How They Work
When you depress the brake pedal, fluid in your brake hoses and lines apply hydraulic pressure which serves to move a piston on your brakes. This piston is found in your brake calipers, which are mounted to a brake knuckle that extends around your brake rotors. When the system operates properly, there are steel plates on the inboard and outboard sides of the rotors that squeeze a pad against the rotors. It is this action that stops your vehicle. The pads are composed of a friction material that grips the rotors to slow your vehicle down and eventually stops.
Types of Brake Pads
There are three common types of friction materials mounted to the plates of your calipers, non-metallic, semi-metallic, and ceramic.
- Non-Metallic: Non-metallic, or organic brake pads are blended with synthetic materials like sintered glass, aramid, or cellulose, along with other compounds in varied quantities, depending on the manufacturer. These pads are softer and quieter, but as such they also have a shorter lifespan.
- Semi-metallic: This type of pad is composed of a combination of metals like copper and iron blended with graphite and fillers. They tend to last longer, but they also tend to be a bit noisier because of the metal content being pushed against the rotors, which is harder on the rotors.
- Ceramic: Widely heralded as the best brake pad friction material, ceramic pads are made from porcelain and clay with small amounts of copper fibers, a softer metal for quieter stopping. This type is easier on the rotor wear and tends to have a longer lifespan.
Even the best brake pads eventually wear out. A visual inspection is the easiest way to tell how worn your brake pads are, but usually that requires removal of the wheels.
Telltale Signs of Extensive Brake Wear
If left unreplaced, the friction material will be ground away and you’ll be left with a metal-on-metal grinding which will begin destroying your rotors. If left for too long, it could damage your caliper pistons which would also require those brake components to be replaced. If you notice any of the following signs, come see us at Serra Toyota for Brake Service right away.
- Squealing or grinding noises when applying brakes.
- Rough feeling or unusual pulsations in the brake pedal when applying brakes.
- Stopping requires more space, or brake performance is otherwise impaired.
- Vehicle pitching or pulling to one side when applying brakes.
