Normal front brake pad replacement interval?

it's pretty varied, but 120k is not uncommon. if you're concerned, just ask him to show you the pads.
and make sure he is competent with prius brake pads.

 

New pads are 10 mm thick, and service limit is 1 mm (my threshold would be 2~3 mm)

My latest front brake check, the pads were at 7 mm remaining thickness (3 mm wear), this was at 66,400 kms. Doing a bit of a ratio equation, and then converting the kms to miles, at my present rate of wear, I think I'd down to service limit with around 124500 (miles) on the odometer:



(It's basically 66,400 times 3, then times 5 and divided by 8)

Yeah, I'd second that he be careful doing Prius brakes. Safest is to disconnect the 12 volt at the outset, to completely prevent possibility of the brakes pressurizing while the caliper's off. Also be careful when pushing in the pistons, they are plastic, so avoid any point loads, use even bearing. Also, before reconnecting the battery or starting the car, tromp the brake pedal multiple times, to take up any excess travel in the pedal, which could otherwise throw a code.

I've attached a repair manual excerpt.

 

I replaced my Gen 2 at 90,000.

 

always.

 

Wife's original front brake pads are at 6mm after 121,000 miles on her '07. Driven & maintained properly, Prius pads should last a very long time.

 

Yeah, a lot of level roads, few stops, vs a lot of stop-and-go, would make a difference I think.

Just with a wheel off, looking through the little opening in the caliper, you get an edge-on view, can see the remaining pad depth.

Again, if I saw only 2~3 mm left I'd seriously think about replacing; I suspect there's less heat transfer due to less mass, and they're more prone to fragment at the edges when they're that thin.

 

Yeah I think the outer pad you can eyeball better just looking in obliquely, and the inner you have to rely on that opening in the caliper. There's slots on the pads, visible through that opening: if they're gone they're getting pretty low, maybe not quite mininum though.

 

Page 423 of Owner's Manual shows this:



It's in the largish circular opening in the engine underpanel.

As to where to put the safety stands, I'm not a fan of the scissor jack locations, as shown in the manual. They're ok for the scissor jack, which cups around the lower edge and actually bears on the body behind, usually denting it a bit in the process. But for safety stands, I find the leading edges of two longitudinal body rails much more sturdy:



And best to use these at the rear wheels:

 

Front and rear safety stand points I use, marked in red (front to the right):


(The distinctive L-shaped brackets are quite close, help you get your bearings.)
(With the rears, I turn the safety stand cradles 90 degrees, works better.)

 

Good picture Mendel, perfectly clear now.

 

I changed my rear rotors & pads around 130K and now my fronts are very low & rusty rotors which i'm about to change with 145K miles. I bought the car used in 2015 with 50K so these brakes do last long. 98% of my driving is highway.