Brakes
How brake pads and discs wear, the warning signs of a brake problem, and what brake servicing costs are covered by a plan or warranty.
Brakes convert the car's motion into heat, and the pads and discs that do that work are designed to wear away gradually. How fast they wear depends far more on driving style and conditions than on the car: stop-start city driving, mountain passes, towing and a heavy right foot all use up pads quickly, while long open-road driving barely touches them. Because they are wear items, brake pads and discs are excluded from a service plan and a standard warranty, though a maintenance plan usually includes them.
Modern cars make brake care easy to manage. Most have wear sensors that trigger a dashboard warning when the pads are close to their limit, and the pads and discs are inspected and measured at every scheduled service. Between services, the driver's job is to listen and feel: a new noise, a change in pedal feel or a pull to one side under braking is the car asking for attention. Never ignore a brake warning, and never drive on after a pad has worn through to metal.
Brakes — questions
The questions people ask about brakes, answered plainly.
How do I know when my brake pads need replacing?
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Common signs are a high-pitched squeal from the wear indicator, a grinding noise, a brake warning light, a longer or softer pedal, and vibration through the pedal or steering wheel under braking. Pad thickness is measured at every service and the technician will tell you how much life remains, so you can budget for replacement before it becomes urgent.
Are brake pads and discs covered by my new-car warranty?
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Not under a standard warranty or service plan, because they are wear-and-tear items. A maintenance plan normally does cover pads and discs, and that difference is one of the main reasons buyers choose a maintenance plan. Manufacturing defects in brake components, as opposed to normal wear, remain covered under the warranty.
Why does my new car's brake pedal feel different from my old car?
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Pedal feel varies between cars because of different brake booster designs, pad materials and the regenerative braking used in hybrids and electric vehicles, which slows the car through the electric motor before the friction brakes engage. A new car's pads also bed in over the first several hundred kilometres. If the pedal feels spongy or sinks slowly, have it checked immediately.
Do hybrid and electric cars wear their brakes more slowly?
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Generally yes, because regenerative braking does much of the slowing and the friction brakes are used less. That can make pads and discs last far longer than in a conventional car. The trade-off is that lightly used brakes can corrode or seize, so manufacturers still specify regular inspection and occasional firm braking to keep the discs clean.
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