5 Signs It's Time To Replace Your Brake Pads

Thinking it's time for new brake pads? Typically, brake pads should last about 50,000 miles. But, with different driving conditions, this could range from 25,000 - 70,000 miles. If you're a tough braker in an area with precipitation you'd be on the lower end of this spectrum!

Luckily, brakes provide us some warning signs to let us know they're ready to be replaced.

Here are the 5 signs it's time to replace your brake pads.

1. Screeching or Squeaking

Hearing a squeal coming from your wheel? Time for some new pads.

Brake pads have something called a wear indicator on them. New brake pads are about 12 mm thick. When they wear down to roughly 25% (or 3 mm) the wear indicator touches the rotor to let you know it's time to replace your pads or risk greater damage to your vehicle. If you let this ride long enough, you can waive bye to your rotors and potentially much more!

2. Grinding

Well, you may have graduated from the squealing stage and reached metal on metal with your brake pads and rotors. Once that pad is completely gone, the back is a hard metal plate. If the pad wears away, the metal plate will be shoved into your metal rotor, and well, you'll definitely hear it if not feel it!

In this scenario, you'd need to replace your brake pads AND rotors to maintain a safe and healthy brake system.

3. Brake Light Turns On

Some vehicles, especially luxury European makes, have a brake pad sensor attached to the caliper. Once the brake pad gets low enough, about 3 mm) it will trigger the sensor to display the brake light indicating it's time to replace them.

4. Long Stops

Feeling that pedal take a little extra 'umph' to get the car to stop. Your pads might be low and it's parter brake caliper it's taking a little more effort to push it into the rotor.

5. Shaking When Braking

If you're touching on your brake pads and it feels like you're getting thrown to the right or left or even going over mini speed bumps - your pads are wearing improperly. This causes the rotors to warp which causes the pads to adhere incorrectly against them.

Think about sneakers that get worn on one side based on the way you walk. This is exactly what's going on here. In order to fix the issue, you'd need to replace both the brake pads and the rotors. That way the new pads will adhere to a flat, smooth rotor face and you'll brake correctly!

Experiencing any of these bad brake pad signs?

Brakes To You will send a technician right to your home or office to service your brakes. We're 40% cheaper on average than a brake shop and a heck-of-a-lot more convenient. Get a free brake repair quote today!