Thread: How long can I wait to have my brake pads changed?

Yesterday my brake pads started doing their death cries (the grinding noise when you apply the brakes) and I have vacation time in the first week of August.

I was hoping they would last until then, because it is hard for me to get up in time to brake place working 3rd shift.

I drive 12 miles each day to work and back and maybe a few trips to my parents house in Sun Prairie a week (25 mile round trip), and I have to drive 80 miles (round trip) to Baraboo tonight for a concert I am playing in.

Do you think I can wait until the first week in August?


Thanks!

Change them now if they are grinding. You have no brake pad left and are in danger or ruining other components. A relatively cheap repair will double or triple pretty easy the more you drive.

Originally Posted by MasterShake

Change them now if they are grinding. You have no brake pad left and are in danger or ruining other components. A relatively cheap repair will double or triple pretty easy the more you drive.

Yep. I almost always make the same mistake. . .wait too long and then instead of just new pads, and turning the rotors, I get to buy a whole new set of rotors, doubling the price of the job.

Get it in ASAP Sneakers. If it's grinding it may already be too late.

Egad sneaks! You have time when they first start squealing (it's only the tabs and you still have pad left) but by the time they are grinding you're past time. I'd do it before driving to your concert tonight, or hitch a ride with someone else. Brake pads really don't take that long to change. Take it into a shop when you get off work in the morning. Some place has got to be open at 7 am.

I let mine go a bit too long. They were squeaking one day, then grinding the next. Took it right in and they had to replace rotors. Get it done now, sneak.

I say eff it, thats what emergencey breaks are for. And this sounds like an emergency.

Rotors can go @150 a crack. If there is not to much damage they can turn them on a milling machine at like 20 each.

Do not drive the car till you get them fixed if for no other reason the brake pad is designed to stop the car the lining/backing is not.
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you can drive as long as you want with those brakes....you just might not be able to stop driving when you want
there is always the flinstone method...a well placed hole in the floorboard and some "thick" soled shoes is effective

If they are grinding, you are screwed.

I am no car junkie but really, if it is just the squeek you are fine...

if you go to cheker/orielly you can buy new pads and do it yourself. It takes like 10 minutes to do...If you damage your rotors you can have them smoothened out unless they are below spec. If they are buy some new ones at checkered auto parts...They should be depending on the kind of car you have about $45 a pop....I am assuming it is only your front brakes that are out, as those always go first, rear usually lasts twice as long....


I think you are fine if it is just the little squeek. IMO go for it, and do it yourself...Save some money...

Originally Posted by slim

If they are grinding, you are screwed.

yep my daughter's car got fudged up by letting it go...I have no idea what she was thinking...I guess in this case...she wasn't.

Originally Posted by KCL

yep my daughter's car got fudged up by letting it go...I have no idea what she was thinking...I guess in this case...she wasn't.

It happens to the best of us

Originally Posted by slim

It happens to the best of us

Its a right of passage. I think you only learn from it if you pay for the damages yourself though.

Originally Posted by claymore

its a right of passage. I think you only learn from it if you pay for the damages yourself though.

syph

Originally Posted by claymore

Its a right of passage. I think you only learn from it if you pay for the damages yourself though.

Good point.

The expensive lessons are the easiest to learn from.