As a car owner, paying attention to the sounds and signals your vehicle is giving you is essential.
ALLMAX supply professional and honest service.
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.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of truck brake lining. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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- to discuss what you're experiencing!
Making sure your brakes are in proper working condition, and replacing worn parts like pads and shoes when the time is right, won&#;t just save you money in the long run. It can also potentially save your vehicle, or even your life in an accident. But how do you know when to replace your brakes' pads or shoes? What are they for? Let&#;s take a closer look at the how, what, and why of replacing brake pads and/or shoes on your vehicle.
Auto manufacturers install two types of brakes on passenger vehicles: disc brakes and drum brakes. Both use friction to slow your vehicle, but there are differences too.
Disc brakes use &#;pads&#; of specially engineered pieces of friction material made of organic, metallic or ceramic substances pressed against a rotor or &#;disc&#; when the driver steps on the brakes. The resulting friction slows the vehicle. Disc brakes are found on the front axles of all modern passenger vehicles and on the rear axle of many, too.
Drum brakes also use friction material, much like disc brake pads, but it is affixed to half-moon shaped &#;shoes&#; pressed against the inside of a drum when you step on the brakes. Their friction against the drum slows the vehicle. Drum brakes used to be common on all four wheel positions, but on modern cars and light trucks, they&#;re only installed on the rear axle.
Whether pads or shoes, both wear down with use, so it&#;s important to monitor their condition by having them inspected regularly. If allowed to wear out before being replaced, other components of the brake system may be damaged &#; especially the brake discs or drums. In addition to often costly repairs, driving with worn brake pads or shoes can result in unsafe driving conditions.
Every time you engage your vehicle&#;s brakes, a small amount of friction material is worn off the pads and/or shoes. Over time, the friction material will become thinner. If the pads or shoes are not replaced, the friction material will be worn off entirely, exposing the steel pieces that held the material. When these steel pieces come into contact with the discs or drums, excessively long braking distances and damage to the discs and drums will result. Look for these signs to know when to replace brake pads or shoes:
If a vehicle&#;s brake pads have wear indicators, a driver may notice a squealing, screeching or whining noise when the brakes are engaged. This sound is caused by a small metal attachment on the brake pad backing plate for just this purpose. Wear indicators work on the same principle as dragging fingernails across a chalkboard. When you hear it regularly while braking, it&#;s time to bring your car in to a brake specialist for an inspection. Note that not all brake pads come with this feature, so don&#;t rely on sound alone to assess your brakes&#; condition.
When brakes are exposed to wet, damp conditions, such as after a rain storm, pads may exhibit a very similar screeching sound while braking. If a sound disappears after the first few times you use your brakes, that&#;s a good indicator that it was just a bit of moisture on the brake pads or shoes and not a sign they need to be replaced.
On disc brakes, you can also visually inspect your brake pads to know if it&#;s time to have them replaced, though it may require you to remove the wheels to do this. Looking down on the brake assembly or &#;caliper&#; holding the brake pads, you should see your brake pads compressed against your brake rotor. If the friction material on the pad or shoe is less than ¼ inch thick (about seven millimeters), consider having your brakes inspected, especially if it&#;s been a long time since your last inspection.
If you hear a deep, low noise that sounds like metal grinding or a rumbling growl, that can be a sign that not only are your brake pads worn away, but also your brake pads or shoes&#; backing plates are making contact with the discs or drums. Since this metal on metal contact can very quickly cause even further damage in your braking system, bring your vehicle in to a service shop as soon as possible if you hear this type of noise.
Some vehicles have an indicator light on the dashboard that will signal when it&#;s time to replace the brake pads. Check your owner&#;s manual to see if your vehicle comes equipped with the low-pad warning system. Remember that if the light does come on, you&#;ll need to have your mechanic replace the warning sensors as well as the brake pads.
The real answer to how long brake pads and shoes can last will vary from vehicle to vehicle and from driver to driver. For example, if you tend to drive the most often in urban areas or in heavy commuter traffic, you&#;ll be engaging your brakes a lot more frequently than someone who drives in rural locations or on highways. Some people also tend to &#;ride the brake,&#; meaning they press and depress their brakes more habitually than other drivers, causing the brake pads to wear away more quickly. Brake pads and shoes are generally thought to be good between 30,000-35,000 miles in urban use. In less demanding situations like highway driving in light traffic, brakes may last 80,000 miles or more.
With a little attention and forethought, it can be easy to know when to replace brake pads and/or shoes on your vehicle.
Are you interested in learning more about heavy duty truck brake lining? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!