Brakes nowadays are wonderfully designed. They give the driver all sorts of indications that they’re starting to fail. Now if your brake pads are grinding, you have already missed the time to have your brakes checked. Brakes, just like other wear items on your vehicle need to be checked and maintained properly, replaced when suggested. In other words, brakes are part of routine maintenance, but you still need to know about the warning signs that you need new brakes or brake pads.
When you are trying to determine if you need new brakes, what do you look for? What are the signs? In today’s article we’ll examine the indicators and best practices on when to change your brakes.
The Brake Pads
The break “pads” are the actual wear items that will eventually fail if not replaced in time. If you can see them, you can determine yourself if the pads are a 1/4 inch thick. You also have to be watchful when it comes to your brakes in regards to both vibration and pulling. If you are noticing these things happening, then again, it is time to get your car to the shop for service.
Do you have to take your vehicle to a shop that specializes in brakes? No, but that may be a good start. Just remember that having your brakes checked often enough can help to prevent you from having to deal with these warning signs. Some of the warning signs are rather common, and people use them to finally get around to dealing with the brakes on their vehicles. However, that doesn’t mean that is the right way to handle things.
You can’t do it all, but staying on top of brake maintenance is important. Brakes have everything to do with safety, and so they demand attention if you are going to be using them all the time. Vibrating brakes were mentioned while ago, but what exactly does that mean? It means that the brake pedal suddenly can move on its own. It starts vibrating or pulsating, and you don’t want to be ignoring that.
Checking the Pad Thickness
If you notice any problems, get down there and check those brake pads. Or, you can leave it to the auto repair shop to take a look for you. Are you familiar with the rotor? If you are, that likely means you are versed enough about vehicle maintenance to check to see if there are any grooves in the rotor. Not everyone is going to take the time to do that, but Mr. Fix It would. The rest of the population looks out more for the other warning signs, and they have their brake pads changed out by the professionals.
Most of the time, people that wait too long to give their brakes some attention just end up running into the brake pads wearing thin and making noises. However, brake pads can wear down and show other warning signs as described. They can also come loose, so that should tell you that you need to watch your brakes at all times. All you are required to do is be diligent, not worrisome, and stay on top of brake maintenance so that you can drive that car all over the place with a good set of brake pads.
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