The following 10 critical signs help you answer the question, “how can I tell if I need new brakes?” If you notice any of these signs, you must replace the brakes immediately!
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- Loud screeching noise
- Clear wear and tear
- Loud noises after new pads
- Brakes vibration
- Irresponsive brakes
- Too sensitive brakes
- Two insensitive brakes
- Fluid leaks
- Vehicle pulling to one side
- Loud grinding noises
The braking system is one of the most critical systems in your vehicle, and it has to be working all the time properly. Otherwise, you will deal with a dangerous situation that might put your life at safety, if not the life of other people driving with you on the road.
There are many things to consider when it comes to maintaining the vehicle's brakes, and one of the most critical things is to keep an eye for anything that could indicate you need new brakes.
While there are some details in your vehicle's owner’s manual about how often you should replace the brakes, there are some instances where you might deal with premature damages requiring immediate replacement.
Every driver must understand all potential signs to help answer the question, “how can I tell if I need new brakes?” For more details about the 10 most common critical signs indicating that your vehicle is due for new brakes, let's read on for more details. Once you notice any of these signs, you must consult your mechanic immediately and place the brakes.
How long do car brakes Last?
Typically, your brake pads should serve you between 25,000 and 60,000 miles. However, there are many instances where the brake pads fail prematurely depending on the type of brake pads and other factors like your driving habits.
Therefore, every driver must understand other symptoms that could indicate you're dealing with failing brakes, which means you have to replace them immediately. Whether this is related to replacing the brake pads or the rotors, you need to consult your mechanic and resolve the problem, so you don't deal with safety issues.
How can I tell if I need new brakes?
Since the braking system is critical and there are some instances where you must replace the brakes before the due dates, it is important to understand the common symptoms of needing new brakes.
The good news is that automotive experts put together a list of the 10 most common symptoms indicating that you need to install new brakes. Let's look at some of these symptoms:
1. Loud screeching noise
The first and most obvious symptom indicating that you need new brakes immediately is whenever you hear some loud screeching noises every time you hit the brake pedal. Of course, this noise gets harder and louder as the brakes worsen.
Therefore, if you even notice a minor sound coming out of the braking system, you must take it seriously and check with your mechanic just in case to confirm there are no issues. Once you determine that your vehicle's brakes are due for replacement, you should not wait a single minute, and you'll have to replace them before you get involved in major critical situations.
2. Clear wear and tear
If you want to be proactive about your vehicle’s brakes, you can perform a quick visual inspection. Sometimes hearing the loud noise might not be coming from the braking system and therefore, pairing it with a visual inspection helps you get closer to the source of the problem.
Typically, if you need new brakes, you'll see visible signs of tear and wear all over the brake pads. If that's the case, you will most likely need new brake pads.
3. Loud noises after new pads
In some instances, you might install new brake pads and still notice that weird noise is still happening after the new pads. If that's the case, your problem could be related to something other than the brake pads. For example, an issue with the rotor might still cause screeching noises, and if you didn't take care of it, you might cause some premature damage to the new brake pads in no time.
4. Brakes vibration
Another common sign indicating that you need new brake pads is when you notice some weird vibration in the braking system. Again, this symptom could also be related to a long list of potential culprits, and that's why your mechanic needs to perform a thorough inspection before confirming it's an issue coming from the brake pads or not. In some instances, it could be a combination of multiple culprits simultaneously, which means you have to replace everything causing the issue.
Note that if the brake pads are the culprits, typically, the vibration will happen once you engage them. However, if the vibration is continuous and happens only in the steering wheel, for instance, it could be related to other stuff. But no matter what's the cause of this vibration, you should take it seriously because it is a way for your vehicle to tell you there is an internal problem.
5. Irresponsive brakes
One of the worst situations you might get involved in is when your brakes do not respond. Have you ever tried pressing on the brake pedal and realized that your vehicle takes time to respond? This could be a sign where you need to install new bricks.
