Front brake pads and rotors

[Interleukin6]

My truck gives “Front brake pads < 1800 mi Remain” at 65K miles. I have read so much bad things ending up with limping mode after self replacement of pads & rotors. Dealer price starts from $825 for them. My friend who is a car mechanic said it is ok to wait until I hear noise. Outer pads look decent but inner pads are relatively not. Is it common thing on our trucks? Should I wait more or just replace them? This new technology “brake pad sensor” gives me stress. 

Edited September 30, 2025 by Interleukin6

[fatwhiteboy]

The stealer told me they had to reset the brake pad indicator in the dash with their fancy pants scanner and it is not true.  I bought OEM rotors and pads for Rock Auto and did them myself.  The wear sensor is only on one side and comes with the pads.  When I was done it reset itself back to 100%.  No harder than any other disc brake job.  Other sites say Akebono makes AC Delco pads, I do not know that for sure.  The rears are a bit different with the routine of disengaging the electric parking brake but still save a lot of money if you do them yourself.  I never heard anyone's truck going into limp mode with the wear indicator.  My rears were at 10% when I changed them.  There is a BS GM bulletin on the truck pad wear, and it basically says to change the pads as needed.  Yet another known problem with no fix or recall in site.

[silveradosid]

agree with fatwhiteboy, if your fronts are that low, check the rears, these trucks are known to wear the rear inner pads much faster than the outer pad

[RyanbabZ71]

I changed my fronts out about the same milage.  I did the rears 13-14K and a little over a year later.  I am at 15K and the fronts are making noise and leaving a ton of brake dust.  I am thinking of changing them out to fix this.  

[Grifdog24]

The factory pads on front and rear only lasted for about 30,000 miles on my 2020 Silverado.  Replaced them with better quality pads and rotors they have last about 80,000 miles on the front so far.  

[Transient]

How are you guys getting such low mileage out of your pads?  I have over 90k miles on my 2020 and I'm still on the original pads.  Front read 14% life remaining.  Rears rear below 50%.  Pay threads had me so concerned about shirt brake pad life that I have had replacement pads sitting in the garage for over a year now.  Maybe the bigger issue with brake pads is how some of you drive.  I'm not ginger on the pedals, but I do use cruise control a lot.  The mileage on my truck is mixed highway and stop and go.  It's my primary vehicle and I use it for everything from long trips to mall crawling and transporting the kids to/from sports and school.