Signs You Need New Brake Pads: Symptoms, Noises & What to Do

You might not think about your brakes often, but they’re arguably your car’s most important feature for performance, safety, and control. One crucial part of a car’s brake system, the brake pads, are a normal wear item. They need to be inspected and replaced to ensure proper function.

What exactly are brake pads, and how do you know when they need replacing?

These may seem obvious, but because brake pads wear gradually, issues can worsen without being apparent during daily driving. If it takes your car only a centimeter longer to stop each time, you may not realize just how much difference there is between fresh and worn brake pads.

It’s important to catch brake pad wear early so braking performance isn’t significantly impacted. A qualified mechanic can inspect brake pads and measure them to make sure they’re within the manufacturer's specifications for the thickness of the remaining material. If they get too thin, typically down to a few millimeters, they need to be replaced, even if there’s no impact on braking performance yet.

The squeaking, squealing, and grinding noises caused by worn brake pads are an obvious sign that they should be inspected and likely replaced. Yet not every noise means the same thing.

The metal tab that contacts the rotor as pads wear down is designed to generate a noise cue when pads approach replacement-level thickness, and it becomes louder and stronger as the pads wear further.

If the brakes are making a grinding noise, that typically comes from the metal backing plate of the pad scratching against the rotor. That means the pad has worn down so much that the material is nearly gone. This metal-on-metal grinding is not just an unpleasant sound, but a serious safety concern. It is also likely to damage the rotors.

If either of these noises — the squeal or the grind — crop up and don’t go away after a few trips in the car, it’s time to get the brakes checked.

Occasionally, these sounds might start up, then disappear after a few more kilometers or stops. In that case, the noise may have been caused by debris or moisture on the brake rotor, not actually a worn-out pad. After rain or snow, you might also notice little brown spots on the metal rotor. This surface rust can sometimes make noise under braking, but tends to get quickly worn away by the pads as they do their normal duty.

One thing is certain, though: never ignore brake noise.

While abrasive wear tends to remain fairly smooth (until the pads become too thin), other types of wear can cause small variations in the smoothness of the brake pad contact. A small bump due to adhesive, thermal, or partial wear can seem like no big deal. But when the wheel is spinning quickly, it repeatedly hits that bumpy patch, which can feel like a vibration to the driver.

All kinds of wear can cause shuddering, vibration, pulsing, or grinding sensations under braking. These brake pad conditions can also reduce the pad's effectiveness. If it’s smoother or less grippy than it should be, or has chips or cracks that reduce its contact patch with the disc, it won't stop as well as a less-worn pad. That will be experienced as increased braking distance, more pedal effort, and could even trigger the anti-lock braking system (ABS) if it drags or slips against the wheel.

When any of these sensations occur, it’s best to have your brake pads inspected and, if necessary, replaced. However, similar sensations might also occur due to:

• Worn-out wheel bearings
• Leaking brake lines, low brake fluid, or air in the brake lines
• Low or blown tire
• Faulty brake or ABS sensors
• Dragging brakes
• Misaligned wheels

Of course, cars are complex, and while these are common issues with similar sensations, any number of things could cause strange feelings, sounds, or performance issues. If something seems off, take the safe route: straight to your trusted mechanic or dealer service center.

Driving style

Driving style, or more specifically, braking style, can be a major factor. Slow, steady braking is easier on brake pads than slamming on the brakes. Riding the brakes, or keeping a foot lightly on the pedal while coasting down a hill, for instance, is a habit that can also burn through pads more quickly.

Driving route and environment

What’s an even bigger factor is the type of routes you typically drive. If your commute involves a lot of stop-and-go city traffic or slowing down on mountain passes, you likely use the brakes more. Steady highway cruising with minimal stops doesn’t use the brakes as much and therefore doesn’t wear the pads as quickly.

The environment is also a big factor. Hot or cold temperatures can degrade pad material more quickly, and conditions like rain, snow, dirt, or salty sea air can also impact brake pads, especially when that material gets in between the pad and rotor (disc).

Vehicle weight and type

Vehicle weight directly affects the braking force required to stop, so a heavier vehicle places greater stress on brake pads, wearing them out sooner. While heavier cars will have more robust brake systems to fit their performance and use, other factors like towing, hauling cargo, carrying passengers, or simply carrying some heavy stuff in the trunk will put more stress on the brakes, including pads.

In addition, gas (internal combustion engine) vehicles tend to go through brake pads sooner than hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and electric vehicles (EVs). Cars with an electric motor on board, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, don’t rely on just the traditional brakes for slowing down. They can also utilize regenerative braking, which is when the electric motor is spun by the wheels to slow down (instead of the motor spinning normally to propel the car). This uses the powertrain drag to slow the vehicle down. When the motor absorbs energy instead of the brake pads, the pads wear less quickly.

Pad type, quality, and location

Finally, the type and quality of brake pads can also play a role in how often they need to be replaced. It’s important to get the right pads as specified by the manufacturer to match the performance, mechanics, weight, and specifications of your vehicle.

While your car likely has disc brakes on all four corners, the front brakes tend to wear out more quickly. Because a car’s weight shifts forward when it’s slowing down, the front brakes have a harder job to do. You may have to replace the front brake pads, while the rears may have plenty of life in them. However, this difference in front/rear brake pad wear has diminished in more modern vehicles that use all the brakes as part of advanced traction control systems.

When to inspect brake pads

Because many factors can influence brake pad wear and not every driver recognizes the signs, sounds, and feelings of worn pads, it’s important to have your brakes inspected periodically. During an oil change, tire rotation or replacement, or any time you bring your car to the mechanic, it's a smart time to inspect the brake pads.

Consult your owner’s manual for specific brake inspection guidance, and plan to have your brakes checked at least twice a year as part of standard maintenance and service.

Learn how Mitsubishi vehicles are designed to support safe, reliable braking, and explore features that help make everyday driving more confident.