6. Too sensitive brakes
On the other hand, you might get to a point where your vehicle over responds whenever you touch the brakes very slowly. That is another sign that you're dealing with some significant insistent issues. It is not a good sign. If your vehicle overreacts every time you engage the brakes, you should take this issue seriously because you don't want the other extreme to happen, as it's another indication of issues in the braking system.
7. Too irresponsible brakes
Unfortunately, many people might get to this point, and when this happens, you cannot control the car. In other words, if you want to slow down or stop your car in case of emergencies, you won't be able to do so.
Every driver needs to understand all the mentioned symptoms because they happen before you get to this point. Add when sudden damages the vehicles happen, they don't choose the time, and they could happen in situations where you can't find help nearby.
8. Fluid leaks
Sometimes if there is a problem with the braking system, you might notice a puddle of fluid underneath the car every time you want to move it. However, keep in mind that your car has different loads, and everyone has their characteristics and smells differently. Therefore, you will need to know which fluid it is first before judging it from the braking system or before concluding that you need to install new brake pads.
In all scenarios, any fluid leak might indicate a critical internal problem, whether it's related to the braking system or doing anything else. However, unless it's water coming out of the air conditioning system, which could happen regularly, you should take every leak seriously.
9. Vehicle pulling to one side
On rare occasions, you might notice that your vehicle is pulling towards one side more than the other. Typically, this problem is related to stuff with the steering system or probably the wheels. However, you might find out that the issue has to do with those brakes.
10. Loud grinding noises
Finally, if the brake pads are not in good condition, you might hear some weird grinding noises. These noises do not happen at the early stages because they indicate that your brake pads' thickness is gone and the metal is grinding against each other or the rotor.
Again, you never when I get to this point, and you should keep an eye for your vehicle's performance before you end up without any effective brakes because if the brakes last their thickness, they won't cause the friction that slows down the vehicle and stop it. Eventually, you might get to a point where you can't control your car.
How much does it cost to replace the brake pads?
It depends. Typically, replacing the pig pads should cost you somewhere between $150 and $300. However, this price range differs significantly depending on the vehicle side and where you get the job done. For instance, if you're driving a luxury car, the pier costs can climb up significantly, but you have no other choice than to fix the brakes; otherwise, you won't be able to control your car.
Are all car brakes the same?
No, there are different types of brakes, and that's why if you confirm that you need to install new brake pads, you have to check with your vehicle’s owner’s manual and see if the vehicle has pads or if it's designed in a certain way.
There are generally four types of brakes that you’ll encounter in the Automotive World:
- Disc brakes
- Drum brakes
- Emergency brakes
- Until lock brakes
Even if you confirm the type of braking system your vehicle uses, it's still important for you to consult a mechanic or do detailed research to confirm what size you're looking for and whether this type of race is compatible with your vehicle.
Can I replace my brake pads?
If you have the right level of mechanical skill sets, you might do so. However, in most scenarios, few more experts recommend leaving it to professionals because you're dealing with one of the very sensitive components that impact our safety.
Therefore, any improper installation might cause severe consequences that you never want to deal with.
Therefore, you should still invest in having a professional experienced, and new vehicle type to replace the brake pads to stay on the safe side.
You can also check whether this repair is covered under your vehicle's warranty or probably an extended warranty. You can also find ways to save on replacing the brake pads by looking for discounts or coupons in your local repair shop or at your dealership.
Final thoughts
The braking system is one, if not the most important system in your vehicle. It has to do directly with your safety, and if it's not working properly, you might not be able to drive your car, and you won't be able to stop it in emergencies.
One of the first and most basic skills that every driver needs to know is to answer, “how can I tell if I need new brakes?” This article highlighted 10 different symptoms indicating that your vehicle is due for new brake pads. Once you notice any of the mentioned symptoms, you must consult your mechanic to replace the pads immediately.
Note that sometimes your vehicle might experience critical problems related to other more complicated systems. For instance, if the engine is broken and the transmission does not work properly, it might not be worth your time and investment in fixing one component related to the rating system. So insert, you should evaluate whether it's the best time to sell your car and buy a better vehicle. Luckily, cash cars buyers are willing to buy your car no matter its time or condition!
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