How do I know if my brakes need work?

[LESDL]

03 GMC 1500 Z71 4x4 with 39500 miles. I try to use my tranny for controlling speed on back roads when I can and am usually easy on the brakes. This truck has been driven pretty easily.

 

New work site required driving approx 15 miles each day down a dusty dirt road this past week. Yesterday I noticed some noise when coming to stops, never anything before this. From what I can tell (and I freely admit I could be wrong) the rotors look fine and the pads from limited visuals and touch also seem ok.

 

No difference in braking feel at all.

 

Could this be from the dusty conditions? What kind of life is usual for the first set of pads? What else should I look for or be aware of? I will be washing the truck this weekend and will rinse the wheels and brakes well to see if that helps get rid of the noise.

 

Thanks!

[LESDL]

Bump

 

Any comments? Anyone?

[rjirvine]

I would rinse them and that should take care of the problem, usually the pads will last about 100K or more.

[J45p3r]

Your rear pads a probably soon due for replacement. Mine were gone around 40k miles. You need to pull the tire and inspect the pads (especially the inside pad, it wears faster than the outside pad).

[RyanbabZ71]

usually the pads will last about 100K or more.

 

If you are getting 100K miles out of your rear pads I want to know the secret. I had mine replaced under warranty at 18K miles and I changed them again at 42K miles. So far so good I put a better pad in (Bosch) and I am getting alot less wear.

[ZZebes]

Some squeaking/squaling is to be expected because, your pads are metallic and if the right wear pattern appears on your rotors than they will start to produce high pitched squealing from super fast vibrations.

[ZZ327]

there are little 90 angle pieces of metal on your calipers, when the pads get worn down enough they will make noise to let you know, time for maintenance!

[LESDL]

there are little 90 angle pieces of metal on your calipers, when the pads get worn down enough they will make noise to let you know, time for maintenance!

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Thanks for the replies. I have since done a little more crawling around and gotten a better look (aftermarket wheels with larger spaces to see through). I would say my rear pads ARE due to be replaced and will hopefully get this taken care of during the week.

 

Front pads look fine btw.

[J45p3r]

there are little 90 angle pieces of metal on your calipers, when the pads get worn down enough they will make noise to let you know, time for maintenance!

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

For some reason the "squeakers" on my rear pads didn't work. I didn't know my rear pads were worn until I heard the metal on metal grinding (oops).