Your brakes are the most important safety feature in your vehicle and one of the most durable. The brake system in your car is used every time you drive and relies on immense pressure being applied from your brake pads to the rotors in order to stop your car safely. In most cases, your brake pads should last for 30,000 to 70,000 miles, depending on a variety of factors, including how you drive, the quality of pads installed, and the type of vehicle.
While your brake pads will certainly last a long time, they will eventually wear out. When they do, you need to be aware so you can get them replaced before they stop being able to safely and effectively stop your car. Fortunately, there are signs that it’s time to bring your vehicle in for new pads.
Squeaking when Stopping
The first sign almost always is when you start hearing a squeaking sound whenever you hit the brakes. This is because brake pads are designed with a piece of metal in them that will come in contact with the rotor as they wear down. The consequent squeaking will alert the driver that the pads are at the end of their useful life. Take note that brakes may squeak in wet weather even if nothing is wrong, so this sign only applies when they squeak all or most of the time.
Grinding Metal Sound
If you hear a sound like metal grinding on metal, it means your pads are well beyond their useful life. It’s dangerous to drive like this, so bring your vehicle into a repair shop as soon as possible to have new pads put on. If you keep driving like this, you will not only have reduced stopping power, but it can damage your rotors as well, resulting in a more costly repair.
Visual Inspection
If you can see your brake pads, look at how thick they are. If the pad is less than a quarter inch thick, it should be replaced. Some tires allow you to see the brake pads all the time, but others may only be visible when the tire is off. Having your brakes looked at whenever rotating your tires is a great habit to get into.
Keep Your Vehicle Safe
If your vehicle has any of these signs or any other issues that make you think your brakes are going bad, bring it to a qualified repair shop as soon as possible. When your brake system is not in proper working order, it can take a lot longer to stop, which can put you, your passengers, and others on the road in danger.
