GENUINE MAZDA BRAKES HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY

Brakes are an essential part of your vehicle, and if they’re not in good condition you might not be able to stop or slow down in time to avoid a collision. It’s important to understand how brakes work, how long they last, the signs they may need to be repaired or replaced, and why you should use brakes from the manufacturer. At Mazda of Orange, California, we can take care of all your needs when it comes to brake servicing and repair. Here’s some information our team has put together to answer all your brake-related questions.

How Brakes Work

Most brakes contain brake pads, rotors or brake discs, and calipers. The rotors are large metal discs that hold the brake pads. They’re attached to the wheels, and when you use your brakes, the pads press on them to slow down or stop your vehicle. This process uses friction to transfer kinetic energy from your vehicle into thermal or heat energy. However, brake pads wear out over time as they rub against the rotors, and you will need to replace them occasionally.

The brake calipers operate like adjustable clamps, and they use hydraulics to apply pressure to the brake pads to move them. When you use your brakes, the braking system moves brake fluid from a master cylinder to other cylinders, multiplying the force from your foot on the brake and letting you stop your vehicle.

How Long Do Brake Pads Last?

Brake pads usually need replacement every 25,000 to 65,000 miles. To find out how long the brake pads for your vehicle normally last, you can check your owner’s manual. Various factors can impact the life of your brakes, including the condition of the roads you typically travel on, your driving habits, and the materials your brakes are made of. If you brake hard and accelerate often instead of coasting, you could need to replace your brake pads more often. Using smooth, gradual braking whenever possible can help the pads last longer and improve the safety and comfort of your vehicle.

Driving in urban areas usually leads to more wear on your brakes than driving on long, straight highways or country roads. Drivers in cities usually brake more often because of stop signs, traffic lights, and traffic jams. Driving in places with lots of steep hills can also wear out your brakes more quickly, as many people use their brakes to control downhill speed. Brake pads made with harder materials, usually carbon and ceramic compounds, last longer, but they’re more expensive and they may need to be warm before they work well. They’re often used in performance cars.

Softer brake pads made of steel or other metal work better in urban areas, when you’re driving at lower speeds. However, too much heat can cause melting and reduce brake performance. If you have these types of brake pads you should avoid extreme maneuvers or lots of hard braking.

Signs Your Brakes Need To Be Replaced or Repaired

If something is wrong with your brakes or you need new ones, you could notice a variety of signs:

A Squealing or Screeching Noise

Screeching or squealing when you use your brakes is one of the most common signs your car needs new brake pads. Thin, metal strips inside most brake pads become exposed when the outer layers wear down, and they create this sound when you use your brakes. You can usually hear it even when the car windows are up, but loud music or other noises can sometimes mask it. Known as a brake scraper or a mechanical brake wear sensor, this feature is not found in all brake pads.

A Scraping or Grinding Noise

If a screeching or squealing sound eventually turns into a deep grinding or scraping noise, the brake pads could already be so worn that the brake calipers are contacting the rotors directly, leading to damage and excess heat. When you use your brakes, you might not be able to slow down in time to prevent an accident. If the problem becomes severe enough, your brakes could stop functioning completely. If you hear this noise, have your vehicle checked by an experienced mechanic immediately. You could need to replace your brake calipers and rotors along with your brake pads.

Thin Brake Pads

With most cars, trucks, and SUVs, you can look through the spokes on the hubcaps and see the place where the brake pad touches the rotor or disc. With some vehicles, you may need to remove the hubcaps to see the brake pads clearly. Each brake pad creates at least a quarter of an inch of space between the rotor and the brake caliper. You should replace thinner brake pads as soon as possible, before you start experiencing other signs of failing brakes.

Poor Handling

If your vehicle’s brake pedal doesn’t feel firm when you press it and you have trouble stopping quickly, there could be air or water in the brake fluid, a brake fluid leak, or another issue. You may also notice your brake pedal slowly sinking toward the floor or a tendency for your vehicle to drift to the left or right when you use your brakes, which could mean that the pads are wearing unevenly. You could also have a problem with your vehicle’s front suspension or steering.

Lots of Vibration

If you notice lots of vibration when braking, your vehicle could have warped rotors. It’s a good idea to get them replaced as soon as possible to prevent an accident. Vibration can sometimes happen if you’ve been driving aggressively and your brakes become hotter than normal. However, you should still get them checked by a professional if the problem continues.

The Benefits of Brakes From the Manufacturer

At Mazda of Orange, we use genuine Mazda brakes and other original equipment manufacturer parts. That means we only put Mazda brakes and other components in Mazda vehicles. This increases the life span of your vehicle, and you won’t need to worry that your brakes will fail because they came from a low-quality manufacturer.

Visit Mazda of Orange to have your brakes checked and repaired or replaced if needed. We also offer many other services, such as oil and tire changes, to help you keep your car working perfectly.