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Driving with brake pads that are 80% worn is a serious safety risk. Sure, they might still work okay for a bit, but your braking performance takes a major hit—stopping distances get longer, and in an emergency, you might not be able to stop in time. Do yourself a favor and get them replaced soon. Brake pads are a critical part of your car’s safety system. You should start thinking about replacing them once they’re more than 50% worn. At 80%, there’s just not enough friction material left to give you reliable stopping power. Plus, you could end up damaging the brake rotors, which’ll only cost you more in repairs down the line. How do you check? Listen for that high-pitched metal squeal when you hit the brakes—that’s a common sign. Keep an eye on the warning light on your dashboard too, or just check the pad thickness yourself if you’re comfortable. Your driving habits play a big role in how long pads last, by the way. Slamming on the brakes all the time or driving mountain roads will wear them out faster. When it’s time to replace, stick with the original manufacturer’s specs. Cheap, off-brand pads can really mess with your braking. And don’t forget—during regular maintenance, make sure the shop checks your entire brake system: brake fluid condition, lines, everything. Safety first, always.

A car typically comes with two main braking systems: the service brake system and the parking brake system. The service brake system is the one you use most in daily driving, controlled by the foot pedal. It uses hydraulic pressure or electronic signals to send braking force to all four wheels, slowing the car down or bringing it to a stop. Most modern vehicles are equipped with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which prevents the wheels from locking up during hard braking. The parking brake system is used to keep the vehicle stationary when parked. Traditionally, this was a manual handbrake or foot brake, but these days more and more models are switching to electronic parking brakes for easier operation. Additionally, some high-end models feature regenerative braking systems, commonly found in hybrid or electric vehicles, which recover kinetic energy during braking and convert it into electrical energy for storage. Understanding these systems helps with better vehicle maintenance and usage—like regularly checking brake fluid levels, brake pad wear, and keeping an eye on the ABS warning light—to ensure driving safety.

Wheel slip braking occurs when a vehicle's tires lock up and lose steering ability during braking due to insufficient friction between the tires and the road surface. This typically happens during sudden braking or on slippery roads. Here, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) prevents the wheels from fully locking up, helping to maintain directional control. Causes of slip braking include excessive tire wear, abnormal tire pressure, slippery road surfaces, or applying too much brake force. To avoid this, regularly check tire condition, maintain proper air pressure, and slow down in advance on wet or slippery roads. Additionally, understanding your vehicle's braking system characteristics is important: for example, vehicles equipped with ABS should have the brake pedal pressed firmly and continuously during emergency braking, allowing the system to automatically adjust braking force, while older vehicles without ABS require pumping the brakes. Maintaining a safe following distance and avoiding sudden braking during daily driving can effectively reduce the risk of slip braking.

If your brakes start making squealing or metallic grinding noises, it’s crucial to pull over immediately and get them checked as soon as possible. That sound usually means your brake pads are completely worn down, and the metal backing plates are now rubbing directly against the rotors. Not only will this trash your more expensive rotors, but it’ll also seriously reduce your braking power—even leading to total brake failure in worst-case scenarios. Normally, you should replace brake pads once they wear down to 3mm, but that metallic grind means they’re totally gone. Keep driving at that point, and you’ll hike up repair costs big time since you’ll need to replace both the pads and the likely scored rotors. You can keep an eye on your pads’ condition by checking the amount of brake dust on your wheels or listening for changes in sound when you gently hit the brakes. During the rainy season, watch out for temporary squeaks from rust on the rotors, but that rust should wear off after a few brake applications. It’s also key to regularly check your brake fluid level and color—darkened fluid or fluid with too much moisture can hurt braking performance, so it’s a good idea to replace it every 2 years or 40,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Your driving habits make a huge difference in how long your brake system lasts. Slamming on the brakes all the time will wear them out faster, but driving defensively and anticipating stops can really stretch that replacement interval. If your steering wheel shakes when you brake, chances are your rotors are warped and need to be resurfaced or replaced—this issue is more common after long stretches of mountain driving.

Many people like to use wheel brakes mainly because of their simple structure, low maintenance cost, and light weight, making them particularly suitable for daily commuting and leisure cycling. The braking force of the wheel rim brake directly acts on the wheel rim, responds quickly, and performs reliably in dry weather. Moreover, replacing the brake pads is relatively inexpensive and does not require complex tools for adjustment, making it very practical for riders who do not pursue extreme performance. In addition, the wheel brakes have high compatibility and can adapt to most wheel sets. There are fewer restrictions when upgrading or replacing wheel sets, which is also one of the reasons why they are popular. However, in rainy or muddy road conditions, the braking force of the wheel brakes may decrease because water and dirt can affect the friction between the brake pads and the wheels. In contrast, disc brakes perform more stably in harsh environments, but their structure is more complex and maintenance costs are higher. If you mainly ride in dry environments and want to save money, wheel brakes are still a good choice, while drivers who pursue all-weather performance may prefer disc brakes. Each braking system has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the key is to choose the appropriate type based on your riding needs and budget.