Lifetime brake pads

Sleeper SL2 · 05-30-2005, 01:07 AM

Just wanting to know how these brake companies can advertise lifetime brake pads. Im not gonna buy them but how can they claim lifetime brake pads? Pads and rotors have the hardest job to do on a car. Im lucky if i get a yr out of my pads!

PurdueGuy · 05-30-2005, 01:09 AM

Note that it's lifetime pads, not lifetime pads AND rotors. The pads are extra hard, and the rotors wear out sooner because of it. At least that's my understanding of the jest of it.

Agilab · 05-30-2005, 04:50 AM

Post in the correct forum please....

Sleeper SL2 · 05-30-2005, 04:59 AM

What forum would that be?

jersey · 05-30-2005, 05:33 AM

(I'm again new to car maintenance)

When exactly would you know when to change your pads? I probably know already but I'm just makin sure.

PurdueGuy · 05-30-2005, 05:59 AM

Constant grinding is a sign. Keep in mind, though, that rotors will get light surface rust quickly, and it may be normal to hear a small squeek or grind the first one or two times you brake. If it continues after that, something may be worn out.

Pulsating brakes is also a sign.

Of course, loss of braking power is a sign.

jersey · 05-30-2005, 06:12 AM

Oh okay other than the normal one or two (sometimes three) sqweaks when I start driving my car after awhile I'm good.

scottyr94 · 05-30-2005, 11:02 PM

Yeah, you may notice a little noise right when you start driving it everyday, especially after it rains. There are wear indicators though on the pads, a piece of metal that comes in contact with the rotor when the pads are worn enough and you will know when its making contact, it's quite an annoying loud squeel. Also if you feel pulsating in the pedal and the sometimes the steering wheel will wiggle, your rotors are warped. Drums are a completely different story. You can feel pedal pulsing with out of round drums too, but the wheel will not shake at all. Best way to tell if rear rotors or drums are warped is to gently pull the ebrake at slows speeds to stop the car. I don't mean to lock up the wheels, but if you feel the pulsing yet, they back ones are warped, if you don't feel anything, its in the front. If you get no or very little stopping by pulling the brake, your rear shoes are bad or need adjusting. You can also do a visual check very easily to see if pads are worn. Just pull the wheel off and there is a hole in the top of the caliper, look through there and you can see how much pad life you have.

SoloSaturn · 06-02-2005, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyr94

Also if you feel pulsating in the pedal and the sometimes the steering wheel will wiggle, your rotors are warped.

Except rotors don't warp.

What you are feeling when you get that pulsating through the pedal, and sometimes steering wheel, is a variation in thickness on the surface of the rotor caused by pad material transferring over to the rotor unevenly. If you don't believe me, pick up the latest issue of Grassroots Motorsports and read the article on braking written by the man who designed the brakes on Saturns, James Walker Jr. Or you can attend one of his SAE seminars in Detroit for the low-low price of $1000. Or you can read up on braking systems at StopTech.com.

scottyr94 · 06-02-2005, 07:41 PM

Hmmm, I don't know if I can completely believe that. I was told in my training that they warp from getting too hot.