The brakes on your vehicle are one of the most important parts that are necessary when driving your vehicle. They help stop your ton of steel and plastic from running into something such as another vehicle or an object and depending on how fast you're going, this could end up with several injuries or worse. If your brakes are not in good shape, you may not be able to stop in time and this could be something that happens to you. If you aren't sure how often or when your brakes should be changed, read below for some helpful information.
How Often Should Your Brakes Be Changed?
There isn't a specific amount of time that your brakes should be changed, but typically an average person changes their brake pads every couple of years. However, if you drive your vehicle more often, and are hard on your vehicle, such as you are braking hard a lot, or applying the brake a lot, you may need to change your brakes more often. It isn't so much an amount of time; it's about how you drive your vehicle and how often. You should know the signs of your brakes needing to be changed, and you will have these signs occur to your vehicle.
Signs Your Brakes Need to be Changed
A few signs to watch out for when driving your vehicle includes your brakes squealing or screeching. This indicates that your brake pads are starting to wear down into the rotors. If you're beyond the screeching phase, you may have grinding noises instead. In this case, your brake pads are completely worn out and your rotors are what is stopping your vehicle. If your rotors are getting worn down, they will also need to be changed, in addition to your brake pads.
Your vehicle may also show signs such as difficulty stopping, skipping, or hopping when attempting to stop rather than simply stopping. If your foot feels as though it may go through the floor, your brakes should be checked and changed as needed. If you are attempting to use your emergency brake to stop each time, this is very dangerous, and your vehicle needs to have the brakes changed immediately.
If you aren't sure when to change your brakes, you need to pay attention to the signs of your vehicle's ability to stop. Take your vehicle to local brake services to have the brakes inspected and changed.