Two important parts of your car's braking system are the brake pads and the brake discs. Both your brake pads and discs wear down. Therefore, you need to have them regularly checked and replaced if necessary.
Brake pads
The brake pads in a car work not much differently than those on a bicycle. The only difference is that with a car, the brake pads are pressed against the brake disc rather than the wheel rim. As a result, the brake discs wear down and become thinner and thinner. When they reach their minimum thickness, the brake pads need to be replaced. If the brake pads are completely worn out, you will hear a grinding noise. You are then braking ‘iron on iron,’ which damages your brake discs.
It's difficult to say exactly how many kilometres you should (or have) your brake pads replaced. The wear is highly dependent on how the car is used and your driving style. If you drive a lot of short distances and brake frequently, the pads will naturally wear out faster than if you mainly drive on the motorway. A new set of brake pads, including fitting, costs around one hundred euros.
Brake discs
As mentioned, when braking, the brake pads are pressed against the brake discs. Just like the brake pads, the brake discs also wear down. Only much more slowly. But eventually, you will need to replace those as well. Replacing the brake discs always goes hand in hand with replacing the brake pads. This comes with a price tag of an average of 450 euros, depending on the make and model of car you drive.
New brake discs and also brake pads need to be ‘bedded in’. This means that for the first 100 km, it's best not to brake heavily, unless absolutely necessary of course.
What kind of ‘brake pad’ are you? How long do you last on a set of brake pads – and on a set of brake discs? With a Van rental in the Echt region We guarantee you safe brakes!
