How Do You Know When Your Brakes Need to Be Replaced?

The sounds that matter

Most brake pads have a small metal tab that starts squealing when the friction material gets low. That squeal is a courtesy warning, and it usually means you still have time to schedule the work.

Grinding is different. Grinding means the pad material is gone and metal is riding on metal, which chews up the rotor and turns a routine pad job into a bigger bill.

What you can feel

A pedal that sinks toward the floor points to air or a fluid leak in the system. A shudder through the steering wheel when you slow down from highway speed usually means warped or unevenly worn rotors.

If the car pulls to one side when you brake, a caliper may be sticking. That is common on older vehicles in the Lehigh Valley, where road salt gets into the slide pins.

How long brakes usually last

There is no single number. City driving through Allentown and East Allentown wears pads faster than highway miles, and heavier vehicles and work vans go through brakes quicker still.

A realistic range is 30,000 to 60,000 miles on pads. The honest answer is that measurement beats mileage, which is why we check thickness at every oil change.

• —Squealing at low speed
• —Grinding when stopping
• —Vibration when braking
• —Soft or low pedal
• —Brake warning light

What to do next

If you notice any of those signs, get the brakes measured before your next long drive. We will put the car on the lift, show you the pads and rotors, and give you a written price before we start.