How do you know if your brake pads need changed with out taking it to a some place that will charge you?

Question

There is a whistling sound when I'm driving & not using my breaks. But I hear that you need to take it to get fixed immediately if you hear a grinding noise, which means you are messing your rotors up? But that's not the kind of noise I hear. It does sound like something is rubbing up against something that it shouldn't be. And it is really loud. But it doesn't sound like metal rubbing against metal. I don't have enough money to take it someplace & get fixed. If I can wait a week & then drive 2 hours to my dad's house, he'll replace the break pads. But is it safe for me to drive on for a week & will it be safe to drive the 2 hours it takes me to get to my parents?

Answer 1

well... the most obvious sign is when every time you step on the brake it makes a squeaking noise... this is because in the brake pad there is a metal thing that will hit the metal on you rtire and cause a squeaking noise. When this happens you need to change the brackpads.

Answer 2

If it is a squealing noise, then yes you need the pads to be replaced. there are small metel sensors attached to the pads. When the pads wear down, this metal sensor rubs lightly against the rotors causing the sound that you hear. Once it wears down even more, then your sound will be more of a constant squeal. Sometimes on turns, sometimes when you lightly apply the brakes the noise may go away too.
Have someone remove the wheel where you hear the noise the most and look for the sensor, if it is close to the rotors, then simply replace the pads. It should be Ok to drive for a short while, maybe a few weeks depending on how much you drive and how hard you apply the brakes. Go easy on thenm for now.
good luck.........

Answer 3

Jack the car up, take the tire off.
You'll find the rotor is saddled by brake assembly. The pad consists of a backing agent and the pad itself. the backing part of the pad is the part farther from the rotor itself. You should be able to see if there's any pad left.
The whistling sound itself may not be brake related at all. It could be a loose belt or a bearing of some kind.
Without knowing more, I'd say if you haven't had any problems stopping yet, you should be fine. Be careful.
Good Luck.

Answer 4

I have been told that when you hear that whislting noise it means that your pads are rubbing together, which in some cases means that you may not hear a grinding noise before this happens, mine never grind, they whistle so I change them immediately. I don't take mine to a shop to get changed, I have my husband do it because I am like you, I don't want to take it to a shop & be charged to have them looked at nor pay the expensive price of labor to get them changed. You can get brake pads at just about any auto store for alot cheaper than you can at a shop, I think I pay $25.00 for my brake pads & they last a long time. So if you have somone that can look at them for you without going to a shop, I would do that first.

Answer 5

You can wait and have Dad drive the car and see what is up.

Nothing terrible is going on just yet, but if it changes before you get to Dad's house- You need to stop.

depends where you live but lots of good shops offer a free inspection of brakes with an oil change or a tire balance. I know I do and get a lot of people taking advantage of that service. Many don't believe what I tell them but I sleep peacefully at night for always having done the right thing.

ASE Cert tech 30 years, Shop Owner

Answer 6

On all automobiles, with disk brakes, the brake pad has a flexible steel tab, that creates a "skreching/rubbing" noise while the thickness of the pad will become risky. In maximum automobiles, the front wheels/brakes will positioned on speedier than the rear pads. the quantity that the motor vehicle is used, no count if interior the city with incredibly some stop and bypass site visitors, or interior the rustic, with long open driving subject, will ensure the frequency of might desire to "re-do your brakes". Of magnitude, in case you do pay attention the sound of scrapping/rubbing noise, if allowed to bypass too long, will reason your brake rotors to positioned on abnormally. Making extra fee of brake restore. commonly while detected early, changing the pads commonly will extend the existence of your rotor, or perhaps the calipers retaining the pad will final longer. Your oil, and engine upkeep would be required lots greater commonly than the might desire to interchange your brake pads. maximum motor vehicle provider centers, will furnish a courtesy walk around inspection of your motor vehicle once you're taking it in on your habitual oil replace provider. a demonstration of positioned on and tear of your brakes, is sometime seen as a black dirt/powder displaying by your wheels.

Answer 7

If you think its close to time on getting them fixed, then go ahead and take it in. you will have to pay more if it gets to the point where you hear the grinding noise ($325+) rather than just replacing the pads ($150 or less depending on the car).

always go for the preventative route when it comes to car repair no matter how much you want to put it off.

Answer 8

Doesn't sound like brakes. The front pads will make a squelling sound but not a whistle. Probably something else.

Answer 9

It could be a couple of things like having to brake hard in order to stop. or when you stop it makes noises and you can look at it to tell if its getting thin

Answer 10

check the brake system at a mechanic soon.

but if you have a grinding noise and you have to brake hard to get the veicle to stop you should see the mechanic even sooner...