Can you still drive with a brake pad warning light?
The short answer is: it's generally not recommended to continue driving with a brake pad warning light illuminated. The brake pad warning light indicates that your vehicle's brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced. Ignoring this warning can lead to further damage and potentially unsafe driving conditions.
Understanding the Brake Pad Warning Light
The brake pad warning light, also known as the brake wear indicator light, is a dashboard warning light that illuminates when the brake pads on your vehicle have worn down to a certain thickness. This thickness is typically around 3-4 millimeters, at which point the brake pads need to be replaced to ensure safe and effective braking.
The brake pad warning light is designed to alert drivers to this issue so they can have the brake pads inspected and replaced before they become dangerously thin. Driving with worn brake pads can lead to decreased braking performance, increased stopping distances, and even the potential for the brake pads to completely wear through, causing metal-on-metal contact and damage to the brake rotors.
Risks of Driving with a Brake Pad Warning Light
- Decreased Braking Performance: Worn brake pads have less surface area to grip the brake rotors, resulting in reduced braking power and longer stopping distances.
- Potential for Brake Failure: If the brake pads wear down to the point where the metal backing plate contacts the rotor, it can cause the brakes to fail completely, leading to a dangerous situation.
- Damage to Brake Components: Continued driving with worn brake pads can cause damage to the brake rotors, calipers, and other brake system components, leading to more expensive repairs.
Given the potential risks, it's generally recommended to have the brake pads inspected and replaced as soon as possible after the warning light illuminates. Ignoring the warning light and continuing to drive can compromise your safety and lead to more costly repairs down the line.
When to Replace Brake Pads
The specific mileage or time frame for replacing brake pads can vary depending on your vehicle, driving conditions, and the quality of the brake pads. As a general rule, most manufacturers recommend replacing brake pads every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, or every 2-3 years, whichever comes first.
If the brake pad warning light illuminates, it's a good idea to have the brakes inspected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. They can assess the condition of the brake pads and other components, and provide a recommendation for replacement if necessary.
Is brake pad warning light a fail?
The MOT tester will automatically fail your vehicle if this light is illuminated, and you will have to replace your brake pads so that the car can pass on a retest.
What two reasons would cause your brake system warning light to come on?
The most common reasons your brake light is on:
- The Parking Brake is engaged.
- Brake Fluid is low or leaking.
- Worn brake pads.
- The ABS System has failed.
- Brake lights burned out.
- Faulty sensors.
How urgent are worn brake pads?
If your brake pads are worn, it's not safe to continue driving and you should have them replaced as soon as possible, unless you have mechanically attached friction to the backing plate, which will allow you to safely drive to the last millimeter of the life of the friction.
What should be done if the brake warning light comes on while driving?
If the brake warning light comes on while you are in traffic or driving, don't panic. Your vehicle has more than one hydraulic braking system. So, while it may take a little longer to come to a complete stop than usual, safely pull over and have your vehicle towed to your home or to a trusted mechanic to inspect.
Can I drive with the brake pad warning light on?
It's best to drive your vehicle as little as possible when the brake warning light comes on and contact a brake specialist to diagnose and repair the issue. If you can't drive the car to the repair shop, a mobile brake repair service can come to you to diagnose and repair the issue.
What is the first thing you should check if your brake dashboard light is on?
If you've just started your car and notice that the brake system warning light is on, don't run the risk of driving the vehicle. First, check to make sure that the parking brake is completely disengaged. Some cars have a common warning light for the brake system and the parking brake.
How urgent is a brake pad light?
If you see your brake warning light come on, you should address the problem immediately. While you technically can drive with the brake system warning light on, you should make a point to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.
How much does it cost to replace brake pads?
What's the Average Cost to Replace Brake Pads? $150 per axle is only a rough average of how much it costs to replace brake pads. You might end up spending as little as $100 or as much as $300; however, your total monetary costs will be lower if you end up replacing your brake pads at home.
How long can I drive on bad brake pads?
You shouldn't drive at all with grinding brakes.
Get it fixed immediately. Every mile risks more damage and reduces safety. It is essential to identify and resolve the underlying cause to ensure proper brake function.
How long do you have when the brake pad warning light comes on?
about 1000 miles
Although there are a number of variables that affect how long brake pads remain once the warning light illuminates, an approximate estimate of about 1000 miles (1600 km) of driving where effective braking will be maintained.
