Our '04 TL has low mileage (30k) and has seen light, flatland driving. Should the brake pads be replaced as a matter of course for age?
How much life do folks normally get out of pads?

 

it can range depending on driving styles and trips. High highway miles can last up to 100k on original pads. I'd say your pads are fine at 30k given light driving (at least in my opinion of light driving).

You should just have a shop check or unbolt your caliper and swing it up to check remaining pad life. 6MT Brembos just simply need to remove the wheel to look.

and to answer your question, i dont believe there's a shelf life to brake pads. At least nothing you'd need to worry about.

 

Mine have 112k miles on them, still lots of pad left, combined city/hiway driving. I would not change them
because of age, have them looked at for pad thickness.