Brake rotors warp and brake pads wear down—this is just the name of the game. While it’s certainly worthwhile to do a full brake job, installing new brake pads and new brake rotors at the same time isn’t always necessary! If the brake rotors aren’t warped or showing signs of deterioration, replacement brake pads may be all you need. Then again, if you choose to install new rotors along with your brake pads, you won’t have to worry about them for tens of thousands of miles. (It’s also safer to do a full brake job!)

How can you tell which option’s right for you? In lieu of visiting a certified mechanic or auto service center near you, you should be able to identify a few warning signs that you need rotors, pads, or both.

Worn Brake Pads: Signs

1. Squealing or squeaking sounds

As you brake, the softer pads squeeze onto your vehicle’s metal discs. That friction forces your vehicle to stop. Once the brake pad material begins to recede, you’ll begin hearing them squeal when applying brake pressure; if left untreated, those squeaks will turn into screeches or grinding sounds, indicating a much more dangerous rotor problem—let alone a much more expensive automotive repair.

2. Pulling when braking

Although pulling to one side is a common symptom of misaligned wheels or unbalanced tires, it can also be a sign of worn brake pads or contaminated brake fluid.

3. Takes longer to stop

Your brake pedal shouldn’t sink to the floor in order to stop fully. If it does, you may have old brake pads that need to be swapped out.

This problem may also be caused by a braking system leak. Brake hoses can leak air, which will reduce braking responsiveness, as well as brake fluid. Look for small puddles of fluid underneath the car when parked; brake fluid looks similar to motor oil, but is not oily to the touch. 

4. The brake pedal feels “spongey”

When hitting the brakes, the pedal should feel tight. If it’s too loose, your pads aren’t making a connection to the discs well or fast enough, which could be a sign that they’re either worn down too much or not installed properly.

Brake fading could also be the culprit. Fading brakes take longer than they should stop, which is sometimes a result of a brake fluid issue.

You may also feel the brake pedal vibrate slightly, which is oftentimes a warning that your rotors are bad (or on the verge of becoming bad).

5. The brake system dashboard light comes on

A brake indicator light will usually tell you that either your brake pads are old, or the brake fluid needs to be flushed and replaced. It can also be an indication of other failing brake components, such as brake caliper pistons or master cylinders.

Worn Brake Rotors: Signs

1. Vibrations

If you feel pulsating in the steering wheel or brake pedal when coming to a stop, it’s likely your rotors are warped. (Even a warp of just 0.005 inches can cause your vehicle to vibrate!)

Over time, metal brake rotors will become disfigured due to friction, which is exacerbated by severe braking conditions (such as towing heavy loads and racing) and certain rotor materials (such as softer Rolls-Royce brake components). Once disfigured, brake rotors can’t make constant contact with brake pads, resulting in those vibrations. 

2. Grinding sounds

When brake pads are worn down entirely, they begin making metal-on-metal contact between discs and calipers. This will produce agonizing grinding or growling noises as the brake pad discs score or scratch the rotor surface.

If this occurs, you are almost certainly in need of a full brake job, including new braking rotors, pads, and potentially other components. 

3. Visual appearance

Upon inspecting your vehicle’s brake rotors, you may notice some visible signs of rotor damage, including warping, blue coloring, cracks or chips, gouging, scoring, and thinning. To the untrained eye, many of these rotor problems aren’t very obvious, though there is one that anyone can spot: Blue rotors.

As rotors experience excessive amounts of heat, the metal will undergo a chemical change that causes it to turn blue. If this occurs, you’re almost surely in need of replacement rotors, as the entire braking system is compromised.

How about rusty brake rotors? In many instances, rust on rotors is okay, though any extreme rust shouldn’t be overlooked. Resurfacing rusty rotors, or simply adding oil to the metal, may be on the menu. (Resurfacing will the rotors, so be cautious!)

How Long Do Brake Pads & Brake Rotors Last?

The lifespan for brake components varies by manufacturer, material (ceramic vs. semi-metallic), driving situations, vehicle, and payloads, to name a handful.

Generally speaking, however, expect cheap brake pads and shoes to last anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 miles, and OEM brake pads and shoes to go 30,000 to 70,000 miles. In extreme instances, vehicle owners have gone over 100,000 miles on stock brake pads, though that is far beyond the usual!

How long to brake rotors last? This also depends on a variety of scenarios, including location. If you drive in Miami, your car rotors may rust—again, rusty rotors aren’t necessarily bad—and begin pitting—that’s bad—to the point that they start to warp or even crack. If that’s the case, expect to need new rotors earlier than the average, which can be anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 miles. Many brake mechanics might even recommend machining stock OEM rotors until there are obvious signs of warpage or they sink below the minimum rotor thickness; this could be much more than 100,000 miles.

Of course, if you own an import vehicle like a Rolls-Royce Phantom, your brake job is anything but typical. You’ll want to discuss your brake job with a certified mechanic or service technician to identify if and when you require brake rotors or pads.

Need European brake service in Miami? Bring your vehicle to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars for exotic car maintenance. Simply schedule an appointment online or call our crew at (786) 577-5217 today.