Your car’s braking system is crucial to both its overall safety and performance, yet brake discs often wear out over time and need replacing periodically.
As soon as your brake discs wear down, they begin making an audible, high-pitched, and tinny squealing noise, created by metal tangs built into your pads that warn when they have become too thin to work effectively.
1. The Brake Warning Light Comes On
If your brake warning light illuminates while driving, this indicates something is amiss with your vehicle’s system. Although its exact color varies by car model, typically flashing red indicates immediate action is necessary to secure its safety.
While your brake warning light could come on for various reasons, typically it indicates that your pads have become severely worn out and could soon cause metal-to-metal contact between them and your rotors, potentially necessitating an expensive repair job. Replacing them promptly after this warning light comes on will ensure you continue driving safely.
2. You Have to Brake More Often
If your car needs to stop within a shorter distance than usual, this could be an indicator that your brake discs need replacement. Driving in city traffic or hauling heavy loads puts an excessive strain on them as repeated contact between brake pads and discs generate heat which cannot dissipate quickly enough from them.
Maintaining regular maintenance and driving in an orderly fashion are essential to keeping brakes in good working order for longer. Any time there are brake problems, always seek professional assistance as soon as possible to avoid more expensive repairs; here are some warning signs:
3. You Have Unusual Noises
Any unusual noises coming from your car’s brake system could be an indicator that its discs are wearing down quickly. Screeching sounds caused by brake pads rubbing against rotors create metal to metal contact that speeds up wear-and-tear.
Your driving style also plays a factor in how quickly your brakes wear out. Frequent stops and starts in city traffic require the brake system to apply pressure more frequently, leading to faster wearout of discs and pads and eventually premature wear out.
Your vehicle’s braking system is one of its most essential safety systems and must remain in excellent working order at all times. Neglecting brake discs could result in longer stopping distances and reduced performance, potentially placing both you and other drivers at risk.
4. You Have Uneven Wear
Brake discs and pads work together to slow or stop a car by converting its kinetic energy into heat, but their friction-causing surfaces can wear down over time, signalling when replacement may be needed. Any uneven wear indicates it’s time for replacement pads.
Uneven pad wear can be an indicator that your rotors are warped, which causes brake pads to chew on uneven spots and wear down at an uneven pace, potentially leading to vibrations or pulsations through steering wheels or pedals as well as reduced vehicle braking efficiency. Most commonly, professional machine work may be needed in order to correct this problem and will require special tools as well as knowledge.
5. You Have Uneven Temperatures
Your vehicle’s braking system is an essential tool for safely and effectively traversing the roads, so it is essential that you are aware of signs that its discs require replacement.
Any changes in braking performance is an indicator that your car’s brake discs require servicing, such as increased stopping distance or pedal pulsation.
Unusual noises such as squealing or grinding could be an indicator that your brake discs are degrading, with pads coming into contact with damaged disc surfaces and decreasing braking efficiency. Being proactive about these issues will prevent further costly damages or safety concerns in the future.
6. You Have a Crack
Your brake discs, also known as rotors, work alongside brake pads to use friction to slow your car down through frictional heat generation and dispersal by your discs. Over time however, this constant friction and heating can wear them down over time and require replacement.
Cracked, faded or lifted edges on your discs indicate they need replacing immediately as this damage could compromise braking performance and safety.
Modern cars come equipped with sensors and warning systems that indicate when it is time to replace your brake pads and discs. Regular inspections and safe driving practices will help avoid expensive repairs, while lengthening their lifespan and saving you money in repair bills.
7. You Have a Cracked Rotors
When applying brakes, hearing an audible scraping sound that sounds similar to metal grinding on metal can be an alarming signal that indicates your rotors have worn down to their minimum thickness and compromise your car’s ability to stop. If this occurs, take swift action as soon as possible or it could significantly impair stopping ability and affect vehicle control.
Braking can be a rigorous and stressful experience, particularly if you find yourself frequently driving in stop-and-go traffic or down steep hills. As your brake pads wear down rapidly and wear on rotors rapidly – they become less effective at engaging with pads over time until eventually, the latter become unusable altogether – it’s time to replace them!
