Do you know that most AUTO BRAKES have a WEAR INDICATOR?

[AviatorTom]

Most automobile brake pads have a wear indicator that squeals when your brake pads start to wear out and need to be replaced. Many brake pads last about 30 thousand miles (50 thousand kilometers), but many drivers don't pay attention to that. So the automotive engineers have designed brake pads to tell you (via squealing) when they are running out and should be replaced.

Safety first!

If you hear a squealing sound coming from any of your wheels while driving, your brakes are wearing out. Get them serviced and replaced at the earliest opportunity.

[WindAtMyBack]

I'm a mechanic, so yea I know about it. Not all brakes have it though. It's very annoying. The most common thing is a mettle clip that gets closer to the rotor as the pads wear. It can be permanently attached to the pad like in the picture, or it can be a separate clip-on piece of metal.

That noise is really annoying. My guess is that most brake failures are not due to worn pads. My guess is that most are due to low fluid due to leaks somewhere in the system. When pads wear, they will naturally start making noise, but it's not as annoying as that squeal. It will also happen slowly over time. You should get lots of warning before pads get to the point of not stopping the car.

The master cylinder has a sensor that warns you when the fluid is low. As the pads wear, the fluid in the master cylinder gets lower. So that sensor serves much the same purpose, plus the added purpose of warning you about leaks anywhere in the system.

Even as annoying as that noise is, people will still ignore it, just like people ignore all other abnormal noises a car makes.

[Bricealan]

I lucked out, Tom. I bought a Tesla Model S and it 'brakes' when I take my foot off of the accelerator with the braking coming from the charging system and the battery get a 'boost' at the same time.

[MORPHEUS_12]

I knew that. Also if you keep driving on them you will mess up the rotors and they have to be replaced or resurfaced costing more money.

[purplepoppy]

I never knew that the squeak was designed into them I thought it happened naturally

[ArrowheadSW]

Yes! I became aware of that when I was in my mid-twenties and a friend of mine heard it when I was pulling up to his house. I got them updated right away.

[slatyb]

Yes. Do you know that brake pads can be changed easily on most models? The key tools are a floor jack and the needed wrenches/nut drivers etc.

[jamesgoldman]

Yeah my dad used to do his own on most of his cars only exception was the one he financed because it was in the contract rules to have EVERYTHING done by the issuing dealer network

[Fireguy17]

Yes, and I have seen where people have bent them back and kept driving.
Sometimes you can hear it on a car passing by.

[AngryCarl2]

I didn't know that! My brakes never squealed because they check them at the MOT test every 12 months.

[OlderAndWiser]

Excellent PSA!

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

PSA?

[douride2]

Yes I knew this. My father taught me a few things when I was learning to drive.

[Astarlessnightsky]

I didn't knew that, however in germany you need a check up every 2 years anyway, and you need to drive a lot for your brakes to wear down this much within that time.

[Sparkie460]

Yes I knew that. I have my brakes replaced every 2 years religiously. I don't wait until I hear squealing from my brakes.

[OfMiceandMen]

Yep, I keep an eye on them.

[exitseven]

I did know that.

[Christoff92]

No didn't know that. Don't even own a car.

[msc545]

Yes, I am all too aware of these.

[KrakenAttackin]

Only women don't know this shit.

[KrakenAttackin]

Well... and zoomers.

[AimeeKyle]

Yes.