The blissfully peaceful ride of your all-American luxury car will remain so as long as you replace the brake pads promptly. Brake pads last anywhere from 25,000 to 65,000 miles, which means you need to know the signs of a worn-out pad. If you experience the issues laid out below, head straight to your local Cadillac dealership for brake service.
Brake Pad Dashboard Warning
Your Cadillac helps by estimating when the brake pads are growing too thin. Using vehicle data, the system adjusts its estimates based on your driving habits. You’ll see this estimated brake pad life displayed on the instrument cluster and a warning signal when it’s time to change a pad.
Screeching When You Brake
At about the same time as your dashboard issues a warning, you’ll probably hear a light screeching when you apply the brakes. This noise means one or more pads have to go. The screeching is generated by a metal tab embedded inside the friction layer; once this layer wears down to a certain level, the tab starts scraping noisily but harmlessly against the rotor.
Harsh Grinding or Growling
When it comes to brake pads, screeching is by design, but grinding or growling most definitely is not. If you start to hear harsh metallic sounds when you brake, something is wrong; most likely one of your brake pads has worn down too far and the pad’s casing is scraping directly against the rotor disc, damaging the rotor and weakening your brakes.
Overly Slender Friction Layer
You can peer between the spokes of your wheels to visually check on your brake pads. If the friction layer seems really thin (less than a quarter of an inch), it’s probably time to replace it.
Longer Stopping Distances
Any serious issues with your brakes should prompt you to have your brake pads inspected. If you think your car is no longer stopping as firmly, have the pads checked at once. Likewise, if your car starts pulling to one side, a brake pad or other brake component might be faulty. Never continue to drive with less-than-optimal brakes.
Don’t Forget Routine Brake Service at Your Cadillac Dealership
The best way to keep tabs on your pads is with routine brake inspections. Our technicians will service your brake fluid, examine each hose, and raise your car to remove the wheels, pads, rotors, and calipers to examine each component. They can then inform you how well each pad is doing and how much longer it will reliably function.
Have your car’s stopping power restored to full force today at Alexander Cadillac in Oxnard, CA.
Connect with us
