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Blog - When to Replace Pads and Rotors


March 11, 2022

When Should You Replace Your Brake Pads and Rotors?

While there are many parts you should regularly check on your INFINITI, your brake system might be the most important. Brakes pads and rotors are critical to your safety on the road, and they work in tandem to bring your car to a stop. Therefore, properly maintaining them, along with the rest of your brake system, is vital.

But how long do brake pads and rotors last? Should you replace them at the same time—and can you do it yourself? Learn when to replace brake pads and rotors, whether or not you should leave it to a professional, common signs of worn brake components, and more.


When to Replace Brake Pads and Rotors

Disc brakes stop your vehicle through the force of friction. When you engage the brake pedal, pressurized brake fluid presses the pads at each wheel against their corresponding rotor (also known as a brake disc), slowing its rotation and thereby slowing your car. Naturally, this constant friction wears down your brake components over time. But how do you know when it’s time to replace them?

For brake pads, you can look out for these warning signs:

  • Thin brake pads:Fresh brake pads are typically 8-12mm thick when first installed on your vehicle. They should still be perfectly effective until they are about ¼ inch (6.4mm). Once they reach ? inch (3.2mm) thickness, they are no longer reliable and should be changed promptly.
  • Squealing sound:Most brake pads come with a built-in warning system called a wear indicator. The wear indicator is a thin metal strip embedded in the brake pad that emits a squealing sound as it rubs against the rotor, warning you that they are due for replacement.
  • Metallic grinding:If you're hearing a harsh metal scraping sound coming from the brakes, you've likely worn through the pads completely, and the metal backing plates are now grinding against the rotors. In this case, the brake pads are well past their replacement date and should be changed as soon as possible.

How do you know when to replace brake rotors? It's time to replace them if they are:

  • Too thin:Like brake pads, your rotors will become thinner over time from friction and resurfacing—the process of smoothing over the rotor's metallic surface. If your rotors have been resurfaced many times, they may become too thin to make full contact with the brake pads. This not only hurts braking performance but also causes potential problems with the caliper.
  • Warped:As you can imagine, friction from braking generates a lot of heat on the rotors. Excessive heat in one area—or extra hot rotors that are suddenly cooled by something like a puddle—can warp the shape of the rotors. If your rotors are warped, you may feel vibrations or pulses in the brake pedal.
  • Cracked or grooved:If you look at your rotors and notice cracks running to the disc's edge or deep grooves on the surface, it's time to replace the rotors. Cracks and grooves can occur for a variety of reasons, including prolonged exposure to high heat, constant grinding against overly worn brake pads, as well as road debris, rust, and corrosion.

Keep in mind that brake wear can happen unevenly. The pads and rotor may be completely worn out on one wheel and still usable on another (which often leads to your car pulling to one side while driving). To maintain an even braking experience, it's best to replace the necessary components in both the front and rear brakes at the same time.

When replacing pads and rotors, be sure to inspect other crucial brake parts while you're at it, such as calipers and brake fluid. The best way to be proactive about brake maintenance is to have your brake system checked with every oil change.

How Long Do Brake Pads and Rotors Last?

How long your brake pads last usually depends on the type of pads you're using and your driving conditions.

Brake pads typically come in three varieties: organic, semi-metallic, and ceramic. Organic pads tend to be the cheapest and wear down the quickest. Semi-metallic pads are designed for performance vehicles and will generally last a little longer. Ceramic pads offer the longest-lasting braking performance of the three and are often found on higher-end vehicles.

No matter which type of brake pad you have installed, harsher driving conditions will cause them to wear out sooner. Things like hard braking, constantly riding the brake, braking on steep inclines, and stop-and-go traffic will all shorten the lifespan of your pads.

Similarly, brake rotors that get heavier use will wear out sooner than others. Steel rotors—the most common type of rotor—can usually be resurfaced a number of times before they become too thin. Carbon-ceramic rotors, a higher-quality type of rotor, may last the lifetime of your vehicle unless subjected to extreme use.

Do You Replace Brake Pads and Rotors at the Same Time?

The short answer is: it depends. If your rotors are still in good condition by the time your brake pads wear out, you don't necessarily have to replace both the pads and rotors together. If, however, you've had the rotors for a long while and suspect they will have to be replaced in the near future anyway, it may make more sense to replace both pads and rotors at the same time to save yourself a trip to the mechanic.

Another factor to consider is that an old rotor will likely have wear patterns from the previous brake pads that may not fit the new pads. This can cause brake noise, vibrations, and premature wear on the new pads. To avoid this, consider having your brake rotors resurfaced before installing the new brake pads rather than replacing the rotors altogether.

Can I Replace Brake Pads & Rotors Myself?

If you have some previous auto maintenance experience and the right tools, replacing your own brake pads and rotors is a relatively simple task. Considering how important it is to properly install these brake components, it may be best to leave the job to a trained professional.

Are the brakes on your INFINITI not working like they should? It could be time to replace the pads and rotors. Order genuine OEM INFINITI brake parts online and stop by the nearest service center to have trained technicians service your vehicle.


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