What Symptoms Occur When Brake Pads Have Problems?
4 Answers
Symptoms of problematic brake pads: 1. Brake pedal not returning: This phenomenon occurs when the brake pedal does not return to its original position or does so slowly after being pressed. The main cause is usually the jamming of the wheel cylinder piston due to dirt. Simply cleaning the wheel cylinder piston can resolve this issue, but ensure that the air in the brake lines and brake fluid is completely purged afterward. 2. Soft brake pedal: This symptom is caused by insufficient brake fluid, thinning of brake discs and pads, air in the brake lines, or deteriorated brake fluid. The most common causes are deteriorated or insufficient brake fluid. 3. Noise during braking: When the brakes are applied while driving, the brake system may emit a sharp metallic friction sound (very harsh). This could be due to thinning brake pads, poor-quality brake pads, foreign objects in the brake pads, or rust on the brake discs. In most cases, pressing the brakes a few more times can alleviate the noise.
The most frightening thing while driving is having brake problems. Once, right after leaving my neighborhood, I stepped on the brake and heard a metallic scraping sound, as piercing as nails on a chalkboard. Later, an inspection revealed that the brake pads were worn to their limit. Continuing to drive like that would not only damage the brake discs but might also make it impossible to stop the car in an emergency. Normally, if you notice the brake pedal travel becoming longer or the car shaking when slowing down, it's likely that the brake pads are excessively worn. Especially when driving in the rain, worn brake pads can extend the braking distance by more than half a meter—it's practically playing with your life. I've now made it a habit to check the thickness of the brake pads every 10,000 kilometers.
Have you ever experienced a metallic scraping sensation when braking? That's the brake pad warning. I pay special attention to this during long-distance driving, especially after continuous braking on long downhill slopes. If I smell a burnt odor, I definitely need to check immediately. If the brake pads are too thin, not only does the braking performance suffer, but the ABS system might also fail. I remember last time the mechanic showed me a car whose brake pads had worn through to the backing plate, scoring deep grooves into the brake disc. In the end, both the brake disc and calipers had to be replaced. Now I always replace the brake pads in advance—it's much cheaper than replacing the entire braking system anyway.
With over 20 years of driving experience, I can tell you that brake noise is absolutely something to be wary of. Once when I was picking up my child from school, a slight press on the brake pedal produced a 'squeaking' sound. Upon inspection, it turned out the brake pads had worn down to just 3mm. Severely worn brake pads can increase stopping distance by 30%, making it even more dangerous in rainy conditions. Additionally, pay attention to the feel of the brake pedal—if it becomes soft like stepping on cotton, or if the steering wheel shakes during emergency braking, these are signs of potential brake system issues. Now, I make it a point to have the brakes checked by a repair shop every six months—safety is more important than anything else.
