Brake Pad Wear
Category: automotive
The natural thinning of the friction material on the brake pad during the braking process.
Pads are the "sacrificial part." They are designed to wear out so your rotors don’t have to. The "wear indicator" is a small metal tab that makes a squealing noise when it’s time to change them—this is the "please change me" signal.
Common Examples
- We replaced the brake pads once the wear indicator began squealing, saving our rotors from expensive metal-on-metal scoring.
- Regular inspection of brake pad wear is the most important routine safety check for any high-mileage daily driver.