Excessive vibration is a tell-tale sign of when to replace the brake discs.It might be that the surface is not smooth, could be cracked, or possibly warped. You also might notice that your brakes don’t stop as quickly as they used to.
Contents
- 1 How do I know if my car needs new brake discs?
- 2 How often should brake discs be replaced?
- 3 How many years do disc brakes last?
- 4 Should I replace brake discs at same time as pads?
- 5 Is there a minimum thickness for brake discs?
- 6 How many km should brakes last?
- 7 Why disc brakes are so expensive?
- 8 What do worn out brakes sound like?
How do I know if my car needs new brake discs?
Signs your car brakes aren’t working properly – Your brakes don’t stop your car as well as they used to: This could be due to a number of reasons: your brake pads and discs could be old and worn causing them to grip less well, the brake fluid could be old and has absorbed moisture – reducing its effectiveness, or the hydraulic system could be losing fluid and pressure.
- A grinding sound: If you hear a grinding noise when you brake, it could mean your brake pads or discs need replacing.
- Brake pads include a metal wear indicator that make a noise when it contacts the brake disc.
- When your pads are worn to this extent, it is likely you will need to replace the discs too.
A squealing noise: You may also notice a squealing sound when you brake, if the car has been parked in the rain or standing water for long periods of time. This can cause a build-up of rust on the discs, but don’t worry, it should quickly wear off when you’re back on the road.
Leaks on the inner wheels: Your braking system is complex. If there are worn seals, loose connections or split hoses in the system, air and fluid can leak out, making your brakes less effective. Look out for fluid on the inner wheels, or on the ground where you regularly park your car. Brake fluid is normally clear, with a slight odour.
Pulling to the left or right: Your car should track straight and true when you brake, if it doesn’t, it could be a serious problem when you brake hard in an emergency situation. If your brakes are worn more on one side than the other, pulling to one side may occur.
- Another potential cause may be a sticking brake caliper.
- Vibration: If you notice vibrations through your steering wheel or brake pedal as you slow down, get your brakes checked.
- A vibrating brake pedal is a sign that your brake discs are warped.
- Brake pedal sinks to the floor: If you have to press the pedal a long way down before the car starts to slow, this could be due to your brake system leaking which is very serious.
Warning light: If your dashboard is displaying the brake warning light, get your car checked immediately. This is likely an indication that the brake hydraulic system has failed, and must be addressed as soon as possible to avoid a serious accident. Find out more about your car’s dashboard lights.
How often should brake discs be replaced?
How long should brake discs last? – Generally, brake discs should last more than 50,000 miles on average, but a number of factors affect the lifespan. If you keep them well maintained and drive sensibly, you may be able to get up to 80,000 miles out of one set! However, it is always worth keeping an eye on your brake discs because they can deteriorate in as little as 25 to 30,000 miles.
It’s worth keeping an eye on your brake pads as well. They’re a lot softer than the metal brake discs your car uses and go through a lot more wear and tear. Brake pads generate the friction needed to slow the car down and brake discs spin around with the wheels, pressing on the pads. This wears them down.
An average set of brake pads should last you 50,000 miles, but other factors can affect their lifespan as with the discs. Regularly checking the quality of your brake discs and pads helps keep yours working for longer.
How do you check brake disc life?
Inspecting your disc brakes: – The disc should be shiny from the inside to the outer edge. If you can see slight lines in the disc then not to worry as this is normal wear. You need to look out for things such as rough spots or pronounced grooves in the disc, if you do have this type of wear on your disc then you need to replace them.
How many years do disc brakes last?
How long do car brakes last? The most accurate answer is simply this: it depends on how you drive! Most car brakes will last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles –between three and six years for most daily drivers–but some sets may last even longer for those who exercise good habits.
Is it safe to drive with worn brake discs?
1. You can damage the brake rotors and calipers. – Your car’s brakes are a closely-connected system of moving parts, and when one component is damaged, the wear can trickle down into other elements. For example, when your brake pads wear down past a certain point, you can risk damaging the brake rotors.
- When you brake, the brake pads squeeze the rotor to stop your car.
- However, when the pads are excessively worn, exposed metal on the pads grinds against the rotors every time you brake, producing a grinding noise and likely damaging the rotors.
- Additionally, the heat generated from the metal-on-metal grinding that happens when worn pads squeeze the rotor can also warp and crack the rotor.
Typically, brake rotors outlast the brake pads. However, not getting your brake pads replaced can damage these parts, requiring more frequent repairs. Getting your brake pads changed and your brake system inspected regularly can help you get the most life out of all its parts and avoid expensive and preventable brake repairs.
Should I replace brake discs at same time as pads?
Replace together for an even performance – It might not always seem necessary to replace brake pads when you’re getting brake discs changed, but it tends to work out for the best. As a general rule, its recommended that if your brake pads are half worn down, get them replaced at the same time as the discs.
What happens if you don’t change your brake discs?
Scientific Method – The only precise method to determine the timing of rotor replacement is to measure the rotor for thickness and “run out.” Manufacturers publish the original thickness of the rotor and the discard thickness. Using a, measure the rotor at multiple points.
If any measurement reaches the discard thickness, replace the rotor. The side-to-side movement of the rotor as it rotates is known as “run out.” A dial indicator shows the amount of excessive runout. But, if the rotor is within thickness specifications, run out can be eliminated by turning the rotor on a brake lathe.
Run out causes vibrations that you can feel in the steering wheel or the driver’s seat when you step on the brakes. If you don’t replace the rotors when needed, you risk brake failure and an accident. The rotor absorbs and dissipates heat when the brakes are applied.
- The thinner the rotor becomes, the more heat is absorbed.
- This excess heat warps the rotor.
- A warped rotor is wavy and uneven, causing the pads to move back and forth along the rotor.
- You’ll feel a vibration in the steering wheel or brake pedal.
- Warped rotors increase the stopping distance, which could cause an accident, especially in an emergency.
Eventually, the rotor will crack, first around the mounting holes where they are fitted onto the studs. Then the body of the rotor cracks. Finally, in extreme cases of neglect, rotors will fall apart or even explode when the rotor is too thin and excessively cracked.
Can you just change brake pads and not discs?
Do you have to replace rotors when replacing brake pads? – You don’t always have to replace rotors when replacing brake pads. The frequency of rotor replacement depends on factors like rotor quality and driving conditions. However, if your mechanic finds warped or worn rotors beyond the minimum discard thickness, they recommend replacing them together with brake pads.
Resurfacing rotors is another option, but it may decrease rotor durability and wear away brake pads faster. When replacing your brake pads and rotors, you generally have three options: replace the brake pads, resurface the rotors, or replace both the pads and rotors at once. How often you need to replace your brake rotors concerning your brake pads depends on many variables, such as the quality and durability of your original brake components and where, when, and how often you drive your vehicle.
Like brake pads, there are a lot of different brands and types of rotors out there. Rotor quality ranges from exceptional to questionable, and that will have a lot to do with how often they will need to be replaced alongside brake pads. Driving conditions will also influence the durability of your brake rotors.
