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Several telltale signs will tell you when to replace brake pads or other braking system components. If you hear a squealing sound or your car pulls to one side when braking, you need your brakes checked. A low brake fluid warning light on your dashboard can also indicate an issue. AutoZone suggests that if you do mostly highway driving, your brake rotors could last 60,000 miles, but if you’re a city driver, you may need to replace them as early as 20,000 miles.
The following are some of the indicators of when to replace brake pads:
According to Bruce Chidsey, vice president of automotive technical support for AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care, squealing is an indication of how to tell if brake pads are worn. That annoying sound is from the brake pad’s wear indicator, a small piece of metal that vibrates against the rotor when friction has worn the brake pads down to a minimum thickness threshold. Typically, that noise means you have about 2/32 of an inch of brake pad left, which isn’t much. In the states that require regular vehicle safety inspections, that thickness is as low as the pads can get and still be considered adequate for driving.
“When your brakes squeal,” Chidsey says, “that’s when you start damaging other parts.”
If your car pulls to one side when you use the brakes, that indicates that you may need new brakes or pads. Pulling to one side indicates a problem with the brakes on the opposite side of the car. (Essentially, you’re only getting braking power to one side, causing the opposite side to swing out.) The cause might be a jammed caliper piston getting in the way of the braking operation or overly worn brake pads.
Your vehicle uses brake fluid, which is hydraulic fluid, every time you press the brakes to stop. Your brakes will not function without brake fluid, so it’s vital to check and change brake fluid whenever you get an oil change. However, your owner’s manual will have the recommended interval for replacing the brake fluid. Low brake fluid is another signal that you need new brakes. If your brake light illuminates on the dash or your brakes feel less responsive than usual, take your car to the shop and check your fluid levels.
“It could mean you have a leak in the system,” Chidsey says. “Or it could be a sign that your brake pads are worn. If that’s the case, the caliper pistons will extend out as the pads wear down, causing brake fluid to fill the space behind the caliper piston lower in the reservoir. But don’t just have your mechanic or a service professional top it off. That brake fluid went somewhere, so have them find out what you’re dealing with.”
Given that the brake pads’ pressure on the rotor stops your vehicle when you apply the brakes, you want to monitor the condition of your rotors for your safety. Here’s how to tell if you need new rotors:
Bridgestone Tire recommends you replace brake pads or shoes every 30,000 to 35,000 miles in urban use. With mostly highway driving, every 80,000 miles or more. Your ideal maintenance plan with brakes is to replace the pads before they wear down too much and cause metal-on-metal friction in your brake system. That’s because rotors and calipers are more expensive to replace than new brake pads alone. Check your brake system routinely and listen for a grinding sound. If your brake pads and rotors are making a grinding noise, chances are it’s too late, and replacing them will be necessary.
Learn more about common causes for your noisy brakes.
Because your brake pads are behind the wheels and difficult to see, let alone track their wear, Chidsey advises having your technician check them for you.
“If your mechanic tells you that your brake pads are worn down to 3/32 of an inch or less, you’re getting close to the end,” he says. “And remember, there’s nothing wrong with getting them changed out a little early just to be safe.”
Rotors take a lot of friction every time you apply your brakes, eventually weakening the steel and leading to warping. The type of driver you are, whether you’re constantly slamming on the brakes in stop-and-go city driving or if you are primarily a highway driver, will impact how long your rotors will last.
A braking system consists of both mechanical and hydraulic parts. Every time you put your foot on the pedal, the master cylinder pushes brake fluid into a hydraulic caliper behind the wheels. Pistons in the calipers squeeze the brake pads against the metal, disc-shaped rotors to stop the car.
The brake components’ constant squeezing and releasing causes wear and tear of the pads and rotors over time. It also creates significant heat. “As the pads get lower and lower, they don’t dissipate the heat as much,” says Chidsey. “And that causes them to wear out even faster.”
