How Often do Car Brakes Need to be Replaced?

Because brakes cannot easily be seen, many drivers don’t think about the condition of their brakes until they find themselves sliding through red lights. Make sure you can trust your vehicle to come to a complete stop when you step on the brake pedal by scheduling regular brake inspections. Don’t wait until a small stopping problem becomes a costly brake replacement.

Here is a little quiz that will help you determine the condition of your brakes and whether you are driving as safe as possible. When you apply the brake pedal…

• How far does your car keep going before coming to a stop? The pads have worn down and are too thin.
• Does your car pull to the side? A stuck caliper or leaking brake fluid will cause the car to pull to one side of the road or the other.
• Does the brake pedal pulsate or vibrate? Repeated overheating will warp the rotor.
• Does the steering wheel vibrate? The rotors are warped and need to be machined (smoothed out).
• Is there a squealing sound? This can be caused by worn-out brake pads, warped rotors, bad calipers, and inferior quality.
• Do you hear a grinding noise? The pads and rotors have been down until there is metal on metal contact. Don’t keep driving, but call a tow truck.
• Does your vehicle bounce up and down? The shocks have gone bad and keep bouncing from the force of applying the brakes.

Don’t forget to check your brakes! To prevent a major brake replacement, have your brakes inspected fairly frequently. Many mechanics recommend an inspection of every other oil change.

So how often do car brakes need to be replaced? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Puleo’s Auto Clinic for more information about a brake replacement and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Washington, NJ, and the surrounding areas.