![Brake Pads](/globalassets/knowledge-page-headers_brake-pads.jpg)
Brake Pads Explained
We don't usually have time to think about how our brakes work when the time actually comes to use them - slamming down the brake pedal when a deer darts out in front of you doesn’t exactly allow much time for pondering. However, they are a critical part of your vehicle’s function and they require a certain level of care and understanding to keep them working as they should.
Your braking system is made up of several parts that convert your action into actually stopping the car. One of those brake parts is your vehicle's brake pads.
While one of the smaller parts, your brake pads are an essential component in the braking system. Taking on considerable pressure and friction, they are subject to wear and must be changed often. Without doing so, you put yourself and your passengers at serious risk.
In this article, we'll take a closer look into how brake pads work, including why they’re so important, the best time to change your brake and the signs that your brake pad needs changing.
What are car brake pads?
Your brake pad is part of a more extensive, complex braking system comprising several components: the rotors, callipers, hydraulic fluid, cylinder and hoses. While all these components are equally important, the brake pads take the most brutal blow. A backing plate and an attaching friction material make up the brake pad. This friction material is pushed against the car's rotor, forcing the vehicle to slow down.
There are several different types of brake pads differing in size and material. There are three main types of brake pads:
- Organic: Organic brake pads are made from various fibres and materials, including rubber, carbon, fibreglass and Kevlar, and held together using resin.
- Semi-metallic: Semi-metallic brake pads are made of various metal fibres combined with resins and graphite as fillers. Depending on the vehicle, there are different types of semi-metallic pads. Metal is an effective conductor of heat, which helps your brake pads to cool quickly across various temperatures. While more expensive than organic pads, they are also more resistant.
- Ceramic: These brake pads are made of a durable ceramic material combined with copper fibres. These tend to be the most expensive brake pads. However, they offer a more consistent performance across various environmental conditions. As such, they are considered to be more durable and have a lesser tendency to produce dust. Finally, while they aren't as good at conducting heat as metallic pads, they are quieter.
How do car brake pads work?
Several components make up your braking system and work together to translate your actions into physical force to stop the car. One of those components is your vehicle's brake pads.
When you push the brake pedal down, the system's components work together through hydraulic pressure to squeeze the brake pad against the rotor. This pressure and friction applied against the rotor slows and stops the wheels. And once the wheels stop moving, the vehicle stops too.
The friction and heat created by the pad gripping the rotor is intense, and the wear this causes is why the braking system's component needs to be changed most often.
If not replaced, the brake pads will wear entirely and expose the steel pieces that previously held the material. Left unattended, this can cause expensive and dangerous damage to other braking system components.
Look for these signs to know when to replace your brake pads:
- Squealing or screeching noises: If your vehicle has a wear indicator, you may notice screeching, whining or squealing noises. When a small metal attachment on the brake pad comes in contact with the rotor, you'll hear the purposeful high-pitched noise, bringing your attention to the fact that your brake pad needs changing.
- Less than a quarter inch of brake pad left: On disc brakes, it's possible to visually inspect your brake pad to see if it needs changing. If the friction material is less than a quarter inch, it's time to change it.
- Metallic grinding: When your friction material is completely worn, the metal backing plate will come into contact with your rotor, causing a grinding noise. Bring your vehicle in for a service as soon as possible if you hear this noise.
- Indicator lights: Most modern vehicles are equipped with an indicator light on the dashboard for when it's time to replace the brake pads.
The short answer is that it depends on the vehicle and the driver.
If you drive in urban areas or have a heavy-footed driving style, your brake pads will likely wear earlier. Generally, brake pads are considered good between 50,000-80,000kms in urban use.
Brakes are an essential safety component of your vehicle. Driving with faulty, damaged or worn brakes can cause serious harm to the driver and those around them. Making sure your brakes are in proper working conditions won't just save you money in the long run but also the lives of you and your passengers.
Here is a list of things that can happen if you drive with worn brake pads:
- You can damage the brake rotors and callipers: To brake, your brake pads are squeezed against the rotor to stop your vehicle. However, when worn, the exposed metal grinds against the rotor damaging it. Additionally, the heat generated from the grinding can warp and crack the rotor.
- Your brakes will have a slower response time: The more worn down your brakes, the more inefficient they are at slowing and stopping your car. As a result, your stopping response time will get longer, and it may feel like you have to push the pedal down harder to come to a complete stop.
- Car vibrates when braking: When your brake pads are excessively worn, they can send vibrations through the vehicle.
- Worn-down tyres: When driving with worn-out brake pads, you'll often have to slam down the brake pedal more forcefully and repeatedly. This hard braking will then wear down your tyres quicker.
Manufacturer's often sell brake pads in a set of four, but you don't need to change the front and rear brake pads together.
Front and rear brake pads wear down at different rates because the front brake pads do most of the work leading to them wearing faster.
You will need to change both sets of front brake pads to maintain an even wear on all pads. Failure to do so can lead the car to pull to one side.
Brake pads tend to wear out due to general day-to-day use, mileage, the driving environment and the owner's driving style. For example, city drivers will use their brakes more than those who use the highway with little traffic or live in rural areas. Alternatively, if you tend to brake sharply or have a heavy-footed driving style, this can cause the brakes to wear prematurely.
There are a few factors that, if taken into consideration, could extend your brake pads life:
- Driving Habits: Speed is your enemy when it comes to brake pads. If you break and stop abruptly, you will likely wear your brakes faster than someone who comes to a smooth and gradual stop.
- Environment: Driving in a city environment involves considerable start-stop movements and therefore is harder on the brakes. People who live more regionally on straighter roads will have brakes that last longer.
- Regular brake service: Having your brakes serviced regularly can help your brakes work more effectively and help your internal components work longer.
- Brake pad hardness: Brake pads vary in their make-up. Hard compound pads last longer and often need to be warm - these are better suited for performance cars. Softer compound pads work better at lower speeds and are placed on vehicles designed for city driving. Heat on these brake pads can cause the compound to melt onto the rotor.
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