Warning Signs You Need To Replace Your Brakes
Signs That Your Brakes Need Replacing
Visible Wear – If you take off a wheel or even just get a good view through the spokes, and you can see that the pad is excessively worn, this is generally the first sign that your brakes are close to being worn out.
Squealing Noise When Brakes Are Applied – This is generally a pretty unpleasant sound, one that’s hard to miss. But that’s by design, brake pads are designed specifically to make this sound as a warning that they need to be replaced soon. They won’t stop working the minute you hear the noise, but it is a clear indication that you need to bring your vehicle in for service. Sometimes, if you change your brake pads but not the rotors, you’ll still get a squealing noise. This means the brakes are either worn out as well or glazed from excessive heat. This indicates that the rotors need to be replaced too.
Low Pedal or Extra Braking Effort Required – If you’re finding that you have to push the brake pedal lower or harder than you did in the past, it probably means that a good deal of the brake pads have been worn away.
Grinding Sound When Braking – If you didn’t catch the squealing noise before, you will eventually reach a point where the pads are worn away completely, and the pad backplate is pressing directly into the rotor. Your brakes and pads both need to be replaced immediately.
Brake Pedal Vibration – Not to be confused with the pulsing of the ABS system, a vibration in the brake pedal even under normal braking conditions is an indicator of wear or warping of braking components.
Pulling To One Side – This can sometimes be a sign that you need an alignment, but if it only happens when you apply the brakes, it could be a sign that there is an issue.
How Often Should Brakes Be Replaced?
There’s no one answer to this question, and brakes can last anywhere from 20,000 miles to 70,000 miles, which is obviously a huge range. Pads will generally wear quicker than rotors, but not by very much. If your pads are worn out and need replacing, your rotors will generally be worn to the point where they won’t make it to your next oil change, so most people change both at once. Your driving style will be a big factor in how quickly your brakes wear out, as well as how much stop-and-go traffic you regularly encounter.
Brake Service at Honda East Cincinnati
As important as it is for you to know these things, it’s even more important that the service team where you have your brakes serviced knows them. That’s what you get with Honda East Cincinnati, a friendly and knowledgeable service team, as well as a parts department that stocks only genuine Honda OEM parts, so you can be sure to get the maximum stopping power and life out of your new brakes.