As your brake pads begin to wear down, they will supply you with several different warning signs that, unless you take action soon, you could find yourself dealing with brake failure. In most cases, the very last of these warning signs will be to trigger the brake light on your dashboard. Unfortunately, far too many people wait until this light comes on in order to take action. In many cases, this is because individuals simply are unaware of what other warning signs they should be looking for. Below you will learn more about these early warning signs so that you can quickly determine whether or not it is time to replace your brake pads.

Listen For The Squeak

Nearly all modern brake pads are now manufactured with what is known as a metallic wear sensor. The purpose of this sensor is to alert drivers when their brake pads are low. This is done by emitting a high pitched squeak when the wear sensor rubs against your rotor.

When your brakes start squeaking, you still have a good amount of brake pad left. In fact, most wear sensors are designed to alert you when you have approximately 30% of the pad's original width still remaining. Consequently, you will not need to run directly to the repair shop to have this work done. However, you should schedule this maintenance as soon as possible.

If you fail to replace your brake pads after they start squeaking, this squeaking will eventually stop and be replaced by a grinding noise. If this happens, you have worked your way through the brake pad and are now damaging the rotor. This can greatly increase the cost of repairs and can make it extremely difficult to stop your vehicle safely. Therefore, you will need to get your brakes replaced before you reach this point.

Look For The Dust

If your brake pads are severely worn, brake dust will likely coat the inside of your tire each time you brake. This dust can be black, gold, or brown in color depending upon the brand of brake pads you are using. Unfortunately, far too many vehicle owners will dismiss this dust as nothing more than dirt when inspecting their vehicle.

If ever you are unsure about whether your tires are just dirty or are covered in brake dust, simply wipe the tire with a clean rag and then pump your brakes a few times. If the issue is your brake pads, the tires will once again have evidence of brake dust on them. If the tires remain clean, the substance you spotted was likely dirt  that was picked up during your travels.

Another good indication that you're dealing with brake dust rather than dirt is that only one or two of your tires are soiled while the other remain clean.

To have your brakes repaired, contact a shop such as Auto Team Car Care Center LLC.