The brake system is crucial because it helps you stop quickly to avoid accidents. If your vehicle has disc brakes, you must know the symptoms of worn or bad brake pads before gradually driving becomes dangerous.
The guide covers the most common bad brake pad symptoms, provides the purpose of this part, and identifies where they can be found.
Additionally we look at how to check the brake pads, walk through the average replacement cost and answer a few of your frequently asked questions.
Symptoms Of Bad Brake Pads
Bad brake pads can leave you with a noise when you push the pedal. The wear indicators will be exposed upon inspection and there is a decent chance that the dashboard warning light will appear.
The pedal can also feel soft or spongy when you push it, you may have decreased or inconsistent braking power, or you could have the parking brake malfunctioning.
Let’s cover the seven most common signs that the brake pads are bad.
#1. Brakes Making Noise.
One of the most recognized signs of bad brakes is noise. Worn brake pads will eventually begin to squeak, which is intentional so you pay attention to your brakes. If you pay attention to the brake pads squeaking and have them replaced, you won’t suffer any louder noises.
Ignore the squeaking and you will result in grinding noises. At that point, the worn brake pads could even be damaging rotors. Take action before your car no longer has the braking ability it should have.
#2. Wear Indicator.
There are several types of brake pad wear indicators. First, there are indicators mounted on the brake pads, which look like a metal tab. Once the brake pad material wears thin, the tab makes contact with the rotor, creating that familiar squeak.
In some cars, there is also an indicator on the dashboard. Some manufacturers will have a dash warning light come on when the brake pads wear thin. Look in your owner’s manual or research about your vehicle to see if there is an alert.
#3. Soft or Spongy Brake Pedal.
When you press on the brake pedal, the brake pedal should provide firm feedback. If your brake pedal feels soft or spongy to the touch, your brake pads are probably worn and there simply will be a need to apply more force while using the brakes.
However, soft and spongy brake pedals can also be attributed to air in the system, or a bad master cylinder, and could even be coming from a leak so it is best to inspect the entire system.
#4. Less Braking Force.
You may notice that your brake may not stop your vehicle as quickly as it used to. If your brake is taking increasingly longer to stop your vehicle, then it is a good idea to have your pads replaced.
This could also be a sign of mechanical problems like a bad master cylinder, which is why you need to inspect the entire braking system before replacing anything.
#5. Brake Pedal Vibration.
One of the most alarming indicators that you may need new brake pads is when you push down on the brake pedal and it vibrates. Naturally you’re going to worry about that!
This vibration usually indicates that your rotors are no longer smooth, most likely due to having driven with worn brake pads. In this case you will need to replace both the pads and the rotors.
#6. Parking Brake Problems (Rear Pads).
The parking brake is located on the rear brakes so if you have disc brakes, it is going to utilize the pads. When the pads wear down, your struggle may not just be with the regular braking but also the parking brake.
If you feel that the parking brake no longer grips the way it used to, it is not a good sign. Parking brake problems could be due to many issues and need to be completely examined before you determine if the pads need to be replaced.
#7. Uneven Braking Power.
Typically, the brake pads will wear evenly, and therefore, equal force will be applied on both sides everywhere. However, if one set of pads becomes glazed or contaminated with grease or fluid, you may notice a pull to one side when the brakes are applied.
The difficulty with this symptom is there may be more severe issues involved. For instance, when a brake caliper sticks, it will also cause the same pulling sensation.
What’s The Function Of The Brake Pads?
The automotive braking system comes in two types: disc and drum (and variations of the two). Some cars have disc brakes on the front wheels and drums on the back ones.
The brake pads perform a simple job. You push the pedal, and hydraulic fluid is pushed from the master cylinder to the calipers to generate force. The calipers then push the brake pads and squeeze them against the brake rotor to create friction to stop your vehicle.
The brake pads are made from friction material bonded to a solid steel backing plate. Brake pads are available for purchase in three types, based on what they are made out of.
- Nonmetallic (organic): These pads are constructed of synthetic materials like sintered glass, cellulose, and aramid. They last the least long, but they’re soft and quiet.
