The first drives after new brakes
New pads and rotors do not feel exactly like the old ones did for the first stretch of driving, and knowing that saves a lot of worried phone calls.
Fresh pads and fresh rotor surfaces need to bed in. During that period a thin, even layer of pad material transfers onto the rotor, and the two surfaces settle into each other. Until that has happened, the pedal can feel slightly different, there may be a faint smell on the first few hard stops, and some pads make a little noise.
None of that is a fault. What helps is ordinary, moderate braking: a series of firm but unhurried stops from road speed, without holding the brakes on hard once the vehicle has stopped. What does not help is a long, panicked stop in the first few miles, or sitting with the pedal hard down at a light right after a heavy stop, which can leave an uneven imprint on hot rotors.
When it is not bedding in
Some things are worth a call back rather than patience:
- A pull to one side that was not there before.
- A pedal that sinks or feels spongy.
- Grinding, or a noise that is getting louder rather than fading.
- A smell that continues after normal driving.
Any of those means stop guessing and bring it back.
Stop-and-go is hard on brakes
Commuting through the St. Louis area, with merges, lights and traffic on I-44, wears front pads far faster than open-road driving at the same mileage. If your last set did not last as long as you expected, the driving explains much of it. A pull or vibration under braking can also be the front end rather than the brakes, and both suspension repair and car and light truck alignment are here.
The national brake repair page covers the warning signs.
Other stores nearby
De Soto and Washington also repair brakes.
About this store
The Fenton store runs seventeen services and is managed by Daniel Garcia.
See the national brake repair page for all 33 locations.