Citroen C3 Aircross Brake Pads

Pad sets start from around R290 for common models and run up to about R1,800 for premium compounds. A front set for a C3 or C5 Aircross typically sits in the R950-R1,450 band, and the heavier models sit toward the top of that. Ceramic compounds cost more up front but last longer and shed far less dust, which is worth the difference on a car doing real mileage. Tell us the model, year and whether it has a wear sensor and we will quote the exact set.

Have them looked at every 15,000 km and expect to change them somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000 km. That range is wide because driving pattern decides it, not the odometer. Heavy urban traffic or regular mountain work pulls it toward the short end; steady open-road driving pushes it out. Diesel models wear front pads faster than the petrols because of the weight over the nose. The inspection is the important part — pads are cheap while they are still pads, and expensive once they have taken a disc with them.

Yes, and you usually should. Braking transfers weight forward, so front pads do most of the work and wear roughly one and a half to two times faster than the rears. Replacing an axle at a time is normal and correct. What you must never do is replace one side only — uneven friction across an axle makes the car pull under braking, which is worse than the worn pads you were trying to fix.

Ceramic pads are quieter, produce much less visible dust and generally last longer, which suits a car doing mostly highway and suburban work. Semi-metallic pads shed heat better and hold their bite harder under sustained load, which is what you want if you regularly descend passes or drive the car hard — the trade-off is more dust and faster disc wear. Both are perfectly appropriate here, and both sit inside the same broad price band. The choice is about duty cycle, not quality.

Not automatically. Have the discs measured against the minimum thickness stamped on the hub face, which is typically in the 22-28mm region depending on model. If they are above minimum and the faces are smooth, new pads on existing discs is a perfectly good job. If the discs are scored, lipped at the outer edge or at minimum, replace them — new pads bedding onto a bad surface simply wear out early and never give you full pedal. A disc set runs R1,450-R3,500 per axle.