Power Stop.com describes the following causes of brake rotors getting worn out:
The Family Handyman reports that changing brake pads takes about four hours and will save you about $350 in shop labor. You’ll need to gather your new brake pads, rotors, tools, and supplies to replace them. Working on one side of the vehicle at a time, you’ll remove the tires, the calipers, and the piston before you can remove the old rotor and replace the brake pad. Finally, you’ll reassemble everything, replace the wheel, test the new brakes, and carefully break in the new brake pads.
You can also replace brake rotors if you’re handy at repairing cars. You’ll want to replace the brake pads and rotors simultaneously to ensure that these parts that work so closely together wear evenly. AutoZone has step-by-step instructions for how to replace brakes. Learning to repair and maintain your car will help it to last longer. But, if DIY is not your speed, you can always find a good mechanic to replace your brakes.
If you want to keep your brake pads in good shape for as long as possible, practice good driving habits. Don’t accelerate too quickly or brake too quickly. Don’t ride your brakes and remember to take your emergency brake off while driving.
“If you give yourself enough space between cars to avoid jamming on the brakes, they’re going to last longer,” says Chidsey.
Also, remember that if you’re consistently hauling a significant amount of weight, towing a trailer, or carpooling to work, you may need to replace your brake pads more frequently. Extra pounds in the car translates to faster brake wear because it takes more force to slow down.
As a car owner, paying attention to the sounds and signals your vehicle is giving you is essential.
The brakes are one of the most critical parts of your car's safety system; if you neglect them, they can lead to costly repairs and even accidents.
It is recommended to replace brake pads every 25,000 to 65,000 miles and rotors every 30,000 to 70,000 miles, depending on driving conditions and styles. Pay attention to any signs of trouble with your brakes, such as squeaking, grinding, vibration, longer stopping times, brake pad indicator light coming on, or thin brake pads. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent further damage and expensive repairs.
On average, brake pads should be replaced every 25,000 to 65,000 miles, while rotors typically should be changed anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 miles.
However, the exact number can differ depending on driving conditions and styles.
The good news is, you'll likely experience minor symptoms when your brake pads are getting towards their end of life, making diagnosis and repairs easy.
If your brake pads are near the end of their useful life, the first symptom you'll begin to notice is a squeaking or squealing noise coming from the brakes. Squealing brake pads are typically caused by excessively worn-down pads.
Once you've worn down your pads enough, you'll start to experience a grinding noise, at which time you'll also begin to damage your rotors, making the repair cost even more expensive.
As we stated above, if you're experiencing a grinding noise while you're applying pressure to the brake pedal, your brake pads need to be replaced ASAP. Some brake pads have built-in metal wear indicators, which are designed to make a loud noise and alert you that it's time to replace the pads.
If you leave the brake pads to continue grinding, you're opening yourself up to a lot more damage and higher repair costs.
If you feel your car shaking when you press the brake pedal, it means that there's something wrong with the brakes. It's probably because the rotors that help stop the car are not smooth anymore, causing the brakes to work unevenly.
You should take your car to a professional to fix it.
Another major sign that your brakes need to be checked out is loss of performance when applying the brakes. If you're experiencing less than ideal-stoppage times while applying your brakes, it may mean your brake pads are worn down completely or that your brake fluid is low (oftentimes due to a leak).
For a true understanding of what's going on with your brakes, you'll want to get to a brake mechanic as soon as possible to ensure you keep all braking abilities.
Most modern vehicles come with brake warning lights that appear on your dash. One is your Antilock Braking System (ABS) light, and the other is your brake system warning light.
Your brake light won't always come on when there is an issue — it's also the light that appears on your dash when your parking brake is engaged.
But if you're seeing a brake warning light and your parking brake isn't engaged, it's time to have a brake expert look at your system to diagnose your issues.
One way to easily check on your brake pads is to inspect them visually for wear. To do this, look between the spokes of your wheels and locate your brake pad.
If it appears to be less than a ¼ inch or 6.4 mm thick, and there's brake dust buildup, you're probably due for a set of new brake pads.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, let our expert brake techs provide a diagnosis.
We provide top-rated, affordable brake repair services at your work or home.
Receive a free brake repair estimate, or call (855) 800-5629 to discuss what you're experiencing!