What is the brake pad warning symbol?
The brake pad warning symbol is a dashboard indicator light that alerts drivers when their vehicle's brake pads need to be replaced. This warning light is an important safety feature that should not be ignored, as worn brake pads can compromise a vehicle's braking performance and potentially lead to dangerous situations on the road.
What Is the Brake Pad Warning Symbol?
The brake pad warning symbol is typically represented by an exclamation point or the letters "BRK" inside a circle or triangle on the vehicle's dashboard. This symbol is designed to inform the driver that the brake pads have worn down to a critical level and need to be inspected and replaced as soon as possible.
What Causes the Brake Pad Warning Symbol to Illuminate?
- Worn brake pads: As brake pads wear down through normal use, the thickness of the pads decreases. When the pads reach a certain minimum thickness, the warning light is triggered to alert the driver.
- Sensor malfunction: Some vehicles have sensors built into the brake system that monitor the condition of the brake pads. If one of these sensors malfunctions, it can cause the warning light to illuminate even if the pads are still in good condition.
It's important to note that the brake pad warning symbol is not the same as the brake system warning light, which indicates a more serious issue with the vehicle's braking system.
What Should You Do If the Brake Pad Warning Symbol Illuminates?
If the brake pad warning symbol appears on your dashboard, you should take the following steps:
- Have the brake pads inspected: Take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic or service center as soon as possible to have the brake pads inspected and replaced if necessary.
- Avoid heavy braking: Until the brake pads are replaced, try to avoid heavy braking and drive cautiously to minimize the risk of an accident.
- Monitor the warning light: If the warning light remains illuminated after the brake pads have been replaced, there may be a problem with the brake system that requires further investigation.
Ignoring the brake pad warning symbol can lead to further damage to the brake system and potentially dangerous driving conditions. By addressing the issue promptly, you can help ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road.
Can you still drive with brake pad warning light?
Continuing to drive for too long with the brake pad warning light on will mean that you run out of brake pad material and risk damaging the rotors. Along with this, having no brake pad material left will mean that the car will not stop as quickly, which can seriously increase your risk of a collision.
Can I drive with the brake pad warning light on?
Again, it is important that you do not continue driving and ignore the brake light, this can cause more damage to the braking system and be very dangerous.
How much does it cost to replace brake pads?
Professional Repair Costs
For professional brake pad replacement, you can expect to pay between $115 and $270 per axle, depending on the parts and labor rates.
Can I drive with brake system warning light?
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT = BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM
Any brake system problem has to be regarded as a major safety issue and your car should not be driven until the problem has been resolved by a mechanic.
Can I drive with brake pad warning light on?
Again, it is important that you do not continue driving and ignore the brake light, this can cause more damage to the braking system and be very dangerous.
What does brake pad warning light look like?
The symbol is a circle containing an exclamation mark, and the circle is surrounded on each side by what look like rounded brackets. In some vehicles, there may even be the word 'brake' under or next to this. The light may behave differently depending on the vehicle.
What is the brake warning symbol?
The brake system warning light can indicate one of two things: the parking brake is engaged, or brake fluid level is low. In either scenario, the light is turned on by a switch somewhere in the brake system. When you engage the parking brake, the brake handle closes a switch that turns on the warning light.
At what level of wear should brake pads be replaced?
about 0.1 inch
When to Replace Your Brake Pads. Brake pads should be replaced when they reach their service limit, which is usually about 0.1 inch.
What is a brake pad wear indicator?
Brake wear indicators let you know that the friction material is almost worn out by contacting the rotor and either causing a squealing noise or illuminating a light on the dash.
What two reasons would cause your brake system warning light to come on?
Why is the brake light on while driving? When your brake light comes on, your car is letting you know that either your vehicle is low on brake fluid, the emergency brake is activated, there's trouble within the ABS unit, or there's a problem with the sensors.
