How long does the brake pad last?
Well, the brake pads are made of abrasive materials, capable of creating a friction with a smooth steel surface of the discs, reducing their movement.
The brake pad works in conjunction with the brake disc in a speed reduction and vehicle stop system, but without the pads, the discs are nothing. For more references, check out: How Long Do Brake Pads Last?
These abrasive parts, which help to retain the movement of the disc and also the wheel, are of paramount importance in a car. So how long does the brake pad last?
Well, the brake pads are made of abrasive materials, capable of creating a friction with a smooth steel surface of the discs, reducing their movement.
They are trapped inside hydraulic clamps through the so-called “donkeys”, which thus push these pieces towards the disc, exerting pressure that will convert kinetic energy into thermal.
In recent technology, this thermal energy is converted into electricity, supplying lithium batteries for hybrid, electric and micro-hybrid cars.
In addition to the greater braking power, this set is still waterproof, without changing the physical properties of the brake pads if they are wet, only the steel of the disc can warp.
In this case, the failure in the contact generates loss of braking and vibrations, expanding the space for total stop of the vehicle. So it is always good to keep brake pads and discs up to date with maintenance.
As the second is more durable, the first requires more attention and periodicity in exchanges.
How long does the brake pad last?
Considered a natural wear item, the brake pad has a longer life according to the vehicle's driving mode. Car brands generally check the status of these items every 10,000 km .
This is a routine inspection, as it is an active safety component.
However, brake specialists recommend replacing between 30,000 and 40,000 km , and in that interval, the inevitable change due to wear on the brakes, which gradually reduces the friction material until it reaches a minimum state of safety.
Even with an ABS brake, the change interval is usually the same.
Within the owner's manual, guidance on when and how to change the brake pad is specified.
Consideration should always be given to how the brake systems are used. The more aggressive the baling, the shorter the service life will be due to the greater wear of the material.
When to change the brake pad?
As already mentioned, the time to change the brake pads varies according to the type of driving that is practiced on a daily basis.
However, there are alerts when the pads have to be replaced. Before any perception of the condition of this component, some cars have a replacement alert through sensors that pass through the pads.
Thus, when these wear out, the sensor is hit by kinetic and thermal energy, accusing the instrument panel of the need to change the brake pad.
However, there are several models without this brake warning. In these cases, the driver's perceptions are critical.
The time to change is when the braking space starts to get too long , indicating that the pads are already worn out.
In addition, when the brake pad is at the end, it begins to emit a metallic noise or hiss like iron with iron.
This occurs when the insert no longer exists, only its metallic support, which ends up coming into contact with the steel surface of the disc.
This also results in the replacement of the disc due to the wear caused by the contact of the two metal parts.
Even with the disc in good condition, after changing the brake pad, there is usually an average period of 300 km for softening of the new pads and the disc already present in the car, with temporary loss of efficiency in this case.
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