4 Signs That You Need New Brake Pads

One of the most essential safety features of your automobile is your brake system. You must check how well your brakes are performing on a routine basis. As an industry consensus, brake pads should be replaced about every 50,000 miles. Nevertheless, every car is different, and there are various symptoms that your brakes may display to indicate a need for new brake pads.

Symptoms of Worn Down Brake Pads

Unusual Noise Coming From Brakes

The first sign that it's time to restore your brake pads is if you catch persistent squeaking or squealing noises. You can expect squeaking brakes in wet road conditions. However, if you have squeaky brakes on a clear day, then there may be a problem. If your brakes are squeaking persistently, you should have a professional mechanic perform a thorough inspection.

Indicator Light Turns On

Sometimes a light will come on your dashboard to indicate weak brakes. Newer vehicles have a sensor on the brake pad that will trigger when the brake pads become worn down. If your brake light illuminates, you should seek an expert's opinion.

Deep Grinding Metal Sound

If you detect a deep, grinding metal sound from your brakes, that's another indication that it's time to replace your brake pads. On some brake pads, small metal ridges are designed and added to the bottom of the cushions to make a loud noise and alert the driver that it's time to get new brake pads. If you continue to let the metal ridges grind on other metal areas of your tire, it could create extensive damage to other areas of your car. If you hear this deep grinding sound, take your vehicle to an auto repair shop right away.

Vibrating Brake Pedal

The fourth sign that it may be time to replace your brake pads is a vibrating brake pedal. If it is difficult to come to a complete stop with your car and it feels unstable as you press down on the pedal, this means that your brake pads have worn out. A vibrating brake pedal is not healthy, and you should get it checked out immediately to avoid the risk of an accident.

By keeping an eye on the signs of worn-down brake pads, you can be proactive and save money in the future. If you require brake service, we invite you to come into Import Auto Repair Give us a call today for any questions or to make an appointment: (770) 212-9725