5 Signs Your Brake Pads and Rotors Need Replacing

Every day, a vehicle’s brakes are applied multiple times. With every braking, the brake pads and brake rotors undergo some wear & tear, which tend to gradually diminish the performance of the overall brake system. In the absence of regular maintenance, or if damaged brake pads & rotors are not replaced, that can lead to vehicle problems and even life-threatening accidents. That’s precisely why the leading brake rotor suppliers in India advise users to regularly inspect their automobile’s vehicular systems, and get the repairs/replacements done (as required). Here are some easy-to-detect symptoms that indicate that your brake rotors and pads need to be replaced.

Get The Brake Pads and Rotors Regularly Inspected

There can be various types of ‘visual symptoms’ that indicate something is not quite right with the brake pads and rotors of your vehicle. For instance, checking the compression of the brake pads, the brake assembly, and the caliper is of paramount importance. In case you find that the friction material has become damaged or otherwise compromised (as a rule of thumb, this should be ~7mm), replacements might be necessary.

In this context, it needs to be kept under consideration that the longevity of brake shoes and brake pads varies with end applications. While vehicles that mainly operate on light-traffic driveways can have their brakes lasting up to 80K miles, those in urban spaces may have much lower durability in their brake systems. Never leave the brake pads and rotors uninspected for too long – that can lead to bigger complications later.

Unnatural Vibrations and Loud, Grinding Sounds

Problems in vehicular braking systems can lead to too much heat being generated. Over time, this can lead to ‘brake warping’. The uneven wear & tear on the braking pads is likely to cause the steering wheel to abnormally pulse or vibrate, when the brakes are applied. This is a tell-tale sign of brake damages, and needs careful inspection.

Generally, leading brake pads suppliers in India also recommend replacements if the brakes generate weird grinding or squealing sounds whenever they are applied. These noises, as a rule of thumb, indicate that problems in the brake pads have started affecting the rotors as well. If ignored for long, the brake rotors can become permanently damaged, necessitating expensive repair work. Replacing the brake rotors / pads in time can help you avoid additional expenses.

More Distance For Braking and Lack of Braking Alignment

As the functionality & efficiency of brake systems go down, the braking response time gradually goes up. That, in turn, increases chances of accidents. The progressive loss of brake power also necessitates more effort to be placed on the brake pedals, exposing the latter to damage risks. If you repeatedly see that your vehicle is not stopping in a smooth manner (and it is taking longer than usual for the brakes to be applied), replacing both the pad and the rotors may be required.

A lack of alignment in the movement of a vehicle when the brakes are applied is also a red flag regarding the condition of the braking system. When there is excessive wear & tear in the brakes, the vehicle tends to swerve in one direction (left or right) after applying brakes. Unevenness in braking components – rotors and pads – require immediate attention and timely replacement, so that there are no further concerns. 

Less Thickness of Brake Pads; Appearance of Indicator Lights Randomly

Visually checking the vehicle wheel spokes and the brake pad can also reveal that the original thickness of the pads has decreased. According to any good brake rotor supplier in India, checking for dust and dirt accumulation in brake pads is also vital. When pads become too thin and flimsy, and / or presence of external blocking agents can lead to the brake system getting permanently damaged.

When the parking brake of a vehicle is applied, the brake indicator lights automatically turn on. However, when these warning lights start coming on even when the parking brakes are not engaged, that is a clear sign of problems in the braking system. In most cases, such glitches can be resolved by replacing the old system, and setting up new brake pads and rotors sourced from a reliable supplier.

Scratched Rotors and Lack of Control While Turning

While changing vehicle tires or doing regular car maintenance, you might witness abnormal and uneven ridges or grooves on the brake rotors. Such surface irregularities gradually undermine the performance of the vehicular braking system, and can even lead to brake failures. Unless these damaged rotors are replaced, the problems can have an impact on other components of the vehicle as well.

If there are heavy tremors and / or bumps at the time of braking, controlling the vehicle can become hugely difficult. Brakes should operate smoothly – and if that is not the case, the braking motion can become erratic, and it might require significantly greater effort to turn the vehicle. Brake pads that are damaged fail to generate the requisite friction for slowing down. As such, turning becomes unsafe, there is not enough braking power, and replacing the brake rotors and pads is advisable.

On average, vehicle brake pads can last for up to 18K-20K miles, while brake rotors do not generally need to be replaced before 65K-80K miles. However if damages are neglected for extended periods (and problematic brake systems are persisted with), that can have serious adverse impacts on the durability of the braking system. The top rotors and brake pads suppliers in India have high-performance cast iron products in their portfolio, and the onus is on buyers to source these rotors and pads on them. In addition, due attention needs to be paid on the above ‘symptoms’, to replace the products as and when required. When the braking system works smoothly, vehicle-owners can enjoy smoother, safer rides!

Continue Reading: Brake Rotors – Types And Their Applications In The Automotive Industry