When to Change Brake Discs on Cars: 4 Signs to Look For

Knowing when to change the brake discs on your car isn’t easy if you’re not a qualified mechanic. What might appear to be an issue with the brake discs could easily be another problem with the shock absorbers or brake pads.

But making sure that your brakes are working correctly is vital for both your safety and the safety of other drivers. Faulty brakes can easily lead to an accident, and so it’s good to be aware of the signs of wear and tear to your brake discs.

Fortunately, here at YMF Car Parts, we’ve got years of experience dealing with brake discs so we know what you should be looking out for if you’re worried that your brake discs are getting worn and how to tell when to change brake discs on cars.

How Do Brake Discs Work? 

Brake discs work similarly to bicycle brakes; when you put pressure on the brake pedal, it forces liquid through tubes and pistons, which causes the brake pads to squeeze onto the brake discs. This causes friction that makes the car slow down and stop. 

But over time, the friction causes the brake discs to get very hot, which warps and wears the disks. There are a few telltale signs to keep an eye out for when it comes to damaged brake discs and knowing when to change brake discs on cars.

How Do I Know if My Brake Discs Are Worn? 4 Signs to Look For

Many of the signs that help you determine when to change brake discs on cars will be easy to spot, if not immediately apparent. Because brake discs are so vital to your driving experience, you’ll quickly notice if something just doesn’t seem quite right. 

Faulty brakes are one of the leading causes of road traffic accidents, so being aware of potential issues means you can spot them early and prevent potential accidents.

1. Noisy or Squealing Brakes

You’ll notice this sign pretty quickly as your car will make a squealing or scraping noise when you use the brakes. This is one of the most common signs that your brake discs are warped or damaged. 

If your brake discs aren’t perfectly flat and are warped or worn, they’ll produce a squeaking sound. If the wear is particularly severe, they’ll make a scraping noise instead. 

If you start to hear a squealing noise from your brakes, get it checked by a qualified mechanic as a squealing noise can also be a sign of worn brake pads. 

2. Stopping Takes Longer

Wear and tear on your brake discs can reduce their ability to slow the vehicle down and cause vibrations through the brake pedal. If this is allowed to worsen, the pedal will stop interacting with the brake disc and prevent the car from stopping altogether. Obviously, this can be very dangerous; even if the brake discs aren’t worn to a severe level, your stopping distance can be vital if you need to make an emergency stop. 

If you notice that it’s taking you longer to stop when you hit the brakes, get the car inspected at a garage so that you can be sure you’re safe on the roads. 

3. Vibrations

Any scores and grooves on a brake disc can cause vibrations to be felt throughout the car and mainly through the brake pedal. Over the lifetime of your brake discs, they’ll slowly start to look more and more like a vinyl record. This is normal, but when the grooves get too deep, the vibrations will increase. It’s a good idea to get it checked as soon as you start picking up on vibrations. 

4. Visible Damage 

Checking for any visible damage to your brake discs regularly is an excellent habit to get into if you can, especially before long journeys. Check for any score marks or deep grooves on the discs, and if you see any, it might be worth getting them checked by a professional.

Contact between the brake discs and pads causes these marks and scores, and while discs are designed to withstand the wear and tear, they can degrade to a point where they are no longer safe.

How Many Miles Should Brake Discs Last?

It’s difficult to gauge just how long a set of brake discs will last as it depends on a variety of different factors. But usually, brake discs will last for between 60 thousand and 100 thousand miles. The distance that you can get out of your discs is affected by your driving style and whether they are front or rear discs. 

There are several things you can do to try and make your discs last longer: 

• Brake gently
• Try not to ride the brakes
• Slow down without the brakes if you can
• Keep your brakes clean.

If you’re thinking about getting your brakes checked out, make sure you get both the front and rear sets inspected as, more often than not, if one is worn, the others will be too. 

What Happens if You Don’t Change Your Brake Discs? 

Your brakes are a crucial part of making sure your car is safe to drive, and so if you don’t change your brakes, you are putting yourself, your passengers, and others at risk.

Unsurprisingly having faulty brake discs can be very dangerous. According to a recent report from the Department for Transport (DfT), defective brakes were the leading cause of road accidents between 2013 and 2018. 

It is always wise to get your brake discs checked by a professional if you have noticed any signs of damage or wear. A mechanic will diagnose the problem, advise you on the issue and repair or replace the brakes. 

Faulty brakes cause 10% of all MOT failures, so it’s well worth getting your brake discs checked if you think there may be a problem. This could save you money and headaches further down the road. 

How Do I Change My Brake Discs? 

The best way to change your brake discs is to take them to a qualified mechanic, as they will make sure that your brake discs are the problem and replace them if necessary. Many of the issues caused by faulty brake discs can also be caused by worn brake pads. Getting a mechanic to check will confirm which it is and potentially save you some money. 

While it might be tempting to try to change the brake discs yourself, we would never advise that you try unless you are qualified or have the necessary knowledge and experience to do so. Your brakes are vital for the safety of your vehicle, and poorly fitted brake discs could easily cause an accident. 

Should You Replace Brakes Discs and Pads Together?

Your brake pads and discs work in harmony to make sure that you come to a safe stop when braking, so it’s always preferable to replace them at the same time. By replacing both pads and discs simultaneously, you can improve your car’s performance and the life of your brakes.

Sometimes a mechanic will only recommend replacing your brake pads; this is usually due to your brake discs not showing too much wear and tear. If your mechanic recommends this, make sure that they check the brakes are all even to avoid uneven wear. When replacing brake discs, it’s always advisable to replace both discs and pads. 

Here at YMF Car Parts, we make it as easy as possible to find the car parts you need. If you need new brake discs, enter your car’s registration number on our brake discs page. Once you’ve entered your registration, you’ll be able to see all the parts for your vehicle and order what you need. We offer free delivery on all orders over £30, with no-quibbles returns if you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase.