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On any vehicle, problems may occasionally arise out of thin air. Of course, yearly maintenance checks might give drivers the foresight to prevent eventual problems with the car, but everyday issues can still happen. One of the many issues could be screeching brakes, and there could be ways to avoid this, depending on if your brakes are brand-new or older. Brake squeaking is likely the result of driving conditions or even driving habits. Below we’ll give you a deeper breakdown of the more common reasons why your brakes screech, how long brake pads should last, and when to replace your car’s brake pads.
This may shock you, but one of the many causes of brake screeching is that your brakes are simply too new. Your vehicle’s brake pads may require some more miles to get acclimated to your vehicle. In this case, weather conditions may lead to built-up moisture covering your brakes, and it can take a bit of time to remove that moisture. Additionally, how you drive can cause brake screeching. “Riding” your brakes (keeping your foot on the brakes) or late braking may lead to brake noise, even if they’re new. If this is the case, attempt to brake earlier to help reduce more friction.
Worn-down brakes could be why you may experience that squeaking noise as well. Over the years, components on every car will likely begin to break down because of driving habits, moisture, if it is garaged, and rust. The easy fix is to get them replaced with new ones. However, a shift in how you drive could help extend the life of your brake pads.
The life of brake pads could last quite a long time, based on the way drivers treat the brake pads. Understanding how you drive is perhaps the most important, as it can help drivers realize when to replace the brakes. Brake pads generally last 25,000-65,000 miles, but bad driving can cause that to shrink. Riding your brakes and hard braking places a lot of heat and pressure on your brakes and could lead to diminishing their lifespan. If squeaking begins to occur, you might consider getting them looked at and try changing your driving habits in the future to extend the brake pad’s lifespan.
Contact us at Gene Messer Toyota if you think your brake pads need to be changed. Our team of professionals is ready to take all of the guesswork out of figuring out the specific brake service your car, truck, SUV, or minivan needs. We will happily service your vehicle not matter its make or model. Schedule your brake service appointment today.
