Even the best cars need to have their brakes services eventually. Whether you drive your car hard, or take great care of it, your brake pads will wear down, fluids will need to be changed, and parts will eventually break.

Does this sound like you?

You’ve had your car for a while now and love it tremendously. You use it every day to get to work and you do your best to keep it in good shape.

Every morning, you do a quick scan to see if there are any major issues with your car. But like most, there’s one important feature of your car that you may have forgotten to check: the brakes.

And this isn’t all that uncommon. After all, it’s challenging to check your brakes and they tend to only become an issue near the end of their life cycle.

Why Should I Check My Brakes?

We highly recommend you make sure your brakes are in good shape every six months, especially if you are planning a special trip for your vehicle.

·      {C}Business trips: Many important business ventures can’t afford to be held up by a spontaneous brake failure.

·      {C}Vacations:Nothing ruins a long road trip more than realizing your brakes are shot and your vehicle is unsafe to drive.

·      {C}Shipping your car:Maybe you need to ship your car overseas. In most cases, this will require the use of the roll-on, roll-off method, which requires your vehicle to be operable.

What Causes Damage to the Brakes?

Your car’s brakes work by applying friction to your wheel rotors, slowing them down in the process. The most common type of damage to your car’s brakes is general wear and tear through use.

Whether you’re going on your daily commute, driving to a friend’s house, or taking the family on a vacation, the constant friction your car’s brakes endure naturally wear them down over time. 

The following environments are particularly rough:

·      {C}Hilly terrain

·      {C}Bumpy roads

·      {C}Sharp turns

·      {C}Any urban setting with frequent stops

·      {C}Heavy traffic

What do all these have in common? They require constant braking to get through.

How Long Do Brakes Usually Last?

Every car company is different when it comes to their braking systems. A typical set of brake pads will last for around 50,000 miles under normal usage. Of course, if you’re braking hard, driving in a large city, or any of the things we listed above, your brakes may not last that long.

Here are a few things that influence brake pad durability:

1.    The material the brake pads are made from (organic, low metallic, semi-metallic, or ceramic).

2.    The type of car.

3.    The amount of weight the car carries.

4.    The environment the vehicle is used in.

On top of that, the way you stop can affect the brake’s lifespan. Coming to a slow, gradual stop is much better than slamming the pedal (though you should absolutely do so in an emergency).

Many sources recommend that you change your brakes every 50,000 miles or so, but even that number can vary greatly from car to car. Checkups every 10,000 miles are recommended to make sure your brakes are working properly.

Ultimately, your brakes will deteriorate over time and repairs are unavoidable.

How Will I Know When My Brakes Need Service?

While professional service inspections are certainly a must, doing some basic checkups yourselfwill provide you with peace of mind the next time you’re behind the wheel. These simple checks are quick and easy and will prevent the hassle of a costly accident down the road.

On a calm weekend whenever you have some free time, drive to your favorite coffee shop and follow these steps along the way.

1.    Check the dashboardfor any warning lights. Most modern vehicles have a dedicated indicator light for failed brakes.

2.    Open your window and turn down the radio and AC. Brake problems are usually loud enough to hear assuming they aren’t drowned out by other sounds. Try stopping at quiet intersections as well.

3.    Listen for any squeaking, grinding, or clicking sounds when you slow down at a red light.These are the biggest giveaways for potential brake failures.

Exception:If it’s raining outside, a bit of rust may form on the brake pads. You may hear grinding and scratching sounds when you brake, but these are temporary and usually do not suggest an issue. If you drive a white car, you may even spot rust flakes on the lower portion of your front doors.

4.    Check whether the brake pedal vibrates or has to be pushed down further than usual. This is a common sign that your brakes are bad. This could indicate leaking brake fluid or an air leak. 

5.    See whether the stop takes longer than usual. If your car is taking longer to stop, your brake pads may be near the end of their life.

6.    Check whether the vehicle seems to “pull” towards the left or rightwhen you brake. Brake pads generally cover the wheels on both the left and right side of the car. A pull to the side could mean the brakes are unevenly worn.

7.    See whether accelerating feels like you’re pulling an anchor behind the caronce the light turns green.

8.    Look underneath the vehicle for any fluid leaksupon exiting after you finish your trip. Look for a pool of oil-like fluid. Keep in mind, this is not a 100% reliable step since sometimes an invisible air leak could result from a broken brake.

Can I Tell Just by Looking at the Brake Pads?

The simple answer is yes. Your brake pads can be seen behind the rims of your wheels. Specifically, the outside pad is directly touching the metal rotor. At least three millimeters should be visible. Anything less and it may be time to service your brakes.

What Do I Do If I Find a Problem?

We recommend that you seek out a qualified professional to help you service your brakes. Your car’s braking system is extremely important as it affects the safety of you and those around you.

If you notice at least one of the signs described above, there might be a problem with your brakes, and you should contract your local dealership to have your brakes serviced.

You now know how to check when your brakes and how to determine if they need to be services. So roll down the windows, enjoy the cooling breeze, turn up your favorite radio station, and take pride in the fact that your hard work has resulted in safer driving for both you and everyone around you.

Story Submitted by Jason Mueller