How Do You Know When It's Time To Service Your Brakes?

Vehicle brakes are vital to safety when driving.
It makes sense to be sure that they are maintained properly. Brakes wear out as part of normal operation.

Your service technician has the knowledge and tools to tell you what’s needed. If you know what you are looking for, you can also check for wear by looking at the outside brake pad on the front wheel, which is visible on most cars.


Neglecting your brakes an lead to increased repair costs, or worse, no brakes at all. Paying attention to some of the signs of brake wear can keep you on top of stopping maintenance, saving you some money and keeping your car from bouncing off of the guy in front of you.



What signs indicate that they're wearing out?  How do you know when to bring your car in for service?


The most obvious indicator that your vehicle's brakes need attention is a high pitched squeal when you come to a stop. Brake pad manufacturers include a little piece of metal called an indicator on the pad itself. When the material wears down to the point where less than ¼ inch is left, the metal piece begins to touch the vehicle's rotor, doing a pretty good impression of fingernails on a chalkboard. Some disc brake pads have wear sensors that trigger a “service” light on the dash.


So how do you know when to bring your car in for service?