The longevity of your brake pads has a wide range, making it hard to determine when your brakes are going to wear out based on mileage alone. A brake pad can last anywhere from 25,000 to 65,000 miles, and a variety of factors impact the life. The more highway miles you drive, the less you have to engage your brakes. If you are a person who brakes hard, this can decrease the life of your brakes. If you drive frequently around town, your brakes aren't going to last as long because of the frequency you use them. Problems with air in your brake lines, worn-out pads, or damaged rotors can all mean it's time to take your car in for car repair.
Spongy Brake Pedal and Your Brakes
If your brake pedal feels soft when you push on it, or spongy, this tends to indicate that you have air in your brake lines. Car repair services can change the brake fluid in your brake lines, removing the air at the same time. Once the brake fluid can flow freely, you shouldn't have a problem with how your brake pedal feels and engages your brakes.
Grinding Noises While Driving
Grinding noises is never a good sign when it comes to your car and the brakes. If you hear grinding noises, it is likely that your brake pads have worn out. At the bottom of the brake pad there is a metal knob that will hit your rotors in the event your pads are gone. This makes a grinding noise, and it is not safe to drive your vehicle. You don't have the ability to stop your car when the brake pads are gone, and you can damage your rotors.
The Brake Pedal Goes to the Floor
If you press your brakes and the pedal goes to the floor, you are either missing brake fluid or there is a problem with the brake master cylinder. If you notice a difference in how your brakes normally work, it's important to bring your car in for repair services to make sure your brakes continue to be safe to use.
Brake problems can occur because of damage to your brake lines, loss of fluid, worn-out brake pads, or damage to calipers and rotors. If your brakes aren't working like normal, it's important to bring your car in for repair to keep your car safe to drive on the road. Talk to a company like Nortown Auto LLC for more information.