when to change brakes?

Question

how do you know when to change your brakes. Is it every year when you change your tires or is this too much to do?

Answer 1

a quallity set of brakes lasts years cheep ones (autozone) last a year or less so you cant do a blaket replace time

get them checked yearly at least

Answer 2

Brake pads are usually installed with a squealer tab, which when the pad gets to the point at being to thin, the tab will come in contact with the rotor and cause a squealing noise. This noise is a high pitched squeal, it may be all the time, or it may be only when the brakes are applyed. If you hear/feel a grinding noise when the brakes are applyed, DO NOT DRIVE IT, the pads are worn completly away and its just the metal bracket that is coming in contact with the rotor. This damages the rotor and it will need replacment of the pad, rotors for sure, and maybe the claipers, depending on the design of the caliper. When you hear these noises, take the car to a garage for a brake inspection, and have the nissicary work prefomed. It is a good idea to have a brake inspection preformed every 6 months, or before you take that vehicle on a long trip (ie, 500km or more, as a ballpark figure).

A brake fluid flush is also recomened every year to two years, depending on manufacture specifications, this is do to the brake fluid being Hygroscopic (not hydroscopic). This is when the fluid will absorb a certin amound of moisture, usually around 5-15%. Brakes will absorb or seperate the moisture from the brake fluid when heat is added. When pads are low the heat surface is closer to the caliper, which will heat the fluid. When rotors are thin heat will also not be displaced as well, and will cause the fluid to heat faster, causing moisture to be either absorbed, or displaced. This moisture in your brake lines will cause rust/corrosion on the inside of the lines and this rust/corrosion is what kills brake lines and hoses. When the rust/corrosion brakes off from the line, its floats around in the lines until it reaches the lowest point in the system, usually the wheel cylinders or calipers. With the rust/corrosion in the wheel cylinders or calipers, it acts as a sandpaper and will slowly wear the seals and housing walls. In turn this will cause leaking and replacement of the componant.

Easiest way to make sure your brakes are fulley functioning, have them inspected by a qualified garage, at least 2 times a year, or whenever you leave on a longer trip with that vehicle.Make sure that if you hear ANY noises that are out of the oridinary or if the brakes feel "off" from what they usually do, have them inspected as soon as possible. Remember, your brakes are what keep you alive.

Answer 3

Depends if you are a luver or a braker. lol

Depends on how you use the brakes. I am a coaster. When I see the light I start coasting which slows the car down and then stop. Most people drive fast till the last minute then brake. I change mine about every two years. But when you start to hear the grind and when you put your "Foot to the pedal" and you hear the metal , then it is brake time.

Get a Haynes Repair Manual for your vehicle and it will show you what you need to do to check your brakes out.

Anyway, you can look at the specs for a Truck here. The standards are the same for ANY vehicle. But if you put your vehicle model and ID and there is not info on it just put it on another vehicle as specs as determining how to tell the brakes are good or bad are the same.

Answer 4

you could do it every year, but i would rather save some money and only replace them when they are really needed.

i rotate my tires with every oil change at 5,000 miles,and i stick my head in the wheel well when the tire is off and check it all out. i make sure to look at the inner and outter pad top and bottom, then run my fingers on the rotors to make sure they arnt grooved or glazed. i have 97,000 miles on my car and i'm still on my first set of brakes. the last time i looked (about 3,000 miles ago) i had 50% pad remaining.

Answer 5

In Pa. Minimal brake lining specifications for state inspection are : 2/32" at the thinnest point on bonded linings and 1/32" above the rivet head on riveted linings.

Answer 6

You should have your brakes checked every time you get your oil changed. Different cars will go different distances depending on brake pad or shoe material, driver characteristics, etc. Most vehicles have indicators or "squealers" on the brake pads that will screech when your pads get low but you should not rely on this alone.

Answer 7

When they reach 2/32

Answer 8

When you notice they are no longer working top shape. Get them checked, usually a brake check is free with any maintenance service.

Answer 9

If you feel a grinding or it takes a long time to stop your car. Squealing just means that they need checked but probably don't need changed.

Answer 10

when you hear them starting to squeal. thats metal on metal.
time for some new pads