It’s important to replace your brake pads when the surface has worn off. Driving with worn brake pads is dangerous and can damage the rotors. Padron Automotive can replace your brake pads when you need a new set. Here are six signs that your brake pads need to be replaced as soon as possible.
1. Your Brakes Squeal While You’re in Motion
Oddly, your brakes would squeal while you’re in motion, but some brake pad manufacturers put sensors in the pads that make noise when they get too low. You’ll notice the sound while you’re driving, and it will stop when you apply the brakes. This tells you that the pads have worn down to the sensor.
2. Your Brakes Squeal When You Stop
Your brakes might also squeal as you slow down and stop. This could be a sign of brake pad wear and tear or other problems with the brake system. Squealing brakes could also be overheating. When they get too hot, the brake pads glaze – smooth out – and squeal. Glazed brake pads run a high risk of failing.
3. Your Brakes Grind or Scrape When You Stop
If you hear grinding or scraping when you apply the brakes, your pads have already worn down and must be replaced immediately. Brake pads rest on top of a metal backing that rubs against the rotors when the pads are gone. This contact will make grinding or scraping sounds and warp the rotors.
4. Your Brake Dashboard Light Comes On
We talked about noise sensors above, and brake pad manufacturers also put sensors in the pads to turn on a dashboard warning light when they get too low. Depending on the lights available in your automobile, the brake light or a brake pad wear indicator light will come on if the pads are too low.
5. You Feel Pulling or Vibration When You Brake
Most of the time, pulling to the side or vibration when you brake means something is going on with the calipers or rotors, but if the brake pads have worn down unevenly, your vehicle might shudder or pull. You will feel either or both of the sensations when you apply the brakes, not while in motion.
6. Your Brake Fluid Is Low
Finally, unless you leak, your brake fluid should never get low. If it does, it could be that your brake pad surface is too low. The brake fluid level is affected by the amount of surface on the brake pads, and low brake fluid without a leak suggests it’s time for new brake pads on all four wheels.
Call Padron Automotive in Topeka, KS, if you need new brake pads. We’d be happy to inspect and replace them.
