Important Checks to Be Completed on Brake Pads

One of the most important safety features in your vehicle is your brakes. Making sure that the braking system works properly can help you to prevent accidents from happening. It is simple to make sure that the brakes are working correctly by changing out the brake pads on a regular basis. The important thing to remember whenever checking the brake pads is that there are no external indicators, other than the width of the brake pad, as to when they need to be changed. Always make sure to bring your vehicle to ASE master technicians whenever the brake pads need to be changed. They can help in making sure that the brake pads are installed correctly and that you get more out of the pads.

Looking at Brake Pads

The first way that mechanics look for to determine if your brake pads need to be replaced is to look at them. Simply by removing the tire, they can see the caliper with the pad attached to it. The majority of brake pads start out between a quarter of an inch to a half inch in width. Whenever the brake pads have been worn down to an eighth of an inch or less, it is time to replace the brake pads. If the pads to get too thin, they can crack or fail causing you to be in severe danger whenever stopping. If your pads are paper thin, it is possible that the calipers will start rubbing against the disc at any time.

Listening to Brake Pads

Most brake pads will come with a layer of the pad that makes a sound when it has been reached. This is typically a squealing sound whenever the brake lights come on. Listening for this sound after you have driven more than 1,000 miles on a set of pads will help you to determine if the pads need to be changed. The reason why this is significant is because some new brakes will squeal regardless of the age of the brakes. This is because the pads did not have the brake lubricant added to the pad when installed. It can cause the brakes to squeal not too long after they have been replaced even though there is no need to replace the pads.

What Happens When Brake Pads Get Old

As the brakes get old, the biggest problem you encounter is a failure for the brakes to operate correctly. If you step on the brakes and you feel as if the car is not slowing down quickly, it is possible that the brake pads have failed and that you need to have the entire brake system looked at. Metal on metal grinding sounds are common whenever the brake pads are completely worn out. This will create a situation in which the discs need to be resurfaced or may even need to be replaced completely. Calipers can also malfunction because the metal will be ground down. If the metal is ground down, it can cause the caliper to fall apart and will fail to grip the disc. Failure to grip will make it impossible for you to stop and could create a possibility of an accident.