Tip # 2. Don't Pay For Unnecessary Work

Brake pads and shoes wear out but how do you know when they should be replaced? Should you replace them every 35,000 miles, 50,000 miles or 80,000 miles? The answer is, the only way to really know is by inspecting the pads regularly and noting the thickness of the lining. Brake service can be expensive. Don't let a shop convince you to replace your brakes when you don't need to.

You would think there would be some way to tell when brake pads were thin and needed changing, but there isn't. Everyone's driving conditions and braking habits differ and brake pads vary in quality. A vehicle driven primarily on the highway may go 80,000+ miles before needing new brakes, while a city-driven vehicle may require new brakes anywhere from as low as 15,000 miles to 40,000 miles. In addition, brake pads generally need replacing more frequently than rear pads or shoes. Don't be talked into changing your brakes because your vehicle has a certain number of miles. The thickness of the remaining lining should be the determining factor.

A great time to have your brake pads/shoes inspected for wear is when you have your tires rotated (every 5,000 - 7,000 miles). Anytime you have your car in for service and the wheels are removed ask the mechanic to look at your brake pads or shoes. It only takes a mechanic a few seconds to inspect brake pads or shoes thickness if the the wheels are already off. Also, if you feel or hear something unusual, have your brakes inspected.

GM vehicles, and many other auto manufacturers have incorporated a warning system built into the brake pads to alert the driver when brake pads are thin and must be replaced. The brakes will produce an annoying screech as you drive. The noise won't go away until new pads are installed. But not all vehicles use this feature, so don't count on it unless you know for sure yours do. Plus, rear drum brakes never have any warning sensors to indicate when they become thin. Should your brake pads and shoes wear too thin, the metal on the back of them will gouge into other brake components (rotor and drums) and cause expensive damage. If you hear a metal-to-metal grinding sound, have your brakes looked at immediately.

Change all brakes at once?