2010 brake pad status at 37,000 miles

[subiesailor]

I just inspected the brake pads on our 2010 2.5 cvt limited. The fronts are down to about 30% and the rears are around 45-50%. As for now the pads Subaru is sending out on the new cars seem to wear faster than my previous 2001 subaru which would hit the 20-30% pad left around 65,000 miles.

I plan on changing them out in the next 5000 miles or sooner. Time to hit the subaru parts sites and order up some new pads.

I'll be checking the Legacy 2.5 CVT which has 34,000 miles on it this weekend to see where the pads are on that car. I'm going to guess they are at a fairly close state compared to the OB.

I'd say easy brake users might see 50,000 miles but I'd guess normal folks are going to be seeing pads needing to be replaced around 45K or sooner.

[Looby]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

As for now the pads Subaru is sending out on the new cars
seem to wear faster than my previous 2001 subaru ....

Most likely, the difference is automatic versus manual transmissions.
Just watch the brake lights of the car ahead. Constant flashing = AT.

Preemptively: Nope, I have NOT needed to replace a clutch since my
then-teenagers were frequent drivers of my '89 Mazda MX-6 turbo.

...and that was 6 manual tranny cars and > 800k miles ago,

Looby

[RobMunach]

Originally Posted by Looby

Most likely, the difference is automatic versus manual transmissions.
Just watch the brake lights of the car ahead. Constant flashing = AT.

Preemptively: Nope, I have NOT needed to replace a clutch since my
then-teenagers were frequent drivers of my '89 Mazda MX-6 turbo.

...and that was 6 manual tranny cars and > 800k miles ago,

Looby

Same here. My MT cars seem to never need brake pads (or clutches). We have not ever had an AT car, so i cannot comment about that.

[subiesailor]

The CVT for sure is far more slippery than the old 5spd regarding engine braking ability - a fairly large % of those 37K were road trip miles which tend to be easier on the brakes than say every day treking across town etc.

I will say one thing the pads that came on our VW years ago wore out something fast 25K but the stock set I put on to replace the originals lasted nearly 3X as long with the same driver and daily city use so makes me wonder if softer compound pads are some times used to make the cars seem smoother of the lot during test drives? We all know that Auto makers do that with tires ;-)

Anyway ordering up a set of stock subaru pads for the OB this week and will swap them out and in another 30K or so I should know more about the brake pad wear rate etc.

[GasGuzz]

Don’t you tow?
See if you can find out who OEMs them (Raybestos/USA on the OB vs. Akebono/Japan on the Impreza).

[subiesailor]

I do tow have towed for a very long time even with that my prior Subaru stock pads easily ran 60K. No way these pads will run that long. As for after market stuff - no thanks been there done that sticking with the Stock stuff and buying it online.

[choi0706]

I've got 60k miles on my 2011.. My pads feel pretty low, where did you order them from?

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by choi0706

I've got 60k miles on my 2011.. My pads feel pretty low, where did you order them from?

Just ordered from these guys they have been a couple of bucks cheaper than the subaruparts.com folks.
SubaruPartsForYou.com I recall last time I ordered parts from them they were in Washington STate a dealer up there running a online parts business out of their parts department. LOL most of these online parts stores are just dealers running a second business out of the parts department anyway.

Mine came to $164.55 delivered to the front door for front and back pads with shim kit included in the pad kit.
Subaruparts.com was $178 before shipping when I priced it out.

[RobMunach]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

I do tow have towed for a very long time even with that my prior Subaru stock pads easily ran 60K. No way these pads will run that long. As for after market stuff - no thanks been there done that sticking with the Stock stuff and buying it online.

I agree. I have never had any luck with aftermarket brakes (except on my track car)

[RobMunach]

Originally Posted by choi0706

I've got 60k miles on my 2011.. My pads feel pretty low, where did you order them from?

What does that mean? Disk brakes are self adjusting so you should not be able to feel any difference.