Signs You Need to Replace Your Brake Pads
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Signs You Need to Replace Your Brake Pads
Your brake pads may be the only thing that stands between you and a fatal accident. Making sure that your brake pads are in top shape should be a part of your regular maintenance check. You need to look for signs that may indicate it’s time to replace your brake pads.
Signs That Indicate It's Time to Replace Brake Pads
1. Vibrating Brake Pedal
You’re driving down the road and when you press your foot on the brake pedal, you get a vibrating or pulsating sensation that wasn’t there before. This symptom is usually caused by brakes that have been worn out or warped brake pads due to excessive heat. When this happens, the brake pads can be re-machined if not too worn out yet. Else, they need to be replaced.
2. Thin Brake Pads
Brake pads are consumable items. That’s why your car dealer doesn’t include them in the warranty. It’s natural for brake pads to get thin with usage. Look for visual signs that may indicate you need to replace your brake pads. You can see the brake pads through the spokes of your car’s tires. When they become less than ¼ inch in thickness, it’s time to replace them.
3. Clicking Noise
All cars have a device that prevents rattling on the brake pads when you depress the brake pedals. When you hear a rattling or a clicking noise when you apply the brakes, it may be due to thin brake pads that need to be replaced.
4. Screeching Sound
This can be quite confusing since this sound may also be heard from newly-installed brake pads. Some cheap or hard brake pads may also exhibit this sound. But if you hear a screeching sound together with clicking or rattling, that’s a definite indicator that your brake pads have become too thin for safety.
5. Grinding Sound
Don’t let it come to this scenario or you may be facing a hefty repair bill. When the brake pad has fully worn out, the brake caliper and brake disc will rub together, producing an unsettling grinding sound. When this happens, not only do you need to replace the brake pad, but also the other parts of the brake system which would have lasted a lifetime if you only replaced the brake pad earlier.
6. Pulling on One Side
When your car is being pulled to one side while driving, it usually indicates that you need to have your wheels aligned. But if it happens when you step on the brake pedal, it’s a sign that a brake pad has become too thin, creating an imbalance on the wheel's grip which in turn causes the pull.
Words of Wisdom
The car’s brake system is what can save you from having an accident that may cost you your life or another person’s. Don’t go cheap by skipping on repairs and buying cheap replacements. The brake pads are serviceable and can be easily and cheaply replaced. Monitor the signs discussed above in order to determine if you need to have your brake pads repaired or replaced. Buy original parts as much as possible.
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