Brake pads are a very important part of your braking system. They provide additional friction to allow your car to stop faster. They also help to protect parts of your braking system from damage. These pads will wear out, and they need to be replaced regularly. As your Mazda dealer, we’d like you to know how often they need to be replaced.
How Long Do Pads Last?
Pads are usually about 1/2″ thick when they’re new. Each time you use your brakes, the pads wear slightly. When they reach a thickness of 1/4″, it’s time to think about replacement. The time it takes for your pads to reach this thickness depends on numerous factors, including weather, driving conditions, and driving style.
On average, your pads need to be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 miles. Your brakes are serviced according to your car’s service schedule, and this is generally every 12 months or 12,000 miles. Our technicians will check your pads as part of the routine service for thickness and signs of wear. Pad will always show signs that they’re wearing, and this gives you time to replace them.
Signs Your Pads Are Wearing Out
Glazed Pads
The surface of a new pad is rough, and it needs to be to generate friction against the rotor. If a pad is held in contact with the rotor for too long, this contact will smooth the pad surface and will wear a smooth section on the rotor. This close contact can happen due to a damaged caliper that keeps the pad too close to the rotor or if you are riding your brakes.
If you regularly drive downhill, for example, and you keep your foot on the brake, this can cause your pads to glaze. Glazed pads won’t provide good stopping power as they lack the necessary abrasive pressure. We can’t repair glazed pads, but we can replace them for you while you wait.
Vibrating Pedal
A vibrating pedal can mean that the pads are wearing unevenly, or that they have caused a buildup of material on the rotor. Sometimes when pads have been exposed to high temperatures and constant friction, pieces of the pad can brake off. This will cause the pad to become unbalanced, and it will cause vibrations when it grips the rotor.
Grinding Noises
The friction material on the pads will eventually wear off if the pads aren’t replaced. When this happens, the metal caliper will grind against the metal of the rotor. You’ll hear an awful metal-on-metal noise, and this is a sign that your rotors are being damaged. If you hear grinding noises, it’s vital to have your pads replaced immediately to prevent serious damage to the rotors.
Worn pads are dangerous and could result in an accident. If you have any brake problems, call our service department right away at Flood Mazda. Our highly-trained technicians will find and fix the problem.
Image by Gerald Oswald from Pixabay
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