103,300 mi From Original Front Brake Pads!

[Chip Hedrick]

This weekend I replaced the front brake pads in my ’98 OBW. I got 103,300 mi from the original front pads!! (They probably had a few thousand more miles on them, but why risk letting them get too thin?) The original rear pads and all of the original rotors are still good. I can’t complain about Subaru brake reliability/durability.

 

I used NAPA Premium Brake Pads as replacements because I didn’t have Subaru pads on hand. So far, so good. They appear to be of high quality, work just as well and are just as quiet as the OEM pads, and cost less ($47.49). It will be interesting to see if they match the durability of Subaru OEM pads.

 

[cookie]

Especially in the conditions in Maine.

[friendly_jacek]

That is great!!!

I presume you do mostly hwy driving?

I just replaced front+back pads at 45000 miles. Mostly city driving with occasional light towing. Rotors were exactly in the middle of the factory-minimum thickness range. Not complaining.

[Philbiker]

At 58K miles, I'm on my third set of pads and rotors (including the factory ones) on the front of my Audi. They are designed to only last 20-30K miles and require replacement of both the rotors and pads when they wear out. Is that insane or what? Big part of the reason it's being replaced by a Subaru. :-\

[powderhound]

Interesting I too have a 98 and just replaced my original front pads at 103,000. Rears are getting down there though and will need to be done soon. Still have the original battery as you do too! Probably should get a new one before next winter.

[Subie Gal]

It can be done

 

i had 75k on my 2001 RS front pads when i got bored and decided to swap them for something more aggressive.... they still have about 50% left in em..

 

the original rear pads are still on the car....

 

hehehee 103K... that's great

 

Jamie

[Setright]

Holy smokes! My driving style is very defensive: Keep a safe distance, brake early, never pressure other drivers. HOWEVER! On lonely roads the car gets thorough workout and I eat pads up in 20k miles. Admittedly, I do run slotted discs, which tend to wear pads more quickly.

[powderhound]

Just checked my records and I got 103,718. Ha! Beat you by 418 miles.

[Chip Hedrick]

Powderhound: If I had known you had gotten 103,718 mi off your front pads I would have driven on mine for another 500 mi just to take the record!!

 

Also, it's impressive that your car also still has the original battery since the winter climate conditions in WI are probably more extremely than here in Maine.

 

 

Philbiker: You make me glad my wife didn't buy an Audi in March '03 when we bought her Subaru H6 Sedan. We considered an A4, but when similarly equiped it cost about $10,000 more than the H6. Both cars are Insurance Institute for Highway Safety "Best Picks." The Subaru is larger. The Audi 6 cylinder has 8 more hp. When price was factored in, the Subaru was the winner, hands down (and that wasn't even factoring in repair/maintenance cost).

[powderhound]

Chip--I still had life in em'. We probably coulda dueled it out for another 1000 or so. It is impressive though isn't it? As far as the battery goes...even more impressive is that this car lived at 7500 ft in southwest Montana for two years where I can remember starting it at minus 35F every morning for a week straight one winter. I don't know if our winters are any more harsh here in WI than ME but I bet our summers are much more hot, which can kill a battery too. Also my alternator had been overcharging for awhile and when we popped the covers on the battery she was bone dry. Must be one helluva factory battery.

 

Cheers to us

[Chip Hedrick]

Powderhound: Southwest Montana. Been there. My wife is originally from Deer Lodge. Incidently, both her mother in Deer Lodge and her sister in Bozeman drive Legacy sedans.