Part of servicing your car entails checking and replacing your brake pads. As most mechanics will tell you, the brake pads and brake rotors are the most important parts of your braking system that can easily diagnose on your own. Therefore, you don’t need to wait for your scheduled servicing timeframes to check on whether they are functioning properly. Most experts recommend checking on your brake pads and rotors once every month, however, you can tell whether there is something wrong byc checking out for the following:
The Brakes Take Longer to Stop
With new brakes, the moment you step on the pedal, the vehicle stops. However as they get more worn out, you will notice some bit of delay and drag and this increases the braking distance. On the road, this can be quite fatal since you may just be a few seconds or an extra meter away from certain death. This is why most mechanics recommend changing your car brake pads after every 50000 miles or so. However, if you drive mostly on rough terrains then consider upgrading them after every 20000 miles just to be safe.
The Wheels Produce A Screeching Sound
The screeching sound coming from your brakes is a sure sign that the pads and rotors need changing. The intensity of the sound grows as the damage also extends and this should be a warning that the next sounds you hear probably will be the last. Luckily, the screeching sound is a built in system to help you know that your brake pads lifespan has ended and once the sounds turns into grinding then it means the friction surface has completely worn off and the damage has started extending to the brake rotors.
Best Material for Brake Pads for Your Car
There are different types of brake pads depending on the material used. The most popular ones are metallic brake pads since they are cheaper and stronger than the others. However, some people prefer organic brake pads since their braking force is better than metallic ones. However, they wear out faster and this is where semi metallic brake pads come in. Semi metallic brake pads are common in lighter and mid range vehicles and offer more sturdiness than organic ones. They are cheaper than both organic and ceramic brake pads and offer a longer life span.
Choosing Brake Pads based on Terrain
Rough terrains put a heavy strain on your brake pads and you should be careful because your car’s entire weight is being tossed around and only your brake pads are taking all the pressure during brakes. Therefore, when you know your car will mostly drive on rough terrains, you should switch to a more durable and stronger brake pads such as the metallic ones instead of organic or ceramic ones. However, if you intend to drive on smooth roads mostly, then getting ceramic or conventional brake pads is the way to go. You can get a lot more use and brake efficiency without worrying about them breaking down or overheating early.
