Should I get my brakes checked?

The Right Time to Replace Brake Pads

We know when it’s time to change our oil. We know when our tires are low on air. And we know when our gas tank isn’t full. But what is the best way to know what is happening with our car’s brakes and when the right time to replace brake pads is?

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Are there signs to look out for?

You may have heard that the best way to gauge whether or not your brakes should be replaced is to wait until you hear them. This is terrible, awful advice. By the time your brakes are making noise, they may well be unsafe, and there is likely damage to the rotors. It is much less expensive to replace brake pads than it is to replace rotors. Not to mention the fact you are putting yourself at risk if you brakes are not performing properly. Another sign people may look out for is braking distance. Again, it is critical to maintain your brakes and brake pads. You do not want your first indication of poor brake performance to be increased braking distance.

Is there a brake warning light on the dashboard?

brake light_oThe great majority of cars do have a brake warning light on them. However, this light has nothing to do with brake pads, what it calls attention to is the level of brake fluid. Brake fluid is also a critical component to your brakes working properly. If you see this light bring your car in for service immediately.

The right time to replace your brake pads.

Mechanic checking brake padsUnlike your oil or gas, there is no way to gauge when brake pads are wearing out. It isn’t possible to do it based on time or distance either. 3 months of country driving may not even equal one month of driving in heavy stop-and-go city traffic. The highway is much nicer to your brake pads than the daily grind of bumper to bumper traffic and stoplights. So, the best thing to do is to have your brake pads checked on a regular basis. Every six months is a good schedule to keep. You can do it as part of maintenance in preparation for winter and in spring in preparation for summer road trips.

 

 


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