7 Signs That Your Brake Discs Are Worn
Brake discs are a vital part of your vehicle. When you press the brake pedal, the brake pads are pressed against the brake disc. A lot of heat is generated, so the brake discs must be of the highest quality.
If your brake discs are not working properly, an accident is inevitable. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain your brakes effectively. First, let’s take a quick look at the signs to look out for.
Symptoms of defective brake discs
The most common symptoms of defective or worn brake discs are a squealing noise when braking and less braking power than usual. A jerky car and vibration in the brake pedal when braking are also clear signs that you have a defective brake disc.
Your car’s brake discs use the concept of friction to slow down your car. Friction causes wear and tear on all parts, and brakes are no exception. Wear can cause you to feel and hear signs that your disc brakes are failing.
Below is a detailed list of signs of a bad or failing brake rotor:
1. Squeaking noises from the brakes
As your brake discs wear out, they will develop irregularities and edges on the inside and outside of the brake disc surface. These edges and surfaces can produce a high-pitched noise during normal driving, but this is most often caused when you apply force to the brakes.
If you hear a high-pitched squealing noise every time you touch the brake pedal, you should check your brake rotors for damage and edges.
2. Your vehicle takes longer to stop
As your brake rotors wear out, they develop more irregularities on the surface, reducing the “braking surface” of the brake pads on the brake rotor. This significantly reduces braking effectiveness.
Look at the photo above. As you can see, 30% of the inside of the window has rust on it. This is because the brake pads are no longer using this surface to stop the car. This can also reduce braking effectiveness by 30%. The rotor in the picture could probably be repaired with a few hard brake strokes, but you get what I mean.
3. Steering wheel shakes when braking
When your front brake disc is damaged, you will often feel an effect on your steering wheel when braking. This could be due to rust on the brake disc, or an imbalance in the brake disc due to overheating. If you feel your steering wheel shaking when you apply the brakes, be sure to check your front brake discs.
4. Pulsating brake pedal
Brake disc wear can be felt in more than just the steering wheel. If you feel your brake pedal pulsating when you press it, this could be due to rust on the brake disc or an uneven road surface.
If you feel your brake pedal pulsating when you apply the brakes, this could be due to problems with both the front and rear brake discs. However, if you have a problem with your front brake discs, it’s likely that the problem will also be visible in your steering wheel.
5. Loud noise when braking
If the brake rotor is really broken, as in the picture above, you may also hear a loud noise when braking. If your brake disc has such a crack, it should be replaced immediately. Otherwise, the braking function will be completely lost, which may lead to an accident.
6. Scars on the window
If you look at the brake rotor behind the rim and notice that there are many scratches on the brake rotor, it may be time to replace the brake rotor. All brake rotors will have some scratches soon after replacement, but if you see a lot of deep scratches, it may be time to replace your rotors.
Deep scratches are often caused by stones that get stuck between the brake pads and the disc. If you heard a nasty noise when braking before these scratches appeared, it could be because a stone was stuck there.
7. Large edges on the outside of the brake disc
The best way to tell if your brake disc needs replacing is to look at the small edges on the outside or inside of the brake disc. Checking these edges against when they were new will give you an idea of ​​how worn the brake disc is. These edges can cause loud noises, so it is best to remove them unless the brake disc is too worn and needs replacing.
Should I renew or replace my brake discs?
Twenty years ago, it was common to renew brake discs rather than replace them. This was because brake discs were quite expensive compared to today, and probably also because labor costs were somewhat cheaper. However, some people do want to replace their brake discs these days. If you ask me, I would never recommend replacing brake discs to anyone. The money you will save will not outweigh the problems you will eventually have.
Car manufacturers specify a minimum thickness at which brake discs must be replaced. Check to see if the thickness of your brake discs is close to this minimum requirement.
If your brake rotors are warped but still have thickness, it may be worth replacing them. However, be aware that bent discs/hubs can cause this imbalance and will have to be replaced anyway, doubling the cost. Read more here: Brake disc reconditioning and replacement.
