Just as your gas mileage will vary depending on where and how you drive, so it goes with the life of brake pads (or brake shoes), the friction material that gets pressed against a metal disc (rotor) or drum to stop your vehicle. How long will they last? That depends on a lot of factors. If you drive only 8,000 miles a year but it’s mainly in a crowded urban area such as Detroit, Chicago, Boston or Washington, D.C., you will need to replace brake pads or shoes more often than someone who drives 28,000 miles a year across the...