Brake pads check

[MooneyBob]

I try to check my brake pads before every flight. With all the covers on the wheels it is hard to see how thick they are. I am thinking to use the flash light and dentist mirror. Just an idea.

My real question is how long they usually last? I do a lot of full stop landings and pretty long taxiing as I am still new to my J. What is your experience? Can you predict the lasting based on the number of landings? Do they usually last annual to annual under normal circumstances?

Thanks

Bob

M20J

[kortopates]

Newer pilots and rental pilots tend to wear out tires and brakes pretty quickly. But once you learn to stay off the brakes and use aerodynamic braking you 'll be able to get years out of your brakes and tires; assuming your field has a reasonable length runway. I always have my clients simulate the short field landing on flight reviews to save the brakes & tires. You can almost always Save the brakes till you've slowed down considerably and about to get off the runway.

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[DonMuncy]

Good pilots probably get six to eight years (or more) out of a set of pads. I habitually land long an fast and get about 2 years out of a set.

[orionflt]

I got 7 yrs out of my last set, but the last yr shouldn't count because the plane was grounded for engine work, and a new interior. 

[MooneyBob]

Ok. My concern was that with my 20 landings every week for first couple of months they will be gone pretty soon. I will keep an eye on them.

Thank you.

[The-sky-captain]

I've had my J since late 08', fly 175-200 hours on avg per year and haven't had to have them replaced yet. I don't know off the top of my head when they were installed new.

[Bob]

When I got my 231, the pad life was unknown.  I checked them often and did a lot of training.  After 3 years, they were half worn, so I replaced the pads.  I think I will cycle them out every 4-5 years. 

 

My thought is if you replace tires, brake pads are too cheap to not replace and make "zero time".

[pirate]

16 years and still going

[MooneyBob]

16 years and still going

Wow. We are talking about main gear brakes. Not the front one. :-)

[orionflt]

16 years and still going

so what you are saying is you only fly twice a year, or only land on 8000 ft runways where you do not need brakes  

[Hank]

so what you are saying is you only fly twice a year, or only land on 8000 ft runways where you do not need brakes  

 

I bought my plane in '07; don't know when the brakes were redone. I'm based on a tree-lined 3000' field and average around 100 hours each year. Flew much more than that while earning my Instrument rating. My parents live near a 2770 x 30 field. No worries--just don't ride the brakes while taxiing, don't land with the brakes on and do land with the stall horn sounding. Oh, yeah, I do NOT routinely use full flaps, either . . . . .