suggest replacing them? How many miles?

 

It depends how you drive.

Mine lasted until 45k miles. Some go out sooner. Are they squeeking or grinding?

-THE DON

 

they begin to wear the first time you use them?

and it really does depend on how you drive..and where you live

 

I heard squeaking, but I wasn't sure if it was the car ahead of me or not. The person I was with said it was my car, but I never really heard it before. I have 15k

 

What is "grinding" exactly?

 

squeaking?

were you already driving for a while before you noticed? or was the noise right away from a cold start pulling out of your drive

only 15K my opinion...not a chance your brakes are bad..
unless you have got some grease or petroleum product on your rotors or disc pads

 

grinding would be the sound very worn brake pads would make..especially if the pad was so wore out it was gone and metal to metal was stopping you

 

30k is a safe bet. personally if i wait much longer, i usually end up with a rotor that needs to be finished.

 

If your brakes are only squeaking it might just be brake dust. I would slam on my brakes on my Ranger to get rid of the occasional squeaking.

 

Yea it all depends on how hard you brake.
I change pads about every 50,000 miles, my wife has an f150 and her first change was at 115,000 miles.

 

dealer said mine was 60-70% left at around 16k miles so about 30k is a good #

 

57k miles with original pads with over 50% wear left. I guess it definitely varies!

 

I started hearing squeaking around 15k-20k. Sometimes like someone said, its the brake dust or just water.

The guy my dad goes to resurfaced my brakes at 21k and said they'll be fine until about 40k. I think most people can agree 40k will be about right.

 

My indicators started squeaking at around 62K so I just pad slapped the fronts. I drive about 85 miles a day, all highway. You should be fine at 15k...with out a doubt.

 

I have over 60k on mine and they are still fine.

 

The title is funny. Answer: as soon as you drive off the lot!

Hwy miles lifespan around 70K
City miles more like 30K

I'm at 33K and still have about half pad thickness but will soon upgrade to ceramic pads and slotted rotors for better braking performance.

 

I had 85% left at 30,000 mile check up. It is a function of how many times you stop--not how many miles you drive. You ought to be able to get a free brake inspection somewhere..........

 

Oh yeah, I'd like to add.

I drive huge hills almost every weekend and I'm part of my favorite east bay stop and go traffic 5 days a week. True, its how much you're stopping not really the milage. but you can through out some rough estimates.