I just replaced my front brake pads about 8 months ago and they're already down to the wear indicators again. I mostly do city driving with normal braking habits, nothing aggressive. Is this normal or should I be worried about something else causing premature wear?
Eight months is pretty quick for front pads in city driving, so I'd get your rotors checked first - worn or damaged rotors can cause pads to wear faster and unevenly. Also have a mechanic look at your brake fluid condition and whether your calipers are sticking, since both of those common issues can create drag that eats through pads way quicker than normal.
have you noticed any squealing, grinding noises, or a soft/spongy brake pedal feel lately?
eight months for front pads on mostly city driving does sound faster than typical, but it's not unheard of depending on your actual usage. city driving can sometimes mean more frequent braking than highway miles, which wears pads quicker. a 2024 sedan shouldn't have anything inherently wrong with the brake system that would cause this right away. that said, a few things are worth checking: are your rotors actually in good shape, or did they get scored when you replaced the pads last time? sometimes dealers or shops don't resurface or replace rotors when they should, and a warped or scored rotor can drag against the pads and eat through them fast.
another thing to consider - do you tend to ride the brakes a lot or coast with brakes partially engaged? some driving styles wear pads much quicker without being "aggressive" in the traditional sense. also check if your calipers are sticking or if brake fluid is getting hot (though you'd usually notice that). if the rear pads are wearing normally and only the fronts are hammered, a sticking front caliper is pretty likely. i'd get it inspected by a shop you trust before replacing the pads again - they can check rotor condition and caliper operation and figure out what's actually going on rather than just swapping pads a second time.
don't assume it's just the pads - folks often overlook that a sticky caliper can push pads against the rotor constantly, burning through them way faster than normal wear. before you spend money on new pads again, have a mechanic inspect whether your calipers are retracting fully after braking, because if one's stuck or the slides are corroded, you'll keep replacing pads every few months while the real problem stays hidden. also worth checking if your parking brake is adjusted too tight, as that can keep constant pressure on the rear wheels and sometimes affect how your whole braking system behaves.
Don't just throw new pads at it and call it a day - that'll just repeat the problem. The folks above are right about rotors and calipers being the usual culprits, but there's one thing worth checking that sometimes gets missed: your brake fluid. If it's degraded or contaminated with moisture, it can cause the system to lose proper pressure or have uneven braking force distribution, which puts extra stress on whichever pads are doing more of the work. Your 2024 sedan should still be under warranty, so a dealer inspection won't cost you anything and they'll run a full diagnostic.
Beyond the fluid, pay attention to your driving patterns over the next week or two. City driving with lots of stop-and-go can legitimately wear pads faster than highway miles, especially if you're in heavy traffic where you're constantly feathering the brakes. But if you're genuinely not being aggressive, then something's definitely hanging onto the pads - could be a caliper that's not releasing fully, a rotor that's warped, or dust buildup in the caliper pistons. Get it checked before the pads wear completely through and damage the rotors, which'll turn an 8-month problem into a much bigger bill.
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