Aside from the obvious, not being able to stop, how do I know if I need new brakes on my car?

Question

There is some slight squeaking when I press the brakes and they seem to grinding a bit.

Answer 1

some brake noise is normal and will usually change as weather conditions change. for the most part its very difficult to tell if you need brakes without doing a visual inspection. some vehicles have whats called a wear indicator but they are not 100% reliable and only work on disc brakes. when the pads get down to critical thickness they will make a shrill sqealing noise while rolling and the noise will either go away or change when the brakes are applied. so basicly find someone to check your brakes, most shops will do it for free.

Answer 2

You might be a day late and a dollar short. If brake pads get too worn, they will score the drums or damage the disks, either of which then need to be machined.

If you have any mechanical skills, you can learn how to inspect the brake pads yourself. Most of us rely on a mechanic to inspect them at periodic intervals, depending on how much and where - city or highway - we drive. A good mechanic can also tell you the approximate expected life of a set of brake pads.

Answer 3

The squeaking and grinding are the warnings. Get your brakes checked now.

Answer 4

to save money check them yourself. take one front tire off. check brake pad. new ones are abour 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. if there is little pad replace them.

Answer 5

that's a good way to tell.. there are squealers built into the break pads to let you know without having to look at them. once they start you still have a couple of weeks or so but you really should change them right away.