Many automobile owners do not prior brake maintenance until something goes wrong with their vehicle. Make sure you don’t make the same mistake. When you step on the brakes, a complicated system of pieces goes into play. Certain elements must be replaced at regular times in order for the system to function properly. Your brake pads are one of those components that you’ll probably replace the most frequently.
What Are Brake Pads and How Do They Work?
The front two wheels of most modern automobiles feature braking systems that rely on rotors, which are metallic discs placed behind each wheel. The caliper is a clamp-like device that sits above each of these. When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, the calipers close, squeezing the rotors on both sides. Friction is created as a result of this motion, causing the wheels to spin more slowly until they come to a complete stop.
The detachable surfaces that calipers utilize to make contact with the rotors during this procedure are known as brake pads. These brake pads aren’t going to last indefinitely. They will eventually wear down due to the friction stated before. Allow your brake pads to become too thin, and your brakes will not perform as well as they should. It’s critical to get new brake pads installed at the earliest sign of difficulty for your own safety.
If you see any of these five warning signs, have the old brake pads replaced as soon as possible.
Signs You Need New Brake Pads
You hear a squealing noise
Consider the following scenario: You’re driving with the windows pulled up and the radio turned off. You hear a faint scraping, screeching, or buzzing sound amid the relative silence. You also notice that whenever you apply the brakes, the odd noise disappears, only to reappear as soon as your foot off the brake pedal. What exactly is going on here?
Most, but not all, brake pads come with built-in “wear indicators” nowadays. The primary aim of these devices is to produce the obnoxious screech you just heard. Metal tabs near the top of conventional brake pads serve as wear indicators. The indication will scrape against the rotor when the brake pad wears down to an unsafe level. This produces a characteristic grating noise that alerts the motorist that his or her existing brake pads are about to wear out completely.
You hear a clicking noise
In some autos, the brake pads are held in place by a unique device. Other vehicles use clips, nuts, or pins to retain them in place. The purpose of these designs, in any case, is to keep the brake pads from wobbling around. They’ll start to rattle if they become loosened in any way (for example, if a piece of the surrounding hardware is destroyed). As a result, whenever the brake pedal is pressed or released, a clicking sound is heard.
Bringing the car to a stop takes more time than it used to
“Brake fade” is the name given to this phenomenon. It’s usually the result of deliberately using the brakes over a long distance without bringing the car to a complete stop. Such a technique may be required on occasion, particularly while driving down a mountainside or over a curving road. However, if you do this on a regular basis for example, if you live in a hilly location and must frequently go downhill it will wear out your braking system over time. Both the brake pads and the rotors will heat up if they are forced to make contact for an extended amount of time. Their capacity to generate necessary friction against one other is hindered as a result of this process. As a result, your car will take longer to come to a complete stop than it used to.
The nose of your car pulls to one side when you brake
Brake pads on your car don’t always wear out at the same rate. Those on one side of the equation may become slimmer faster than those on the other. If this happens, the automobile may pull to the left or right when you apply the brakes. If you ignore the problem, you’ll be putting undue strain on your steering rack (as well as your vehicle’s ball joints, steering knuckles, and wheel bearings). Don’t take chances, have a mechanic look into the problem right away.
It’s worth noting that brake pads aren’t always the source of this symptom. It could also be caused by other problems including unequal tire pressure, a damaged wheel bearing, or a faulty brake caliper. If unevenly worn brake pads are the root of the problem, two new sets should be placed in one session.
The brake pedal vibrates when pressed
When you step on the brake pedal, does it tremble violently? It’s possible that your brake pads are the source of the problem. Typically, the binding resin is used to keep brake pads together. This adhesive becomes heated and spread across the rotor as each brake pad wears down. It will produce a coating that is equally scattered across the disc’s surface under ideal conditions. However, if a brake pad is overheated, the glue may not be evenly dispersed. This is referred known as “glazing” by mechanics, and it can cause brake pedals to rattle.
A brake pedal that pulsates isn’t one to trust. If you ignore this problem, your ability to brake properly may be jeopardized. When it comes to brake pad maintenance, stay careful and don’t put it off.
