Brake repair often involves replacement of braking pads. Learn about this vital component of your system and how you can best care for them.
As you consider brake repair for your car,
the pads are one area that you will need to address on a fairly regular basis. Braking pads are designed to break down over time as they protect the more critical components of your brakes. For this reason, they need to be regularly replaced. Understanding the various types and the function of pads will help you make good decisions about the care of your vehicle.
What They Do
Braking pads provide a layer of protection between the rotors and the caliper. Without them, you would be placing metal on metal every time you stopped your car. Not only would this be noisy, but it would also be dangerous, because the metal would quickly wear out and make your brakes fail.
Types of Pads
There are four main types of braking pads you can buy for your car. There are actually others, but these four are the most common.
Semi metallic pads contain between 30 to 65 percent metal. These can be made out of wire, copper, steel wool or other metals. They are perhaps the most durable option, but also may wear down the rotors faster than other options because they contain metal.
Low Metallic NAO pads are primarily organic in nature. They have small amounts of copper and steel added in to help the pads deal with heat transfer. This metal can make these dustier than options that contain no metal at all, but the heat transfer benefit can often improve overall performance.
Non-asbestos organic pads, often called just NAO pads, have no metal. They are quite quiet because they are made from organic materials, including glass, rubber, or Kevlar. They are quite dusty and wear out faster than pads that contain metal.
The final type of pads is ceramic. These contain primarily ceramic fibers and some filler material. These tend to be the most expensive option, but they create the least amount of dust and noise. They do not cause much wear on the rotors either, all while providing excellent braking control. For this reason, many brake repair professionals prefer this option.
Repairs
Pads are one thing that can never be subject to brake repair jobs. When they are worn down or damaged, they need to be replaced. The good news is that they are not that expensive as far as braking components go, and many people have enough knowledge to do the change themselves. If you notice one pad in need of replacement, replace all four. This will ensure that you know which ones are close to the end of their life at all times.
As you consider brake repair for your car, make sure you take into consideration the replacement of your pads. Replace these regularly to keep your car and your brakes running well and safely. Ignore them, and you could end up in a dangerous position down the road at some point. This is not worth saving a few bucks, because pads are cheap and easy to replace.
