Your car’s brake pads press against the rotor to create the required friction to slow down and stop your vehicle. Eventually, the pads wear down, and when they get too thin, they don’t work properly, and driving your Nissan will no longer be safe. Below are ways to tell how often College Park, MD, drivers should replace their brake pads to be safe on the road.
Mileage
How long brakes last varies depending on the type of vehicle and the driver. The road conditions and drivers’ driving habits significantly affect how often the pads should be replaced. If you drive your car mostly in urban areas in heavy traffic and use your brakes a lot or regularly brake hard, the pads will wear down much faster, and you’ll have to replace them more often.
Generally, if you drive in stop-and-go traffic, it’s best to replace your pads every 30,000 to 35,000 miles before they wear down too much. If you don’t drive your car a lot and mostly drive in rural areas or on highways, your pads can last up to 70,000 miles or more. Mileage is not the only way to tell it’s time to replace your brakes. There are also specific warning signs that will alert you when the pads are worn and need replacing.
Pad Thickness
As you drive and use your brakes to slow down and stop your car, the pads start to wear down. New pads are between eight to twelve millimeters thick. The pads are still acceptable at a thickness of 6.4 millimeters, but anything below that will influence your braking ability. When the pads wear down to 3.2 millimeters, it’s best to replace them immediately. When they are too thin, it severely impacts your stopping power and your safety behind the wheel.
High-Pitched Squealing Sounds
Most pads have a small piece of metal that makes a high-pitched squealing sound when the pads are worn down and getting too thin. When you hear the sound, replace the pads as soon as possible.
Grinding Noises
If you keep driving with worn-down pads, you’ll hear an awful grinding noise from the metal of the pads scraping against the rotors. The scraping will lead to extensive damage to the rotors and high repair costs.
Pedal Vibrations
Pads that are excessively worn or contaminated with oil or dirt can cause vibrations. You’ll feel the vibrations through your brake pedal when you apply the brakes. Solve the pedal vibration issue as quickly as possible by replacing the pads.
Slow Brake Response
Worn pads affect your braking ability when you step on the brake pedal. Your car will be slow to respond, and it will take much longer than usual to come to a complete stop.
If you experience any of the above braking issues or your pads look worn and thin, it’s time for new pads. Schedule a service at DARCARS Nissan of College Park today for an affordable pad replacement by our certified Nissan service center to ensure you’ve got the braking ability you need to keep you safe on the road.
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