Your brake pads are hard to see, but they play an important role in keeping you safe and preventing accidents. Maintaining them ensures your car will continue to operate the way it’s supposed to. Here are some signs you might need to visit an auto repair shop to replace your brake pads.

5 Signs You Need New Brake Pads

1. Hearing Squealing Noises

Brakes have built-in wear indicators that make a loud squealing or squeaking noise when the pads wear down. Pay attention to the noises your car makes, and drive with the window down occasionally so you can hear them better. If your brake pads are squealing, go to an auto repair professional right away. Worn-out pads lead to metal-on-metal friction between the rotor plate and calipers.

2. Seeing Dashboard Indicator Lights

Cars often have multiple indicator lights for the brake system that correspond to antilock capabilities, the parking brake, and the hydraulic system. Sometimes, a light with the letter P, an exclamation point, or the word “BRAKE” means that the parking brake is engaged and will interfere with your driving. If you disengage the brake, the light should turn off. If it doesn’t, or if you see the ABS icon, take the car in for service to check for a mechanical or electrical issue.

3. Taking Longer to Stop

If you have trouble stopping, or it takes longer to stop than normal, your car may be experiencing brake fade. This occurs after repeated or sustained braking when driving fast or going downhill. The prolonged contact heats up the pads and metal rotor and causes them to wear out. You can prevent this by replacing damaged pads and not riding the brakes.

4. Feeling Pedal Vibrations

Brake pads are held together with resin, a substance that can soften and spread when it overheats. If the brake pad wears down, the resin will smear over the rotor and give it a bumpy surface. The unevenness leads to vibrations when the rotor meets the flat surface of the brake pad.

5. Seeing Thin Materials

Even if your car is behaving normally, you might wonder if you’re due for auto repairs. Look between the spokes of the wheels and assess the brake pads. If they’re less than a quarter-inch thick, plan to replace them before you experience any safety or handling issues.

Auto Air Clinic offers auto repair services to drivers throughout the Honolulu, HI, area. Their ASE®-certified mechanics have been servicing both foreign and domestic cars, trucks, and SUVs for over 30 years. They’ll replace your brake pads quickly to get you back on the road again. Visit their website to learn about their full range of services, and call (808) 845-8499 to make an appointment.