- Semi-metallic: These pads are constructed of a blend of nonmetallic materials with steel, iron, and copper. They last longer than organic pads, but they are noisier and tend to wear down rotors more.
- Ceramic: These pads are constructed of clay, copper fibers, and porcelain. They last the longest and they are less abrasive, but they usually are more expensive.
Where Are The Brake Pads Located?
Depending on how your car is set up, you may have brake pads on just the front or on all four wheels. If you have brake pads on just the front wheels, then the back tries to have drum brakes instead.
The pads are located in the caliper, with the friction material facing the brake rotor. Each caliper holds two brake pads, an inner and outer brake pad. Therefore, a four-wheel disc brake setup has eight brake pads.
How Do You Inspect The Brake Pads?
You can evaluate your brake blocks in many ways. The first step is to think about your symptoms. If you’ve had symptoms over your brake pads and it’s been a while since you’ve had brake pads installed, now is the time to change the brake pads. Here are some tips to think about.
- Through the wheel – If you’re not keen on taking the wheel off, you may be able to look through the spokes of the wheel. Shine a flashlight for a good look at the remaining thickness. If the pads are noticeably thin (less than 1/4″), take the wheel off and inspect it further.
- Look at the wear indicator. With many brake pads, there is a slot that has been put into the middle of the material. When the slot has disappeared to the point when it’s not visible, you should think about changing your pads.
- Once you have removed the brake pads, your best evaluation will be to measure the thickness of the pads. Once you’ve measured it, if it is less than 1/4″ thick, you should think about swapping them out.
- Local mechanics will sometimes notice that brakes can wear unevenly. If you notice that, make sure that the caliper is sliding properly and that the brake rotors aren’t warped. If you put new brake pads on and have some other defect, you’ll ruin the new set of pads too.
Most mechanics at home feel comfortable swapping out brake pads. If you do feel that there are more issues, or you question whether you are doing it the right way, take it to a professional to evaluate.
As mechanics ourselves, we can appreciate that it is very easy to mess something up that can impact the amount of brake power you have, so it is better to be safe on it.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace The Brake Pads?
You will probably pay $75 to $400 on average for brake pad replacing, based on the car make and model and labor rate in your area. You will pay from $30 to $100 for the parts and $45 to $300 for labor cost.
Typically, you should expect to spend more for front brake pad replacement than rear. But you may need to have all four brake pads replaced if they are at the end of their lifespan, which will raise the cost. You may also need to replace or resurface the rotors, which will also add to the cost of the job.
Do I need to replace rotors when changing pads?
The rotors need replacement less frequently than the pads. If the rotors are still smooth and plenty thick, then you do not need to replace the rotors.
But, if the rotors are warped or uneven, then it is time for resurfacing or replacement.
Can I drive with worn-out brake pads?
No. Brake pads must have plenty of thickness left to ensure you can stop on time when you push down the pedal.
If the brake pads are worn, the distance you need to stop is increased. In serious situations, if the brakes are bad enough, you may lose your brakes altogether, so do not push your luck.
How long do brake pads last?
On average, you can get anywhere from 30k to 70k miles out of a set of brake pads. If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, you will replace brakes more often than the driver who takes long highway trips or the type that drives slower.
Also, ceramic brakes will last the longest but are the most expensive.
What do worn-out brake pads sound like?
When the brake pads first start to wear out, you will hear a squeaking or squealing sound. This is the first indication that you need new brake pads!
If you allow the pads to wear for longer, the pads will eventually start to grind; this is when the metal is contacting the rotors. At that point, you do not want to wait any longer to change the brakes.
How many hours does it take to replace brake pads?
If you change the brake pads yourself or hire a mechanic, it shouldn’t take more than an hour to change the pads. If you have to change the brake rotors as well, you will need extra time and money.
At some point, as a car owner, you will have to change the brake pads. Brake pads are a maintenance item that you will have to change periodically, generally every 30,000 – 70,000 miles depending on the driving, and the brake pads used.
This is why it is a good idea to be familiar with some symptoms so that you can change the brakes at the first sign of a problem you are only setting yourself up for some kind of brake failure or impairment. And the added expense of more repairs.