How long do brake rotors last?

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asked May 20, 2020 in Repairs/Maintenance by SandSam (7,630 points)
How long do brake rotors last?

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answered May 20, 2020 by Chica900 (540 points)
Brake rotors on a vehicle are designed to last between 30,000 miles to as much as 70,000 miles and sometimes longer.

If you replace the brake pads before they wear thin and wear down to metal then the brake rotors should easily last 70,000 miles to as much as 100,000 miles.

I've had brake rotors last for 100,000 miles before replacing them.

Brake rotors do eventually wear down and also brake rotors can develop cracks in them and brake rotors can also warp and cause the front end of the vehicle to shake when you go down the road.

If it's been 70,000 miles or more and you haven't replaced your brake rotors yet then it's likely time to replace your brake rotors.

You should also inspect your brake pads to ensure they are not wearing too thin as thin brake pads can damage rotors.

Also it's unsafe to drive a vehicle with too thin brake pads or to thin brake shoes.

As long as you maintain the vehicles brakes and replace the brake shoes before they wear down to metal then the brake drums should last between 150,000 to 200,000 miles.

Most people trade the vehicle in well before the brake drums wear down but some people keep their vehicle longer.

Most brake drums will just slide off and you can inspect them easy yourself.

If you notice the brake drums are getting thin or the brake drums have grooves inside them then they need replaced.

Also if the brake shoes are wearing thin they need replaced as well before they wear down to metal.

Your brakes are very important for your vehicle to stop safely so replace them for your safety as well as others safety on the road.

Most brake drums do last the life of the vehicle depending on how much stop and go driving you do and how often you use the brakes.

Some vehicles may need the brake drums replaced sooner than others because some vehicle owners allow the brake shoes to wear down to metal and then it scrapes inside the brake drum causing grooves in the brake drums.

If you replace your brake shoes every 15,000 to 30,000 miles or at least before the brake shoes wear down completely then the brake drums should last 150,000 miles to as much as 200,000 miles.

Eventually brake drums do wear thinner and need replaced even if you keep the brake shoes replaced often enough.

I've had to replace my brake drums on my truck after 160,000 miles of driving.

You can have brake drums turned and machined but it's usually just as cheaper or even cheaper to put new brake drums on the vehicle.

I buy brake drums and brake parts on ebay cheaper than I can buy them in auto parts stores locally.

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