Question about brake pads?

Question

Ok so my cars only 5 years old, and Ive never had anything done to it since I bought it. Lately my car has been squaking a little bit when i press on the breaks and also squeaks when i turn the wheel left (I was told that both are indications of needing new brake pads)

What do you think? Is there anyway I can look and tell?

Im not very educated on the subject so and and all help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

it has alot more to do with how many miles are on the brakes than how old they are....and whether most of those miles are highway or city.  how much and under what conditions you use them.  anyway, yes...brake pads are designed with a little "alarm" in them...it's kind of a piece of light metal that's embedded down in the pad so that when they get worn to that point, they sqeel.  just to let you know it's time to replace them!  how creative.  when it first starts, that doesnt mean you have to rush right in to have them replaced, but dont put it off too long.  brake pads wear out.  thats their job.  five years is perfectly reasonable.

Answer 2

yes when the break pads get worn they alert you by screeching, you can take the tires off and look behind the calipers and observe the break pads, also, wait til your car has cooled for a while then feel the rotors to see if they are warped, you should have nice flat rotors that you can see yourself in, if not they need to be resurfaced or replaced at auto zone, and get the break pads while your there. warped rotors can also cause screeching and breaking problems

Answer 3

what kind of car . fwd ,cv joints rwd brake pads

Answer 4

Yes, both could be an indication that the current brake pads are low.

It is easy to visually check your brake pads ( shoes are a little more difficult if so equipped in the rear ).  Remove the wheel and look through the top of the caliper ( most vehicles do have an opening that allows you to peer through and see the brake pad thickness ).  If there is little to no pad lining left, you're due for pad replacement )