It's Time! Change Your Brake Pads
Posted on: 7 January 2016
When cruising along the highway with your radio volume high and your windows down, you might not even notice the speed you're driving at unless you look at the speedometer. If you are at high speed and suddenly need to stop or slow down, your heavy truck will come to a standstill fast enough only if you have maintained your brakes well. As a truck driver, your brakes are likely to wear out faster because of the size of the vehicle. Therefore, regular replacement of your brake pads is necessary to prevent dangerous situations. However, when do you know it's time for a replacement? Here are things to consider.
Sounds
One of the easiest ways to determine that your breaks are worn out is to listen carefully for sounds while driving. Upon depression of your truck's brakes you may hear a clicking sound, and when this happens, you need to check with your mechanic to determine whether you will need to replace the brake pads.
Screeching sounds may also be another indicator of worn brake pads. You should check this with your mechanic because sometimes the screeching may just be caused by rust-covered rotors. Another possible sound you may hear is a grinding sound. This may be the case when the pads are worn out completely, causing the metal caliper and disc to rub together to produce the sound.
Pulsations
Pulsating brake pedals can also be a sign that your brake pads need replacement. Pulsating brake pedals refer to the constant grabbing or vibrating of the pedals when you step on them. If your brake pads are worn out or warped because of heat, they can cause these pulsations, and this means that you need to replace them.
Pulling
Another indicator of worn-out brake pads is pulling. When you step on the brakes and observe that your car is pulling to one side without you having to turn the steering wheel, it may be an indicator that the linings of your brakes are wearing unevenly.
Visual Cues
There are certain visual cues that can show you it's time to replace your brake pads. Nonetheless, this may be more useful if you are adept at repairing your vehicle yourself; otherwise, call your mechanic for truck repairs. If you observe deep or circular grooves in the rotors, you might want to change your brake pads. You can also check your existing brake pads through the wheel's spokes. If they appear too thin, you need new ones.
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