Also called: brake job, front pads
Across 21 popular vehicles
Brake pads are the friction material that presses against the rotors. They are priced and replaced per axle rather than per wheel. Pad life varies more with driving style than with mileage, but 30,000 to 50,000 miles is typical for front pads.
A single national average hides the thing you actually want to know, which is whether your car sits at the cheap or expensive end. Usually it is access rather than the part that moves the price: the same component can take an hour on one engine layout and most of a day on another.
| Vehicle | Parts | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford Mustang | $84–$113 | $127–$171 | $211–$284 |
| 2008 Ford Escape | $89–$121 | $134–$182 | $223–$303 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | $90–$121 | $136–$183 | $226–$304 |
| 2012 Honda CR-V | $81–$111 | $152–$205 | $233–$316 |
| 2011 Honda Civic | $83–$113 | $155–$211 | $238–$324 |
| 2000 Dodge RAM 1500 | $85–$114 | $157–$213 | $242–$327 |
| 2016 Mazda Mazda3 | $100–$135 | $149–$202 | $249–$337 |
| 2014 Nissan Rogue | $112–$152 | $138–$186 | $250–$338 |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson | $100–$136 | $150–$202 | $250–$338 |
| 2023 Ford F-150 | $100–$118 | $151–$177 | $251–$295 |
| 2016 Mazda CX-5 | $104–$140 | $154–$209 | $258–$349 |
| 2017 RAM 1500 | $104–$141 | $156–$211 | $260–$352 |
| 2019 Toyota Camry | $93–$125 | $172–$232 | $265–$357 |
| 2017 Hyundai Elantra | $106–$144 | $159–$214 | $265–$358 |
| 2020 Toyota Tacoma | $93–$125 | $172–$233 | $265–$358 |
| 2012 Jeep Wrangler | $80–$108 | $186–$252 | $266–$360 |
| 2023 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid | $95–$111 | $177–$207 | $272–$318 |
| 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | $97–$113 | $180–$212 | $277–$325 |
| 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee | $83–$112 | $194–$262 | $277–$374 |
| 2015 GMC Sierra 2500hd | $113–$154 | $170–$229 | $283–$383 |
| 2016 Volkswagen Jetta | $102–$139 | $190–$258 | $292–$397 |
Swipe sideways to see all columns.
The ranges above cover a spread of vehicles. Enter a VIN and the report gives the estimate for that exact year, make, model and trim, alongside what the car has actually been through: accidents, title brands, odometer readings and open recalls.
Once pads grind, the backing plate is cutting into the rotor, which turns a pad job into pads and rotors. This is the one on the list where waiting reliably costs more.
Expect $207–$416 in total: $80–$154 for parts and $127–$262 for labor. Figures are drawn from 21 popular vehicles, so your car may sit at either end.
A squeal from the wear indicator when braking. A grinding noise, which means the pads are already gone. Longer stopping distances or a soft pedal. Visible pad material thinner than a few millimetres.
Access is usually the reason rather than the part itself. Across the vehicles we sampled, a 2015 Ford Mustang comes to $211–$284 while a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta comes to $292–$397 for the same job.
Enter your VIN. The report includes the repair cost estimates for that specific year, make, model and trim, alongside its history: accidents, title brands, odometer readings and open recalls.
About these figures. Parts and labor ranges are supplied by a licensed vehicle-data provider and reflect a sample of 21 popular vehicles as of 2026-09-17. They are estimates for comparison, not quotes. What you actually pay depends on your vehicle, your local labor rate, whether the shop fits original-equipment or aftermarket parts, and what else is found once the job starts. Always get a written quote before authorising work.