How Often Should Brake Pads be Changed in Suffolk County?

Brake pads need to be changed every 25,000 to 70,000 miles, but the exact interval depends on how you use your car. If you primarily take short trips with a lot of stopping and starting, you will be on the lower end of the scale. If you primarily take long trips with minimal stopping, then your brakes could last beyond 60,000 miles.

Driving conditions and even your driving habits have the biggest influence on brake pad longevity. Here’s what you need to know to ensure that your car has predictable stopping power.

What are the Signs of Worn Brake Pads?

Squealing and reduced stopping performance are the most common signs of worn brake pads. Look for these symptoms before you book brake repair or brake pad replacement in Suffolk County:

• High-pitch Squealing: Modern pads have a wear indicator that will contact the rotor and produce a loud squealing sound when it’s time for brake pad replacement. If you leave this too long, the squealing will turn to a harsh grinding sound, and you could damage your brake rotors, leading to costly replacement or resurfacing.
• Increased Stopping Distances: As the friction material wears out, it’s less effective at managing heat. This makes it harder to get to a full stop. You will find that braking takes longer both in time and distance.
• Vague Braking: Heavily worn pads don’t bite immediately because they cover more distance to get to the rotor. This can make the brakes feel squishy and vague. Don’t adapt. Get an expert brake service to restore performance and confidence in your brakes.
  

How Your Driving Style Affects Brake Pad Wear

Are you constantly in stop-and-go traffic, hitting the brakes frequently as you make the daily commute? Would you consider yourself an energetic driver who likes to put a little more pressure on the brakes from time to time in a high-performance vehicle? These factors affect brake wear.

• Stop-and-go traffic is rough on brakes. If you commute on the Long Island Expressway, especially into NYC, then your brakes will wear out relatively quickly. You might need replacements right on the 25,000-mile mark.
• Do you frequently drive on the winding roads of the East End or North Fork? These roads have sharper bends, which means more pressure on the brakes and more wear.
• Do you drive an automatic (most of us do) and ride the brake in slow traffic to control speed? This wears down the brakes quicker than in a stick-shift performance car that can rely more on engine braking and manual gear selection to control speed.

Changing your habits could significantly reduce brake wear. A smoother and more deliberate driving style helps. Drive slower, slow down early, and avoid sudden stops. Release the gas to anticipate a stop before you put pressure on the brakes. This could add a couple of thousand miles to brake pad longevity.

High-Performance Brake Pads are Less Durable by Design

If you own and maintain a Mercedes-Benz, Audi, or even a JDM performance vehicle, you might notice that your brakes wear more quickly and produce more dust on the wheels than in a regular sedan or SUV. This is because high-performance brakes are actually less durable than standard brakes. The pad compounds are softer and provide better grip, with the tradeoff of durability. There’s nothing wrong with your vehicle. It’s just a trade-off for a very exclusive and engaging driving feel.

The Best Team for Brake Service in Suffolk County

Your brakes affect performance, driving feel, fuel economy, and safety. Don’t wait until it’s too late. When you hit the brakes in an emergency, you need to know that they will perform.

Dee Pat’s Awsomotive is trusted by Suffolk County locals for brake service and all types of car repair and maintenance. Book your appointment for brake pad replacement by calling us at (631) 538-4441 now.