Brake pad life expectancy?
 

Hello from Orange Country. I'm new to the HHR Forum with what is probably an old question: I just bought a 2010 SS, auto with 44k miles that is a sweet ride and I would like to know what kind of mileage I can expect from the brake pads/rotors. :clappy:

OBD

Any suggestions would be a total guess - too much depends on how you drive, where you drive, and how often you adjust the rear brakes. Many here swear by adjusting the rear brakes at every oil change as the auto-adjusters seem to be rather deficient at doing what they are supposed to do.

Failing to keep them adjusted is suspected of causing the front rotors to work harder than they are designed to, leading to warped rotors. Most people are adjusting them such that the hand brake is engaged by the 3rd or 4th click.

Whopper!! Wake Up! :lol:

The OP has an SS (4 wheel discs), so all that talk about adjusting the rears brakes does not apply.

Okiebikerdude. Adjusting the rears brakes is an issue with the regular HHR's that have rear drum brakes.
As far as life expectancy, a lot depends on your driving habits and conditions. Best to just keep a regular check on them when you rotate the tires which should be every 5k miles or so. With 44k miles on yours it could be getting close. These cars don't seem to get a lot of miles out of the pads.
Plus. Yours being an automatic, it will have the regular SS brakes and not the bigger Brembo brake/rotor option.

Use your E-brake regularly to keep the rear calipers happy.

It's not unusual to get 70K out of front pads, but inspect them frequently.

Welcome to the site, the search tool is your best bet to find answers to your questions, read the posts and ask questions if you need to, and enjoy that SS

LOL at Firemangeorge - right on - way to late for the ol man. :)

We live in pretty much flat country, mine is a 5 speed, and I average 23+ in city driving so I am not a hard driver. However, first front pad replacement at 24K and second at 57K. Work good but wore fast, oh yeah the rotor was worn thinner than minimum spec at the 57K mark, so I upgraded the whole setup to the Brembos since I had to replace rotors anyway.

I agree with the "how you drive" factor....

I have 172,000 miles on mine and STILL have the factory pads on mine with plenty of life left!!

Well, for us members here in Arizona, you would need to replace the brakes about every 48 car washes:nuts:.

My '06 LT1 had the brakes replaced at 92K, just because they had 92K mile on them. Depends on how you drive and stop.