Are you wondering how much a brake pad costs to replace? Or how often it needs replacing? If you’re a car owner, you’ll know that it’s essential to keep your vehicle in good condition. Brake pads affect the safety of the car and determine how fast a car can stop. This article will tell you everything you need to know about brake pads, from what they’re for to how much it’s likely to cost to replace them.
Every modern car or truck uses discs for the front brakes. Some vehicles still use drums for the rear brakes though. Even if your car does have four wheel discs, the front brakes will wear faster, since all of the weight transfers to the front when you push the brake pedal.
changing brake pads is likely to cost between $99.95 and $170 per axle….
Table of Contents
1. What is a Brake Pad?
2. How often do Break Pads Need to be Replaced?
3. How to Tell if Your Brake Pads Need to be Replaced
Dashboard indicator
High pitched noise
Vibrations
Wandering on Braking
4. How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Brake Pad?
5. Conclusion/Summary
What is a Brake Pad?
Brake pads are an essential part of the car’s braking system. They are used with disc brakes and have durable steel backing plates with a friction material. Brake pads are used to maintain vehicles’ thermal energy. Two brake pads are used together so that they can generate enough friction.
The braking components, including the caliper, squash together the brake pads. This slows the rotor down. The brake pads friction coats the disc in a grey material, which enables the disc and brake pad to stick together. This is how resistance is created and is what brings the car to a halt.
Most disc brakes contain a rotor and two brake pads that are both attached to the wheel hub using a caliper. Each time you engage the brakes, the brake pads and rotors get a little bit of wear. The brake pads wear faster than the rotors.
As the brake pads rub against the disc, they slowly wear out, and the amount of time it takes will vary depending on the material the disc is made from. To avoid brake fade from occurring, motorists should replace their brake pads regularly. Most brake pads have a built-in mechanism that automatically tells the car owner when they need to be replaced.
The driver will be signaled that the brake pad needs changing by the brakes, making a squealing sound or by the appearance of a warning light on the dashboard.
How often do Break Pads Need to be Replaced?
Brake pads are generally long-lasting, and you should be able to drive between 30,000 and 35,000 miles before they need to be replaced. This is a rough estimate, and it will also depend on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as the person who’s driving it. If you’re driving in stop and go traffic, it’s likely that you’ll have to replace your brake pads more often.
Drivers in urban areas who mainly drive on smooth roads won’t have to replace their brake pads as often. Some people have driving styles that cause extra wear and tear on their brake pads. They may have the habit of unnecessarily pressing on the brakes while driving.
How to Tell if Your Brake Pads Need to be Replaced
It would help if you stay aware of your car’s movements and any sounds your brakes are making, which will allow you to pick up the signals that your brake pads need to be replaced. There are, however, some more obvious signs that your brake pads need to be changed.
1. Dashboard indicator
One of the main ways to tell that your brake pads need replacing is if the wear indicator on the dashboard comes on. Some modern vehicles have this feature, and a light will show if the brake pads only have 2mm of material left on their backing plate. Some brake pads have electric wiring that enables them to alert the driver via a light on the dashboard.
Do not depend upon this feature unless you’ve verified that your car or truck has it. If you see the “brake” warning light, assume that your brakes are losing pressure, and that your vehicle is no longer safe to drive. Instead you’ll want to keep an open ear for a squealing noise↓.
2. High pitched noise
There is a piece of metal that sticks out of the break pad. It won’t touch the caliper until the brakes have reached the end of their useful life. It creates a high pitched squeal when the brakes wear down to it. This is a sure sign that your brake pads need to be replaced, and you should get your brakes checked as soon as possible if they’re making any noise.
Rather than a high-pitched sound, you may hear a scraping noise; this is also a sign that your brake pads should be replaced. Your car won’t be safe until you’ve replaced your brake pads.
3. Vibrations
If your brake pads have become very worn and you don’t notice the warning signs, it’s likely that your car will start to develop other problems. The wheel hub may go through excessive runout, or there will be extreme variations in the thickness of the brake rotors.
These types of irregularities will cause additional problems to your car’s braking and steering systems. You may experience pulsating or vibrations in your steering wheel or when you brake. These problems all indicate that your brake pads need replacing and also that you may have warped rotors that may need resurfacing.
4. Wandering on Braking
If you feel that your car is pulling to one side or wandering as you try to brake, this indicates that the suspension is misaligned or that the brake caliper is sticking. It could also indicate that there is air in the brake lines. There may also be defects in the tire. Worn brake pads can cause these problems, and changing them is likely to correct the situation. However, in some cases, you’ll need a mechanic to carry out additional work, such as a brake change, wheel alignment, or tire rotation.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Brake Pad?
The cost of having your brake pads replaced will vary slightly depending on the make and model of your car and on which garage you take your vehicle to. In general, changing brake pads is likely to cost between $99.95 and $170 per axle. These are average costs. A brake job on some cars can be more. Brake pads and rotors together can be much more.
There may be additional costs if your braking system needs additional work such as wheel alignment or if the rotor needs to be resurfaced. Your mechanic will also check the brake fluid to make sure that it is still in good shape. A brake fluid flush can add another $100 to the bill.
Firestone, Walmart, and Midas all charge about $99.99 per axle. Whereas some of the other chain garages charge slightly higher. Sears Auto Center is likely to charge up to $119.99 per axle, and a Goodyear Auto Services will cost you a hefty $149.99 per axle.
If you’re looking for good value for money, you could look online for vouchers from some of the leading garages or combine a brake pad change with other services to get a better deal.
Conclusion
It’s crucial to have well-maintained brakes as this will ensure that your vehicle can be driven safely. Ensuring that you have good quality brakes that are correctly installed and checked regularly by a mechanic is a good idea. It would help if you replaced your brake pads often, don’t wait until they are completely worn out, which could cause other problems with your braking system and steering.