Posted on 7/29/2025
Your vehicle’s brake system is one of the most crucial components in terms of safety. While many parts work together to bring your car to a stop, brake pads are at the front line of that process. Over time, they wear down and need to be replaced—waiting too long to do so can reduce braking performance, damage other components, and put you at risk on the road. Knowing how to recognize the signs of worn brake pads can help you stay ahead of problems and maintain reliable stopping power in all driving conditions. How Brake Pads Work Brake pads press against your vehicle’s brake rotors to create the friction needed to slow the wheels. When you hit the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid transfers pressure through the system, forcing the calipers to squeeze the pads onto the spinning rotors. Because this process generates heat and friction, brake pads are designed to wear down gradually. Different materials, such as semi-metallic, ceramic, or organic, wear at ... read more