3 Keys To Effective Brake Pad Maintenance

Neglecting brake pad maintenance is as costly for the vehicle as it is dangerous for the driver. Today’s post shares the 3 keys to effective brake pad maintenance to keep you safe this winter.

Read on or contact your local TIRECRAFT for a quick brake pad maintenance quote.

Know The Best Brake Pad Maintenance Schedule

If you want to put your brake pad maintenance on auto-pilot, simply follow the TIRECRAFT auto repair schedule, which recommends brake pad maintenance inspections every 20,000km or 12 months of driving—whatever comes first.

We designed this schedule with drivers in mind, and experts across Canada agree that the 20,000km / 12 month brake pad maintenance is the best way to help:

• Save money on expensive brake pad maintenance, repair, and replacement
• Make driving more enjoyable
• Ensure safe transportation for you and your family
• Reduce the chance of a costly breakdown
• Improve fuel economy and reduce emissions

Learn The Top-3 Brake Pad Maintenance Indicators

When it comes to effective brake pad maintenance, knowing is half the battle. As we’ve already mentioned, that means knowing how often to book your brake pad maintenance, but it also means knowing how to identify any serious warning signs that rear up before the next scheduled service.

So indicator lights aside, here are the top-3 signs that your vehicle is in need of brake pad maintenance:

• Squealing and screeching when you brake. Over time, brake pads wear away, gradually exposing more of the metal shim behind them, which can cause squealing and screeching sounds whenever you press down on the pedal. This is an intentional feature, designed to alert drivers when their brakes need service. But not all squeals are cause for concern; for instance, wet, damp conditions sometimes create a thin layer of rust that makes the same sounds, though only temporarily. If the squealing stops after a few minutes on the road, your brake pads probably aren’t to blame. When in doubt, contact your local TIRECRAFT.
• Less than ¼ inch of brake pad remaining. A quick visual inspection can yield a lot of information about the condition of your brake pads. If you lean up against your car and down through the spokes, you should be able to see your brake pad compressed against the rotor. If it’s less than ¼ inch thick (about 3 millimeters), it’s definitely time to book brake pad maintenance.
• Deep, metallic grinding and growling. Unlike squeals and screeches, which are mostly harmless early indicators that your brake pads need maintenance soon, deep grinding and growling signs are serious red flags. These sounds are usually the result of metal-on-metal grinding between your brake discs and calipers, which can cause catastrophic damage to your braking system. If you hear anything of the sort, book a free brake pad maintenance consultation at your local TIRECRAFT as soon as possible.

Tweak Driving Habits For Better Brake Pad Maintenance

If you want to reduce the cost and frequency of your brake pad maintenance, we recommend you:

• Slow down—Slow speed makes for easier braking, which reduces frictions and wear
• Don’t ride your brakes—Every time you engage the brakes, you’re putting friction on your brake components. Be mindful of your braking habits and try to minimize friction where possible.
• Use “engine braking”—For example, when approaching a stop sign or red light, start slowing down sooner so your brakes do less work.
• Lighten the load—The less weight in your car, the easier it is for your brakes to slow it down.

Get Professional Brake Pad Maintenance At Your Local TIRECRAFT

Use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool on our website to learn more about our brake pad maintenance service and get a free quote.

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