How To Confirm That Your Brake Pads Need To Be Replaced

For all car owners, brake pad wear is inevitable. Brake pads typically last anywhere between 25,000 and 70,000 miles, depending on the pads and your driving style.

You will need to replace your brake pads eventually. Most people wait until they start experiencing symptoms of worn pads before replacing them.

Warning Signs That You Need New Brake Pads

Mazda pad replacement

Image Credit: Masood

When your brake pads are running low on pad life, you’ll know. All modern brake pads have a wear indicator that makes a squealing sound when it is time to replace the pads. You'll hear it every time you stop. You may also experience some or all of the following symptoms:

  • A longer stopping time
  • Your car pulls to one side when you hit the brakes
  • The brake pedal vibrates when pressed

Get A Set Of OEM Replacement Brake Pads Beforehand

Brake Pad Set

Are you fairly certain that your brake pads are going bad? If so, it’s a good idea to have a set of OEM replacement brake pads on hand so you can replace the brake pads as soon as you confirm the issue. You’ll save a lot of time this way because you won’t have to take the wheel off again once the replacement pads arrive.

Ordering genuine OEM brake pads at wholesale price (or just above) online is recommended. Shops and dealers will mark up the wholesale price by about 30%. We have OEM Mazda brake pads in stock. Here are some of our top sellers:

Checking Your Brake Pads In 3 Steps

This is a process that takes only about 30-60 minutes, depending on your experience. You will only need a:

  • Jack
  • Car lift (or jack stands)
  • Lug wrench

The steps are as follows:

  1. Lift your car.
  2. Remove the wheel.
  3. Check the brake pads. If there’s less than 3/16" (3mm) of pad life left, then the pads need to be replaced right away.

Note: On some cars, you can see the brake pads without lifting the car or taking the wheel off. Try turning the front wheels fully in one direction to create better visibility. You may need to slide under the car to see the rear pads.

Please contact us if you have any questions about checking your brake pads. We’ll be happy to help you out!