You must never take your vehicle’s brake pads for granted. Faulty brake pads can not only reduce the braking ability of your car but can also cause complete brake failure while you’re on the road leading to fatal accidents. Booking our mobile mechanic as soon as you spot a warning signal can avert huge bills caused by damaged units in the brake system. We provide hassle-free car repairs and car services all across Australia including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide.
When you place your foot on the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid flows from the master cylinder to the brake calipers. Each of the brake calipers contains a set of brake pads which when pressed against the brake rotor, creates the friction needed to stop your car. Worn out brake pads create immense pressure on the adjoining parts in your car’s braking system and can lead to several safety issues. brake pads that have once gone bad can’t be restored to their original condition, hence replacing them is the only solution.
Booking a mobile mechanic online involves some easy steps. All you have to do is fill out your postcode, your car’s make, model and year and choose a convenient date and time slot for the car service. We usually organise the same or next business day booking.
Some of the common causes that lead to brake pads wear and tear are:
- Driving at unusual speed
- Applying last-minute brake
- Making too many stops while driving
- Overloading your vehicle
How to know your brake pads need replacing?
Squealing, grinding noise when applying brakes
The next time you place your foot on the brake pedal and you hear a squealing noise, chances are your brake pads are wearing out. This sound can be caused due to several other reasons as well. When the brake pads are worn out and the metal backing plates inside come in contact with the brake rotor, you’d hear a grinding sound. If you still delay in getting a replacement, the brake pads will crumble down further and the increased friction will damage the rotor as well. Also, brake pads start accumulating a lot of dust and dirt on the disc rotor, resulting in squealing every time you apply the brakes. You may also hear a thumping noise when something gets stuck in your caliper unit, or if there’s lack of lubrication in the rear drum brakes.
Brake warning light
The indicator light on your dashboard can warn you when something is wrong with your car’s brake pads. However, the warning light does not necessarily mean that the brake pads are at fault, it can also highlight other issues affecting the braking system, say, for example, a situation of low brake oil or leaking brake fluid. But in either case, you should have your car checked out by an expert immediately.
Slower brakes
Worn brake pads will fail to create enough friction against the rotor, resulting in slower brake response. This can lead to a serious mishap on the road when you’re trying to brake quickly but have to wait for the braking system to catch up because of failing brake pads. Contact Lube Mobile and replace your brake pads to ensure that your car’s braking system is safe at all times.
Vibrating steering wheel or pulsating brake pedal
Does your car shake when braking? A pulsating sensation while braking mostly results out of warped rotors but sometimes, unevenly worn pads are to be blamed as well. When an uneven rotor surface hits the brake pad while spinning, some of the pad material is transferred onto the rotor. You’ll feel a vibration when the pad hits that bump on the rotor. Usually, when you feel a shudder through the steering wheel, the front rotors need to be looked at and if the pulsation is through the brake pedal, the rear brake rotors might need a fix.
Burning odour when applying brakes
Overheated brakes or clutch can result in a distinct, chemical odour when you repeatedly apply brakes while driving. You may also experience a strong smell after you’ve installed new brake pads, this is usually harmless and you need not stress over it. Another possible situation could be that you’ve accidentally left your parking brake on. The friction caused while driving with the parking brake on will cause it to overheat and result in a burning smell.
Hard, low or spongy pedal experience
If your brakes aren’t responding quickly in an emergency and they fail to act until the brake pedal is almost touching the floor, you may want to get your brake pads checked. If your brake pedal feels spongy or squishy there might be moisture in the brake fluid which other than reducing braking efficiency can corrode brake components and result in total brake failure. On the contrary, if your brake pedal feels hard and you have to apply immense pressure to make it function, you may be experiencing power brake issues, restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or damaged brake linings.
Car pulls to one side while braking
Your vehicle may tilt sideways if the fault lies in the brake system. So, if your brake pad or shoe is contaminated with grease or fluid or your car has a leaking wheel cylinder and even issues arising from a frozen caliper or wheel cylinder piston – a preliminary check from our mechanic can help you locate the source of the problem.
How much does it cost to replace brake pads?
Not all braking system issues need brake pads replacement. In instances where a foreign object gets caught inside a brake caliper or there’s dust or moisture between the brake pad and brake rotor disc, our mechanic can perform minor repairs to get them fixed.
However, once the friction lining over the brake pads is thinned beyond 4mm, they can no longer be repaired. A brake pad isn’t much expensive on its own as it can cost you between $50 to $100. But to replace the pads, your mechanic has to mount and dismount the entire brake system and this is what adds up to the exorbitant replacement charge.
At Lube Mobile, our mechanic inspects your vehicle, explains what is wrong with your car and provides you with a quote before starting any work. This ensures that you are in control of the costs and are not subject to any hidden fees at the end of a car service.
If your brake pads have failed, you must consider changing other components in your braking kit as well such as the brake caliper, brake drums, brake line/hose, brake shoes, disc rotors, wheel cylinders, master cylinder and wheel hub bearing for optimal productivity.
The price will also depend on the type of your car, its brand and model and the number of brake pads you are replacing at one go.
All the brake parts that you buy from us and the repair work our mechanic does – are covered under the 12 month/20,000 km warranty – so that you don’t have to stress over the quality of our service.
How long do brake pads last?
It is pretty difficult to predict the exact lifespan of brake pads as their longevity depends on factors such as the user’s driving style, the material of the pads, the driving terrain and the maintenance of the braking system. Also, your car’s front brake pads wear out sooner as the vehicle tends to dive forward when brakes are applied. On average, most brake pads can function anywhere between 25,000-65,000 miles. In some rare instances, they can last about 80,000 miles as well.
Book Lube Mobile’s service to get your car’s brake pads changed and experience a safe and smooth braking experience.
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