You’ll experience frequent brake pad problems if you fail to service your vehicle’s brakes. These faults may even escalate to significant automobile issues if they linger for too long. 

Therefore, ensure you keep your vehicle’s brakes in peak condition through regular checks and repairs. That said, here are some common signs of brake pad problems you may experience with your automobile: 

1. Dashboard Warning Lights 

Every four-wheeler has a mechanism that alerts drivers of potential faults in the automobile system. These warning indicators are your car’s dashboard lights. When your vehicle’s parts are faulty, specific dashboard warning lights will come on to inform you of the problem. 

For example, your car’s dashboard brake lights will typically flash when there’s a problem with the braking system. Some common issues that could trigger the brake warning lights include faulty brake pads, low brake fluids, and damaged sensors in the braking mechanisms. 

The brake warning light may also come on when you’ve engaged the parking brake. If the indicator appears, release the car’s parking brake while in park mode to see if it’ll turn off. 

If it doesn’t, you have an issue with the braking system. It’s best to contact a mechanic as soon as possible to get your brakes’ components checked and replaced. 

2. Squealing Noises While Braking

Most vehicle braking systems come with wear indicators. These metal components function primarily to let you know when you’re having brake pad problems. When you hit the brakes, the wear indicators connect with the rotor to release squealing sounds. 

These noises let you know that your brake pads are faulty and require replacement. However, not all vehicles feature brake wear indicators. As such, you shouldn’t rely on them alone to know when your brakes are faulty. 

Also, you could sometimes hear squeals from your brake whenever there are pebbles in its components. Moisture from rain storms could result in vibrations in your brake pads. If you notice squealing noises in your brakes after a storm, it’s probably some water that got into its components and not a wear and tear indicator.

However, if the noises occur under normal conditions, it’s time to visit an auto technician for brake pad repair. 

3. Wobbling or Steering Vibrations While Braking

Lopsided or uneven rotors can result in a shaky vehicle or a vibrating steering wheel whenever you step on your brakes. Your car’s braking system features large discs within the wheels called rotors. 

These discs connect with your brake pads to slow down your wheels. 

However, the rotors can suffer wear due to heat and overtime use. As a result, you’ll notice vibrations in your steering or wobbling when you engage the brakes and the brake pads connect with the uneven rotors.

If left unattended, this issue can worsen over time. You’ll need a mechanic to smoothen the rotor’s surface to correct the unevenness or replace them altogether if they’re too damaged. 

4. Burning Smells While Braking

Overheated brakes can lead to burning smells whenever you engage your brakes. It’s best to stop the car immediately in a safe location to allow the brakes to cool. If you continue driving with an overheated brake, you risk heating the brake fluids to boiling point, which could lead to brake failure.

While waiting, you should check your parking brake to ensure it’s not engaged. If you notice smoke emissions from your wheels during this period, a brake caliper might be stuck or malfunctioning. In this scenario, it’s unsafe to continue driving. Instead, you should get a mechanic to look at the problem as soon as possible. 

5. Partial or Total Brake Failure

If your car fails to stop or slows down much slower than usual, you may be experiencing brake failure. When this happens, you may notice that the brake pedal feels either jammed or unusually free. 

In case of brake failure, you could try some emergency maneuvers to safeguard yourself and other drivers. For example, it helps not to panic in such scenarios. You should also turn on your emergency flashes, and honk your horn to notify other drivers of the problem. 

Furthermore, remove your foot from the accelerator so the vehicle slows down while you steer it to a safer lane. However, don’t turn off the vehicle, or you’ll lose power to the steering wheel. 

While these emergency procedures can protect you from an auto crash when your brakes fail, you should take steps to avoid the problem altogether. Brake components will wear out over time, and you should visit your mechanic regularly for brake pad maintenance to prevent any faults. 

Furthermore, it’s good practice to cross check them regularly for issues before hitting the road. Neglecting brake diagnosis or servicing puts you and other road users at risk.