First-time Car Buyers: Tips for Navigating the Auto World

3 Signs That You Need to Have Your Brake Pads Replaced

One of the most important aspects of your car are your brakes. Because of this, it is crucial that your brakes, and all of the parts surrounding and helping your brakes, are functioning properly. One aspect of your brakes that are prone to wear out are your brake pads. Your brake pads are what your brakes come in contact with each time that you press on them to stop your car. Because of this constant contact, brake pads are naturally going to wear out over time and are going to need to be replaced. If they aren't replaced, this can cause to a variety of braking issues that can make your car very unsafe to drive. This article is going to discuss three signs that you need to have your brake pads replaced. 

Screeching Noise When Braking

If you notice that there is a loud screeching noise each time that you try to brake your vehicle, this is a sign that your brake pads have become too thin. When the brake pad is worn down, your brake is going to come in contact with a metal disk. This disk is in place to indicate when the brake pads have been worn down too thin, and the noise that it makes is a warning sign to you to indicate that you need to get the brake pads replaced. 

Brake Dust on Your Tires 

Brake dust on your tires after you have been driving around is another sign that your brakes are wearing out. This brake dust is going to start appearing when your brake pads are beginning to wear down and are starting to come apart. While a little bit of this dust is going to be okay, when you start seeing it in abundance, it is a good sign that you need to take your car in to have your brake pads inspected and most likely replaced. 

Visually Thin Brake Pads 

In most vehicles, you can actually look at your brake pads to see if they are wearing down. You can do this by looking in front of your tire, where the brake pads are located. This is going to allow you to inspect how thin they look visually. If your brake pads are less than 1/4 of an inch thick, it's a good indicator that you need to have them replaced. 

Talk to a mechanic like those at Godfrey Brake Service & Supply for more information about your brake pads.


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