Brake pads provide the friction that slows and stop your wheels. These pads fit into the brake calipers and are held in place with special clips. The pads will wear out and need replacement every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. We’d like to tell you more about signs you need to see us for new pads.
Screeching Noises
High-pitched screeching is unnerving, even more so if it’s coming from your brakes. Pads are 1/2″ thick when they’re new, but the friction they generate against the rotors slowly wears them down. As the friction material covering wears off, your pads will take longer to stop your car. When the pads reach 1/4″ thick, it’s time to replace them.
The pad manufacturers install a reminder in the pads that they’re due to be changed. This warning is in the shape of a spike buried in each pad. When a pad reaches 1/4″ thickness, this spike becomes visible and will scratch against the wheel rotor. This scratching produces a screeching noise as a reminder that you need to change your pads ASAP.
Grinding Noises
If your pads aren’t replaced, they’ll continue to screech. Eventually, the friction material covering will wear off completely, leaving only bare metal on the pads. The next time you use your brakes, the metal pads will directly strike the smooth metal of the rotors and gouge into them. You’ll hear an awful grinding noise as the pads slowly damage the rotors.
If your pads aren’t replaced immediately, they continue to inflict damage on the rotors. This damage can lead to cracks in the rotor, and if this happens, the rotor will need replacement. We can easily replace the pads and will need to inspect the damage to the rotors. Sometimes the damage is minor, and other times the rotors will need to be resurfaced.
Glazed Pads
Pads become glazed by being kept in contact for an extended period with the wheel rotor. When you use the brakes, the pads are in contact with the rotor for the time it takes to stop your car. After that, you take your for off the brake pedal, and the pads are withdrawn. If you ride your brakes, however, the pads are kept in contact with the rotors and not withdrawn.
Contact with the smooth rotor turns the pad smooth and glass-like. A smooth pad generates no friction, and this makes braking more difficult. More effort is also required by the braking system, which increases wear and tear. We can’t repair glazed pads, but we can replace them.
Driving with worn pads is dangerous. Visit us today at Crain Hyundai of Fort Smith, and we’ll replace them.
Image via Hyundai.
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