Brake pads and rotors can be expensive, so you want to get your money’s worth out of them. If you drive your car consistently, you might not notice the small changes in your driving pattern at first. However, you’ll likely experience some differences if the backing plate is grinding against the rotor.
If your brake pads are worn out, you could lose control of your vehicle and cause damage to your car or injury to yourself or others. Leaving these components as-is could be costly in the future and continue to affect other parts, getting in the way of a safe and comfortable ride. Keep reading to learn the signs that it’s time to replace your brake pads.
When to Replace Brake Pads
How long brakes last will depend on your driving habits. Frequent commutes with many slows and stops will put more strain on your brakes than long highway trips without pauses. Typically, you can expect to replace your brakes anywhere between 20,000 and 60,000 miles, which is a significant gap for such a crucial part.
Any time you drive, safety should be your top priority. Before letting your brake pads wear completely and cause damage to other components, you should monitor your vehicle’s performance and be aware of tell-tale signs that there’s a problem. Here are some of the most common indications for when to replace brakes.
1. Your Vehicle Pulls to One Side When You Brake
A safe and controlled stop will ease you into one spot without requiring you to strain against the steering wheel. However, sometimes your brakes will grab one side of your vehicle when worn, indicating it’s time for replacements. This could be because:
- The calipers have corroded and can’t apply adequate pressure to the pads. You’ll feel a pull toward the side receiving pressure.
- Brake fluid has leaked onto the drum surface of a rotor. When this happens, a sticky substance forms and creates more friction, causing one side to pull harder than the other.
- There’s a problem with your brake proportioning valves. Although there is a lower chance that you will experience this problem, it may cause fluctuations in the brake fluid pressure, giving your vehicle that pulling feel.
2. You Hear a Squealing Noise
One of the most significant indicators is if you hear a squealing noise when you use your brakes. This noise can result from corrosion on your rotors, brake pad backing plates or drum. These areas can build up loose rust, causing more resonation and high-frequency squealing noises.
You might also hear a squeal if a small lip forms on your brake pads. Because the pads should not make contact with this area, the lip can become more pronounced over time through regular wear and tear. Extreme temperatures can also have this effect since cold temperatures cause the rotor to contract, and hot temperatures cause it to expand, leading to vibrations where there should be none.
3. The Indicator Light Comes On
Many newer vehicles have brake pads equipped with sensors. When the brake pads wear down to a cautionary thickness, the sensor becomes exposed and makes contact with the disk. You may hear squealing when this happens, which is another indicator to check out your brakes. You should also check the indicator light if your car has this system — if so, the sensor will display, confirming you have a brake problem.
4. You Hear a Metallic Grinding Noise
When metal scrapes on metal, it often produces a grinding noise. When your brake pads become too thin, they squeeze the rotor, and the metal ridges connect with the rotor and grind. Some pads deteriorate much faster than others, so it’s important to understand your vehicle’s components and determine how soon you need to replace your brakes to avoid accidents.
5. You Experience a Shimmy When You Slow Down
Your rotors can become warped over time each time your wheels rotate. When this happens, the warped rotor can push against the brake pads in a side-to-side motion, causing a shimmy. This vibration carries through your vehicle and you can feel the difference between your typical ride. Sometimes your steering wheel will shimmy in unison when you brake. If you only feel the vibration in your seat, it may mean only your rear rotors are affected.
Corrosion can cause shimmy vibrations as spots become embedded into the rotor surface. This typically occurs when your car sits in moist environments for a long time. Shimmying can also happen when heat spots form on the rotor surface since extreme heat can create repeated buildup on the rotor and change its composition.
6. There Are Clicking Noises When You Release the Brake
Clicking noises can be an indication that your brake pads are shifting incorrectly. Brake pads are under constant pressure — over time, the anti-rattle spring clips can break or become brittle. This makes it possible for the pads to slide around, creating a clicking noise when you press the brake. You may not need to replace the brake pads at this point, but you should readjust them to their proper place and start thinking about replacements.
Can I Just Replace Brake Pads and Not Rotors?
The short answer is that yes, you can but you shouldn’t. Worn brake pads and rotors are terrible for your vehicle, but you won’t need new rotors every time you replace your brakes. If the brake pads are so worn that the metal backing plates are scraping against the rotors, you’ll probably need replacements of all components.
Keep in mind that rotors will experience natural wear and tear over time. Your rotors must reach safety standard thickness to ensure you can properly operate your vehicle, so you will need to replace them when they get too thin.
Some cars will always require new rotors because you cannot resurface the original components — but you should know what your vehicle is capable of to know for sure. For example, many German cars use rotors comprised of soft metal, making them wear to the point that you cannot resurface them. In these cases, you will always need to replace your rotors.
Order Brake Pads and Rotors From Top Flight Automotive
Top Flight Automotive proudly carries all of your favorites for car parts. We offer the highest quality options from Mustang, Corvette, Falcon, Camaro and more to enhance performance, restore components and ensure you can find the best replacements.
If it’s time to replace your brakes or rotors, look no further than Top Flight Automotive. Shop our rotor collection and find the best fit or browse our selection of brake parts to ensure a smooth and safe ride.
Linked Sources:
https://www.topflightautomotive.com/products/brakes/
https://www.topflightautomotive.com/blog/corvette-wheels-by-cray-wheels/
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