Worn Brake Pads Symptoms and Solutions
Brake rotors are large discs that sit inside of the wheels. When you hit the brakes, the brake pads push against the rotors, which stops your wheels from spinning.
Over time, it’s normal for the rotor surface to wear down and possibly become uneven. Braking friction, when you apply the brakes, results in the transfer of pad material to the rotor surface.
If the pad material transfers unevenly, you may experience vibration when braking. Left uneven, the material will continue to build on the uneven spots, making the problem worse over time.
During brake servicing, the face of the rotor should be smoothed or evened out to correct flaws and keep you from feeling a wobble when you brake.
If the rotors are too far worn to be serviced, they will need to be replaced
8 signs of wear & tear on brakes
Brake servicing is an important part of proper vehicle maintenance. When you take care of your brakes, they’ll take care of you when you need them most.
However, even with regular maintenance, the brakes on your vehicle may require a professional inspection and servicing if you encounter one or more of these eight brake problem warning signs.
Brake Light On
If the brake light indicator appears on your dashboard, it’s either time for your regular maintenance or an alert to a potential problem.
Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for possible causes. In some vehicles, this can be caused by your parking brake. Release it and see and see if the light turns off.
Read: How to Tell If You Need Brake Pads or Rotors
Squealing/Squeaking Noises
Noises could be produced by a foreign object lodged in your brakes (a pebble or debris). It could also be your brake-pad wear indicators.
These bits of metal in your brake pad come in contact with the rotor to emit a high-pitched noise when you apply the brakes, indicating to replace your brake pads.
Grinding Noises
Grinding noises, whether you have disc or drum brakes, could mean your brakes need servicing right away due to the brake pad or shoe scraping on metal contact points.
Read Also: Brake Pad Wear Indicator Meaning
Leaking Fluid
When you apply your brakes an important part of the process involves brake fluid, which is used to create hydraulic pressure against the brake caliper.
If your vehicle has no brake fluid, you won’t be able to stop safely. Check your vehicle’s brake fluid often.
Wobbling/Vibration When Braking
If your steering wheel or vehicle shakes or vibrates when you apply the brakes, it could be that the thickness of your rotor is uneven.
Spongy or Soft Brakes
When you press on the brakes, if they feel soft or the pedal goes all the way to the floorboard, it could indicate air or moisture in the braking system.
It could also be a problem with the master cylinder. It’s important you get to a mechanic when you notice these issues.
Read Also: How to Get Air Out of Brake Lines without bleeding.
Car Pulling to One Side When Braking
When this happens on the front brakes, one brake may be working while another is not. This causes pull in the direction of the side that is creating braking force.
If only one rear caliper is not working properly, it can go unnoticed. Get your brakes inspected regularly to spot these issues before they become a problem.
Burning Smells
A sharp, chemical odor could be a sign of overheated brakes. To avoid brake failure, pull over to a safe place and allow the brakes to cool.
Double-check that the parking brake is off. If there’s any smoke coming from a wheel, it may be that the brake caliper is malfunctioning and locked in place.
In this case, it may be unsafe to continue driving without immediate repairs.
Read before buy: Brake Caliper paint Guide
Warning signs of brakes being too worn for safe use
There are a number of warning signs to look out for that could mean one or more of your brake components are in need of replacement. Check the list below.
Brake pads
Many brake pads have built-in metal shims that emit a squealing noise when your pads have worn down sufficiently.
Some brake calipers are built with small windows allowing you to see how thick your car’s brake pads are and how much effective life is left in them.
If you have less than ¼ of an inch left on your brake pads, it’s time to replace them.
If your car pulls to one side under braking, this is often a sign that your brake pads have worn unevenly and now need replacing.
If your car’s brakes make a clicking sound when the brake pedal is pressed, it means that your pads need replacing.
Brake pad retention springs are installed on your car’s brakes to limit the movement of brake pads when the pedal is depressed.
When the pads have worn down enough, many cars emit a click noise under braking.
Brake discs
Brake discs can become warped or damaged from everyday wear and tear. Wear on the rotors are often noticeable as a ‘pulsating’ feeling in the brake pedal.
It isn’t always the case that you’ll be required to replace the brake discs every time they are damaged, provided there is enough thickness left on the rotor.
A mechanic should be able to resurface a brake disc several times before a replacement is needed.
Brake fluid
Any loss of ‘pressure’ feeling in the brake pedal is usually as a result of old or ineffective brake fluid.
It’s worth replacing the brake fluid in your car’s system regularly: most manufacturers recommend doing it around once every two years, but this can vary significantly.
Old brake fluid is prone to collecting moisture, which can reduce the fluid’s effectiveness and corrode your car’s brake lines from the inside, creating the potential for serious problems later on.
Conclusions
Brake pads can last anywhere between 25,000 and 75,000 miles depending on the type of car and most importantly your driving style.
Braking late and hard wears out your pads faster than driving smoothly and braking early. This also creates less heat in the rotor, reducing any temperature-linked issues.
Most manufacturers recommend checking your brake pads’ condition every 12 months or 10,000 miles (whichever comes first).
