When you place your foot on the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid flows from the master cylinder to the brake calipers. Each of the brake calipers contains a set of brake pads which when pressed against the brake rotor, creates the friction needed to stop your car.

Worn out brake pads create immense pressure on the adjoining parts in your car’s braking system and can lead to several safety issues. Brake pads that have once gone bad can’t be restored to their original condition, hence replacing them is the only solution.

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It is difficult to predict the exact lifespan of brake pads as their longevity depends on factors such as the user’s driving style, the material of the pads, the driving terrain and the maintenance of the braking system. Also, your car’s front brake pads wear out sooner as the vehicle tends to dive forward when brakes are applied.

On average, most brake pads can function anywhere between 25,000-65,000 miles. In some rare instances, they can last about 80,000 miles as well.

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There are several common signs that may indicate your brake pads need replacing:

• Squeaking or squealing noises

The next time you place your foot on the brake pedal and you hear a squealing noise, chances are your brake pads are wearing out. This sound can be caused due to several other reasons as well. When the brake pads are worn out and the metal backing plates inside come in contact with the brake rotor, you’d hear a grinding sound. If you still delay in getting a replacement, the brake pads will crumble down further and the increased friction will damage the rotor as well. Also, brake pads start accumulating a lot of dust and dirt on the disc rotor, resulting in squealing every time you apply the brakes. You may also hear a thumping noise when something gets stuck in your caliper unit, or if there’s lack of lubrication in the rear drum brakes.

• Longer stopping distances or reduced braking power

If your brakes aren’t responding quickly in an emergency and they fail to act until the brake pedal is almost touching the floor, you may want to get your brake pads checked. If your brake pedal feels spongy or squishy there might be moisture in the brake fluid which other than reducing braking efficiency can corrode brake components and result in total brake failure. On the contrary, if your brake pedal feels hard and you have to apply immense pressure to make it function, you may be experiencing power brake issues, restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or damaged brake linings.

• Brake warning light on

The indicator light on your dashboard can warn you when something is wrong with your car’s brake pads. However, the warning light does not necessarily mean that the brake pads are at fault, it can also highlight other issues affecting the braking system, say, for example, a situation of low brake oil or leaking brake fluid. But in either case, you should have your car checked out by an expert immediately.

• A burning odour

Overheated brakes or clutch can result in a distinct, chemical odour when you repeatedly apply brakes while driving. You may also experience a strong smell after you’ve installed new brake pads, this is usually harmless and you need not stress over it. Another possible situation could be that you’ve accidentally left your parking brake on. The friction caused while driving with the parking brake on will cause it to overheat and result in a burning smell.

• Vibrating steering wheel or pulsating brake pedal

Does your car shake when braking? A pulsating sensation while braking mostly results out of warped rotors but sometimes, unevenly worn pads are to be blamed as well. When an uneven rotor surface hits the brake pad while spinning, some of the pad material is transferred onto the rotor. You’ll feel a vibration when the pad hits that bump on the rotor. Usually, when you feel a shudder through the steering wheel, the front rotors need to be looked at and if the pulsation is through the brake pedal, the rear brake rotors might need a fix.

• Car pulls to one side while braking

Your vehicle may tilt sideways if the fault lies in the brake system. So, if your brake pad or shoe is contaminated with grease or fluid or your car has a leaking wheel cylinder and even issues arising from a frozen caliper or wheel cylinder piston – a preliminary check from our mechanic can help you locate the source of the problem.

Unsure about your car's service history?

Regular maintenance will extend the life of your car and save you money. Book a routine service or repair and we’ll come to you at a time and place that suits your schedule.

Lube Mobile is Australia’s largest network of nationwide mobile mechanics and has mobile vans operating all over Australia.

Our mobile mechanics operate 6 days a week across every major city and regional town across Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide.

Whenever you search for a mobile mechanic ‘near me’ or auto service or auto repair ‘near me’, you’ll find a Lube Mobile mobile mechanic van is never far away.

It's easy to use our online booking system or you can call one of our operators on 13 30 32 to arrange a time and place that suits you. Our mechanics are all fully qualified and experienced and are able to work on a wide range of popular makes and models.

Check out our full range of nationwide locations here.

Convenience, Quality, Flexibility and Trust.

Lube Mobile is proud to be one of Australia's most trusted brands, with a 40+ year track record of delivering quality mobile car maintenance and repair.

Here are 4 reasons to book Lube Mobile for your next service or repair:

Getting your car serviced or repaired on your driveway at home - or at work - takes the hassle and unnecessary expense out of car maintenance. Forget about waiting for your car to get seen to in an overbooked garage, paying for a tow or arranging rental cars - we come to you!

We only use the highest quality parts and oils on your car, and all of our mechanics are fully trained and qualified to perform a wide range of maintenance and repairs on a wide range of makes and models. We also back our work with a 12-month/20,000km warranty on parts and labour.

Because we are Australia's largest network of mobile mechanics, we have more appointment times to suit your schedule. This means that depending on where you are in Australia, we can usually reach your by the same or next business day!

Even if you're not sure what kind of service or repair your car needs, a qualified Lube Mobile mechanic will diagnose your issue at the car's location, provide you with an itemised quote of the work and any parts required, then carry out the job in front of you. Got questions? Ask us. Our friendly mechanics are here to help and won't start the work until you approve it.

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