My brakes started squealing when cold a few weeks ago, so I stopped by the dealer and picked up some new OE front pads. I pulled off my front wheels today to swap them out, and saw that I had plenty of pad material left on my original brakes.

I measured the pads. OE pads, new, measured 7mm. I still have 5mm left. I presently have 37500 miles on the car, and those miles include plenty of hard driving and braking, rush hour panic stops, several autocross events, and over 120 runs down the drag strip.

That means my current pads should last me to at least 60k, if I continue to drive like I have up till this point.

Just wanted to let you guys know.

I wouldn't care if my OEM pads would last 100K miles I couldn't handle the
dust they create. I installed Hawk HPS pads and now I can drive a week
before I notice any dust on my Volks.........maybe the 05/06 don't have
the same issues as the '04.........hate dust!!

I've had both the older '03/'04 and the '05/'06 brakes. In terms of dust, the '05/'06 pads are a 1000x better.

Mine had 42K and were about 5mm also. NO DUST! I went with EBC Greenstuff just to see. I like em'.

I pulled mine apart this weekend - at 25K my brakes vibrate on the highway. My pads look like brand new. I don't care about dust, I want a combination that is quiet and stops well. I am debating getting the rotors turned and using emory cloth on the pads or just replacing everything.

I agree on the '04's but the 05 brakes are basically no dust in comparison. Wash them the same day and his would still look just washed when mine needed washed again.

same story for me here trey, i've got 30k and still have 6-8 32nds on either side with plenty of hard braking on them. I think you and i drive pretty alike and its weird that drivers like us still have this much pad left. As for the rotors... i dont know about yours but mine are warped to hell
-GP-

See I thought it was just me cuz I have 25k and still on my original oem's...when I took it to dealer for the 22k oil change, I was told I had a lot of meat left..I thought this was odd but I guess not seeing the numbers you guys are pulling. Also my car is mainly highway driven with no traffic whatsoever..I do very little local driving/stopn go so I figure that also positively contributes to longer life.
Oh and by the way 05/06 brakes versus 03/04 is a night and day difference. I own the 05 and previously had the 03. The 03 was absoutely ridiculous with brake dust. Horrific. The 05 is barely noticeable and a major major step up.
-Vin

I only got 11K miles outta my OE 06 pads, ride is new...I do drive my car hard and do track/canyon's...The dealer told me I may be driving my car too hard...I was like

I slapped some Project MU's NS Pads...we shall see how these last

Hey Trey - Check your rear brakes. My front pads look like new, the rears just started making noise. There is almost no pad left??? Maybe that's where my vibration is coming from. I will have 26K after a round trip to my office today (100 miles each way)

Will do. Thanks for the heads up.

So far so good..no dust to really speak of..basic stuff