According to professional mechanics, changing the brake pads takes approximately 1 hour. But how does this process get reversed? Today, we will discuss when and how to replace your car’s brake pads and how long it takes to do so.

Facts About Brake Pads

Mechanic servicing

One essential factor in changing the brake pads is how often you service your car’s brake system. Moreover, the mechanic will advise you to change the brake pad if they find any faults.

Furthermore, the mechanic thoroughly inspects the brake pad while servicing. Hence, the rotors, brake lines, and brake fluid also inspected along with the brake pad.

It is wise to change the parts the mechanics insist on changing. Moreover, the mechanics should conduct a test drive with the car again for better inspection.

Operational Atmosphere

The life span of brake pads also depends on your driving environment. Urban areas tend to have high traffic.

This results in more frequent breaking, which requires more work on the brake pad and reduces its life span.

On the other hand, the countryside and long straight roads are impeccable conditions for the brake pad’s better lifespan.

This is because less braking is needed. Moreover, less breaking means less fiction, hence less wear and tear.

Therefore, urban people should change their brake pads often, and countryside people should change their brake pads less often.

Way Of Driving

Applying hard breaks quickly deteriorates the brake pads. This is because of the high friction needed to stop the fast-moving wheel.

Moreover, the thermal increases drastically decrease the brake pad’s life span. Smoother breaks are advisable for a longer lifespan.

Furthermore, avoid using an unnecessary break to prevent stress on the pads. Always keep your brake pads in top shape for your car’s optimum braking performance.

When To Replace Brake Pads

It is very important to know how long it takes for your vehicle to change brake pads and rotors. If you want to know, you should follow the steps:

Warning light on the dashboard

First, check if your car has driven more than 1000 miles without changing the brake pads. Then, take the car to a car mechanic for an inspection of the brake pad condition.

The mechanic will inspect the brake pad by checking the pad width with a screw gauge. Less width of the fiction material will result in changing the bad.

Take a turn while you break.

Observe your car while you break. If the brake pad is decayed, the vehicle will turn left or right because one wheel breaks less than the other.

Moreover, the car will hang in the direction where the break is applied less. Replace the brake pads if you undergo such situations. And you know how long it does take to change brake pads.

Brake pad pulsation

The rotor also decays due to high temperature and friction while braking. Extreme thermal conditions soften the rotor’s material.

Moreover, they result in the loss of material whole fiction. Pulsation is quite evident due to such situations.

Furthermore, you must change the rotor and brake pad for such scenarios. Take to a car mechanic for changing recommendations.

Squeal noise

Can you hear a shallow-pitched sound coming from the tires when you break? All thanks to the decayed pad for making this noise.

There is friction material near the backing plate. The material might decay due to natural wear and tear, resulting in the squealing sound you hear while breaking.

Here is a catch. The pads are designed to make the sound intentionally when decayed. This is for the car owner’s safety, as the owner will get to know that he needs to change the pad.

Pad replacement is mandatory in this kind of situation, and as you know, changing brake pads takes a long time. Don’t delay.

Emergency wear indication light on the dashboard

Modern cars are equipped with brake sensors fitted on the wheels. You can see on the dashboard of your vehicle if it is stylish enough.

The sensor detects the pad’s width. If the width decreases by more than 2mm, the indicator light illuminates—a very advanced safety feature for modern cars.

We all know when to replace the brake pads, but how? Below, we will discuss the necessary steps to change them.

However, it is advisable to take the car to a mechanic. The process will take around 30 minutes to one hour. Moreover, as you know, changing brake pads takes a long time. Never delay this short-term work.

How to change brake pads

• Grab a vernier caliper and check the thickness of the fitted pad. If the calipers detect a width less than 2mm, proceed to the next step.
• Take visual looks at the brake rotors. Measure with Vernier calipers for precise measurements. Check if the rotor is even on all sides.
• Now check the brake calipers along with the pads rotors and brake pads. Inspect if the caliper smoothly operates or is jammed.
• Open the old pad and replace it with the new one now. At this point, you should install any additional accessories, like the rotors.
• Use a lubricant to lubricate the brake system to improve its operation and prevent high fiction with the parts. Less friction means less wear and tear. Attentively lubricate the caliper’s sliding pins.
• Check if there is an adequate amount of brake fluid. Moreover, Refill if needed.
• After finishing, take it to a mechanic for a test drive to see if everything is okay.

Conclusion

Brake pads are essential for the car’s braking system. Do not drive with worn-out brake pads, as they might not work as intended when needed.

Furthermore, an accident might occur anytime if the brake doesn’t work correctly. Changing brake pads is not so severe, and as you know by now how long it takes, hopefully, you will not delay.

Killing 30 to 60 minutes of your life will not harm you but will save your life. Be responsible and do not keep the pads to be changed later.

If you change it at home, show it to a car mechanic to ensure you correctly fit all the parts. If necessary, take it for a test drive with an expert because the braking system in a car is crucial for safety. Good luck with your new brake pads.