There’s a terrible joke that speed demons love to tell, which goes something along the lines of, “if you need to remove unnecessary weight from the vehicle, start with the brake pads.”
We’ll let the laughter die down for a moment before we proceed… Or not?
Your brakes are one of your car’s most vital components, so keeping them in good working order is no joking matter – let alone getting rid of them! So we’ll stop that gag in its tracks, no pun intended.
When you press your foot on the brake pedal, the process starts a chain reaction that links your foot with the vehicle’s pedal, fluid, pads, callipers, shoes and discs/rotors – ideally drawing down to a nice, smooth halt.
The question then, is how do you know if your brakes need to be inspected, repaired, or replaced?
When do brake pads need changing?
There are a few tell-tale signs that your brake pads might need changing, or at least looking at. If you’re experiencing or noticing any of the symptoms below, be sure to head over to the MyAutoShop service area and book in with a mechanic right away, for your safety!
So, here’s what you need to look out for if you think your brakes may need changing:
- Deceleration or stopping takes longer
- A change in the brake pedal’s feel or a vibrating/shuddering sensation through the pedal and/or steering whee.
- Get your brakes checked if you’re slamming the brake pedal into the floor and scratching your feet on the road to slow down like Fred Flintstone.
- When braking, wheel lock-up, sliding, or swerving to one side are all possible outcomes.
- Warning lights for brakes or antilock brakes (ABS);
- Grinding, screeching, snarling, groaning, and shrieking – yep, all of those!
So, how long do brake pads last?
It’s not a perfect science, but sources estimate that brake pads can last for any distance between 30,000 to 70,000. That’s quite a variance, to be fair.
Another contributing factor to the time it takes for your brake pads to wear can be the environment you’re driving in. If you’re spending most of your time driving in city traffic, you’ll be braking more frequently than people travelling down the open roads, and the wear on the brake pads will be fairly obvious based on the above guide.
Another thing to bear in mind is your style of driving and how that can impact your brake pads. If you find you tend to slam the brakes a bit, then they’re going to take more of a hit than gentler slow-downs.
How to check your brake pads
Get the car on the hoist if you have one at home, press the green button, and make your observations from there. A car jack will also suffice.
You’ll have to get low to get the lowdown if you don’t want to get low.
The brake pad should be visible through the wheel, and if the brake lining is down to the steel backing plate thickness, it’s time to inspect and replace it.
Can I change the brakes myself?
If you’re feeling brave, sure. However, bear in mind that if there are other issues at play, which can sometimes be the case if your brake callipers and brake discs are also coming into contact, then you could be way out of your depths on this one.
How much will it cost to get new brake pads?
Well, there’s some good news here. Brake pads aren’t one of the more expensive car parts to replace. However, bear in mind, the cost really does range between models, and so while we’ll say here that you could be looking in the vicinity of $350-$600NZD+, it comes down to the make and model of your car, as well as the level of labour required to change the brake pads.
At MyAutoShop, we make it easy to connect with specialists who can provide both mechanical assurance for your brake pad change and peace of mind. The most important thing to remember is that good braking equals a safer drive for you and your passengers.