Brake pads serve a vital role in your car’s braking system. They generate friction against the wheel rotors that bring your car to a stop. This friction they generate also means they slowly wear out and need replacement. As your Ford dealer, we’d like to tell you about some signs that you need to see us for replacement pads ASAP.
Screeching Pads
Loud screeching noises when you brake are almost always
caused by worn pads. Each pad has a 1/2″ thick friction material cover.
The material wears down slightly each time you apply the brakes. The pads can
also wear due to other problems with the brakes, for example, a jammed brake
caliper. As the pads wear down, you’ll notice your braking system will take an
increasingly longer time to engage.
Once the pads reach 1/4″ thick, they are due for replacement. As a
reminder, the manufacturers install a metal spike in each pad. This spike
becomes visible and will scratch against the smooth rotor surface. The spike
doesn’t cause damage, but it does mean your pads need to be replaced.
Grinding Pads
If the pads are not replaced when they start to screech,
they will continue to wear down. The spike will break off, and the last of the
friction material will flake off. When this happens, the bare metal of the pads
will be pushed against the rotors the next time you brake. You’ll begin to hear
a grinding sound that becomes louder as time passes.
The grinding sound is caused by the rough metal of the pads scouring the smooth
surfaces of the rotors. The longer this continues, the more damage the pads
will do to the rotors. This damage may even require the replacement of the
rotors depending on the level of damage they sustain. Our technicians can replace
the pads, and we’ll examine the rotors to assess the damage. Once we’ve
examined the rotors, we will repair or replace them.
Glazed Pads
As we’ve seen, the pads are pushed against the rotors to bring them to a stop. As soon as you take your foot off the brake, the calipers retract and the pads are automatically withdrawn. Glazing occurs when the pads are kept in contact with the rotor surface for an extended period. This can be caused by riding your brakes or by a damaged caliper that doesn’t fully withdraw.
Extended contact with the rotors turns the friction material smooth and glass-like. Smooth pads are very dangerous, as they can’t generate friction to stop your wheels. Glazed pads need to be replaced immediately.
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, call us right away at Crain Ford Jacksonville.
Image via Ford.
