When you press down on your vehicle’s brake pedal, your brake pads press against the rotors to cause the necessary friction to slow down and stop your car. Look out for the following signs from your trusted CDRJ dealer in Alexandria, VA, that indicate it’s time to replace your car’s pads to ensure your safety behind the wheel.
Does Your Vehicle Need New Brake Pads From Your Dealer?
The Pads Are Thin 
New pads are between eight and twelve millimeters thick and can wear down to 3.2 millimeters before they need replacing. It’s best to replace the pads before they get too thin. If you want to check the thickness, look between the wheel spokes, where you’ll see them between the brake caliper and the brake disc. If the pads appear less than a quarter inch thick, replace them immediately to ensure your safety.
You Hear High-Pitched Screeching Sounds
When you press down on the brake pedal, you might hear a screeching sound when your pads start wearing too thin. This sound is caused by the wear indicator bars built into the pads making contact with the rotors when you step on the brake.
Your Brakes Are Making Horrible Grinding Noises
If you ignore the screeching warning and continue to drive with worn pads, you’ll eventually hear a much more severe sound – a loud grinding noise. The pad is worn to the bare metal and grinding against the steel rotor, which can cause significant damage and be very expensive to repair.
Your Brakes Are Unresponsive
Worn pads will severely affect your vehicle’s braking ability. You will have to apply the brake pedal sooner and use more pressure to get your vehicle to respond. If you don’t replace the pads when your brakes are unresponsive, they will wear down completely, significantly reducing your car’s stopping power. In extreme cases where the pads are too thin to generate the necessary friction, your vehicle won’t stop when needed.
The Brake Pedal Vibrates
Another sign that your pads are thin and need replacing is when your brake pedal vibrates when you apply the brakes. It’s best to have your car technician replace the pads to eliminate the vibrations and ensure your safety while driving.
Your Car Veers to the Side
Pads can wear down at different rates and unevenly. One side of a pad could wear more than the other, resulting in unevenly worn pads that could cause your car to veer to the left or right when you step on the brake pedal.
To avoid brake issues, check your owner’s manual for the recommended brake system inspection intervals and ensure your brakes are always in proper working condition. If your car needs new pads, visit Ourisman Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Alexandria today for a replacement and brake confidently, knowing you have all the stopping power you need.
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