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Bad break pads11/20/2023 ![]() Since this metal on metal contact can very quickly cause even further damage in your braking system, bring your vehicle in to a service shop as soon as possible if you hear this type of noise. If you hear a deep, low noise that sounds like metal grinding or a rumbling growl, that can be a sign that not only are your brake pads worn away, but also your brake pads or shoes’ backing plates are making contact with the discs or drums. If the friction material on the pad or shoe is less than ¼ inch thick (about seven millimeters), consider having your brakes inspected, especially if it’s been a long time since your last inspection. Looking down on the brake assembly or “caliper” holding the brake pads, you should see your brake pads compressed against your brake rotor. On disc brakes, you can also visually inspect your brake pads to know if it’s time to have them replaced, though it may require you to remove the wheels to do this. If a sound disappears after the first few times you use your brakes, that’s a good indicator that it was just a bit of moisture on the brake pads or shoes and not a sign they need to be replaced. When brakes are exposed to wet, damp conditions, such as after a rain storm, pads may exhibit a very similar screeching sound while braking. Note that not all brake pads come with this feature, so don’t rely on sound alone to assess your brakes’ condition. When you hear it regularly while braking, it’s time to bring your car in to a brake specialist for an inspection. Wear indicators work on the same principle as dragging fingernails across a chalkboard. This sound is caused by a small metal attachment on the brake pad backing plate for just this purpose. If a vehicle’s brake pads have wear indicators, a driver may notice a squealing, screeching or whining noise when the brakes are engaged. Look for these signs to know when to replace brake pads or shoes: 1. When these steel pieces come into contact with the discs or drums, excessively long braking distances and damage to the discs and drums will result. If the pads or shoes are not replaced, the friction material will be worn off entirely, exposing the steel pieces that held the material. Over time, the friction material will become thinner. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BRAKE PADS/SHOES WEAR OUT?Įvery time you engage your vehicle’s brakes, a small amount of friction material is worn off the pads and/or shoes. In addition to often costly repairs, driving with worn brake pads or shoes can result in unsafe driving conditions. If allowed to wear out before being replaced, other components of the brake system may be damaged – especially the brake discs or drums. Whether pads or shoes, both wear down with use, so it’s important to monitor their condition by having them inspected regularly. Drum brakes used to be common on all four wheel positions, but on modern cars and light trucks, they’re only installed on the rear axle. Their friction against the drum slows the vehicle. Disc brakes are found on the front axles of all modern passenger vehicles and on the rear axle of many, too.ĭrum brakes also use friction material, much like disc brake pads, but it is affixed to half-moon shaped “shoes” pressed against the inside of a drum when you step on the brakes. The resulting friction slows the vehicle. Both use friction to slow your vehicle, but there are differences too.ĭisc brakes use “pads” of specially engineered pieces of friction material made of organic, metallic or ceramic substances pressed against a rotor or “disc” when the driver steps on the brakes. Auto manufacturers install two types of brakes on passenger vehicles: disc brakes and drum brakes.
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