Brake pad
Brake pads are a key brake part because they are the component that contacts and applies pressure and friction to a vehicle’s brake rotors. Because of how fast a vehicle’s wheels rotate and how much a typical car or truck weighs, brake pads undergo extreme stress every time you slow down or come to a stop.
Image source: aa1car.com
- The brake pedal is vibrating
- The brake pads appear too thin
- The brakes make a clicking noise
- The brakes make a screeching sound
- The brakes make a grinding sound
Worn out brake pads will cause the braking distance to increase and may cause a metal to metal grinding on the rotor surfaces. If a brake pad gets cracks in its surface – caused from overheating the pad – then they will squeak or squeal when stopping. If the pads and rotors get overheated then the stopping distance will be increased. Once you hear a squealing sound on a regular basis, it’s time to replace the brake pads.
- Front brakes usually wear out more quickly than the rear brakes (which could either be disc or drum brakes), so they need to be changed more often.
- Car pulling to one side of the road can indicate a few different things, such as wheel alignment is out, it could and often indicates that a driver needs the brake pads replacing.
- When drivers hear a grinding or growling sound when the brake pedal is pressed then it is bad news, the brakes pads are not the only part that now needs replacing. The grinding or growling sound is usually caused by the brake disc and the brake caliper rubbing together, this is because the brake pad is completely worn down.