The Basics Of Brake Repair - All About Pads

It's nice that your car stops when you want it to! Brake repair is a very serious issue because well maintained brakes can save your life. They can also prolong the life of your vehicle. Probably the most important component of your car's braking system is its pads. Let's look at what these are, how they work and what can go wrong with them.

What Are Pads And What Do They Do?
When you stop your car, there is an incredible amount of friction when it stops the wheels. Think about how fast and heavy you're car's going! If this friction were bare metal on metal, it would wear things down really quickly and also produce some horrible shrieking noises. 

As soon as you step on that pedal, a hydraulic system goes into effect that squeezes the wheels with a pair of calipers. By absorbing all of that energy, they have the force to stop the car. The pads are between the wheel rotors and calipers.

These pads can be made up of many different materials. The most common include ceramic pads, non-asbestos organic (NAO), and pads that are made up of a formula that contains some metal and some organic material. No one type of pad is best for all vehicles. It takes a bit of work to find good ones for your car. You might want to consult your local brake repair experts on a good recommendation.

Common Problems With Pads
One of the most common brake repair problems is that they often wear out over time and need to be replaced. High quality pads will stay with you longer. One of the surest signs of worn out pads is squealing when you step on the brakes. This indicates that you've got metal on metal, which means the pad isn't doing its job. When you notice that it has worn down to the metal underneath, you should get them replaced as soon as possible. If you continue to use the old ones, it will eventually damage your wheel rotors and this will cause much more expensive and extensive repairs.

Noise when you step on the brakes can also be caused by excessive vibration. It's natural for them to vibrate somewhat when you apply them, but if they vibrate too much this means that the calipers aren't gripping the wheel rotor like they should be. 

Another problem that doesn't involve real brake repair is dust. When you've had the same pads for a while, the outer material naturally wears off somewhere. This dust often remains in the wheel area and if it accumulates, it will cause problems with braking. You can deal with this dust yourself by regularly cleaning your pads and wheels.

Lots of simple brake repair issues are related to the pads that help your car stop when you want it to. You should get problems with pads attended to as soon as possible because not doing so can be dangerous. It can also cause further damage to your car's braking system which will cost more down the road.