Car Brakes
- Thread starter Weekly
- Start date
Good brakes should be noiseless. If there's a squeaking or grinding sound, get them inspected.
Squeaking does not necessarily mean that the pads are worn; it could just be a temperature thing. But it's good to have them inspected anyway.
Remove the wheel and inspect the amount of pad left. With disc brakes, it's easy. With drums, it's a little more difficult because you have to remove the hub first, but the principle is the same. If there's less than 1/4" of pad left, replace them.
Also, check the rotors (on disc brakes) to see there are grooves in the rotors, or if they have a blue tinge. When metal heats up, it has a tendency to turn somewhat blue. If you see scoring, you may be able to get the rotors turned (that is, put on a lathe and have the scoring removed). If they're blue, have them replaced, because the metal is starting to get brittle and may crack, leaving you brakeless on that side of the vehicle.
Squeaking does not necessarily mean that the pads are worn; it could just be a temperature thing. But it's good to have them inspected anyway.
Remove the wheel and inspect the amount of pad left. With disc brakes, it's easy. With drums, it's a little more difficult because you have to remove the hub first, but the principle is the same. If there's less than 1/4" of pad left, replace them.
Also, check the rotors (on disc brakes) to see there are grooves in the rotors, or if they have a blue tinge. When metal heats up, it has a tendency to turn somewhat blue. If you see scoring, you may be able to get the rotors turned (that is, put on a lathe and have the scoring removed). If they're blue, have them replaced, because the metal is starting to get brittle and may crack, leaving you brakeless on that side of the vehicle.
Weekly said:
Usually they squeal when they're too hot. But it can also depend on the composition of the brake pads.
Weekly said:
Entirely dependant on how hard the vehicle is driven, under what circumstances, etc. I get mine checked yearly.
In short... when in doubt, check them out.
do front brakes wear faster than back?
It's been over a year and a half since I had the pads replaced, maybe two. I took the car in a few months ago and the mechanic said they were ok, but I'm unsure about the garage. Break inspections add up so I'm trying to estimate when the pads need to be replaced.
It's been over a year and a half since I had the pads replaced, maybe two. I took the car in a few months ago and the mechanic said they were ok, but I'm unsure about the garage. Break inspections add up so I'm trying to estimate when the pads need to be replaced.
Here's a question for ya: my front wheels have started to squeel but NOT when I'm braking. I usually hear it when I'm accelerating or when going around corners. Braking seems to stop/lessen the noise. Any ideas what it is?
Keebler Elf said:
Most front disc brakes have 'wear indicators'. This is a little metal clip that rubs on the rotor causing a metallic squealing sound when driving that goes away when you brake. If it is this sound, the noise will only get louder over the next few weeks indicating it's time for a brake job. You can look at your front rotors and see if this clip is touching the rotor, which causes the squeal. On many cars you can look for this without having to remove the tires.
Weekly said:
When you brake the weight of your car shifts forward. If you want to feel what I mean, get up to 60 km/h on a straight road, make sure there isn't anyone behind you, and then hit your brakes hard. You'll feel yourself pulled forward in your seatbelt. The opposite is true with acceleration, and you are pushed back into your seat. I think this is Newton's Third Law, about every action having an equal and opposite reaction.
The result is your front wheels are responsible for about 70% of the braking for a car. That's why the pads wear sooner.
Keebler Elf said:
Check your wheel bearings and ball joints. It's most likely a wear indicator on the brake pads, but better to be safe than have a wheel come off at speed.
shakenbake
Senior Turgid Member
I agree, better safe than sorry
If it is a rear drum brake, and the rear bearing goes, it could take the rear brake with it. Then, you have to do both sides! It cost me about $900 last time one of those suckers went on me, and the spindles were not replaced!
shakenbake
happygrump said:
If it is a rear drum brake, and the rear bearing goes, it could take the rear brake with it. Then, you have to do both sides! It cost me about $900 last time one of those suckers went on me, and the spindles were not replaced!
shakenbake
shakenbake
Senior Turgid Member
johndavidsson said:
And, city drivingm, as well as an automatic transmission, are a lot more severe on brakes.
shakenbake
Do front brakes wear faster than rears?
The answer is yes for cars with drum rear brakes. For cars with rear discs, it varies. In theory front pads should wear faster than the rears, but it doesn't always work out that way. Not sure why.
Someone said to get rid of your brakes if there is only 1/4" of pad left. I would think twice about doing that. Some brand new brakes only have 1/4" of pad new. Drum brakes even less. A few milimeters of brake lining goes a long way. I think you only need about 2/32nd of an inch on rear drums by law, but am not sure.
Brakes squeal more now than ever. Many cars are using ceramic compounds in the pads.
What mileage should you replace brakes at?
Depends. Just drive them until you hear the wear bar indicators.
What mileage should you replace your tires?
Tread compounds differ greatly in hardness so selecting a mileage is not accurate. By law, you need 2/32nds of tread. This can be measured using an American penny. If the top of Lincoln's head is visible, that's roughly 2/32nds. There are also wear bar indicators moulded right in to the tire.
While 2/32nds is the legal minimum, you should probably look at getting rid of them between 3 to 4/32nds.
The answer is yes for cars with drum rear brakes. For cars with rear discs, it varies. In theory front pads should wear faster than the rears, but it doesn't always work out that way. Not sure why.
Someone said to get rid of your brakes if there is only 1/4" of pad left. I would think twice about doing that. Some brand new brakes only have 1/4" of pad new. Drum brakes even less. A few milimeters of brake lining goes a long way. I think you only need about 2/32nd of an inch on rear drums by law, but am not sure.
Brakes squeal more now than ever. Many cars are using ceramic compounds in the pads.
What mileage should you replace brakes at?
Depends. Just drive them until you hear the wear bar indicators.
What mileage should you replace your tires?
Tread compounds differ greatly in hardness so selecting a mileage is not accurate. By law, you need 2/32nds of tread. This can be measured using an American penny. If the top of Lincoln's head is visible, that's roughly 2/32nds. There are also wear bar indicators moulded right in to the tire.
While 2/32nds is the legal minimum, you should probably look at getting rid of them between 3 to 4/32nds.
Short answer.
The front brakes have a wear indicator that will squeel when they reach the end of their life, the back ones have to be checked periodicly to se if they are finished. Do not let them go till they are finished, it will cost you a set of brake rotors or brake drums if you do. ($200 to $600) I recommend Monroe brand ceramic brake pads. In my experience they are noise free, and the brake dust does not stick to the alloy rims. If you have these installed at Canadian Tire, they are gauranteed for life. (truth of the matter is that they will eventualy wear out and you do not have to pay for the actual brake pads or shoes. You will however, haveto pay for installation and refinishing of your rotors or drums)
The front brakes have a wear indicator that will squeel when they reach the end of their life, the back ones have to be checked periodicly to se if they are finished. Do not let them go till they are finished, it will cost you a set of brake rotors or brake drums if you do. ($200 to $600) I recommend Monroe brand ceramic brake pads. In my experience they are noise free, and the brake dust does not stick to the alloy rims. If you have these installed at Canadian Tire, they are gauranteed for life. (truth of the matter is that they will eventualy wear out and you do not have to pay for the actual brake pads or shoes. You will however, haveto pay for installation and refinishing of your rotors or drums)
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