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Time to read 6 min
It is well known that a vehicle's braking system is one of the most important areas to keep in check and ensure it is well maintained. This does not take away from the diligence that should be invested on all other components on the vehicle, but the braking system can become overlooked and taken for granted since it is one of those silent partners of critical function and safety that, if not carefully monitored, can take a driver by surprise with a serious and life threatening failure. The best defense against a dysfunctional or failing braking system is the driver's set of human senses that could detect a serious problem before it exposes itself more dramatically, possibly causing damage to both car and driver. Learning how to listen for odd and unique sounds that may not seem normal to the vehicle's operation or that have not been noticed before is an important practice. Once a strange sound is noticed and the source is properly identified, it is also important to look for visual signs that may indicate the extent of the problem. If there are visual indications of wear, damage, or obvious failure signs on the braking system components which are most likely contributing to the audible warnings, there is a very good possibility that the car is operating unsafely and should be stopped for further inspection to determine the details behind these signs. No matter if the enthusiast is a timid, careful daily driver or an aggressive individual who is in pursuit of performance on a weekend track or an overland trail, the vehicle should be checked periodically to ensure the safest driving experiences. We will discuss some of the warning sounds and signs for the discerning and pro-active enthusiast while also helping to determine if their vehicle and their style of driving would require replacement components or a considerable upgrade to keep their pursuits in line with ultimate safety.
As we have mentioned, if the driver keeps their ears open and trained on suspicious sounds coming from the vehicle when the brakes are applied at any speed or under any condition, this could be where Benjamin Franklin's famous saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could come nicely into play and saving a lot of frustration. If sounds of mechanical distress including squeaks, grinding noises, or noticeably dramatic vibrations are emanating from the vehicle's brake pedal, then the driver, depending on the findings from a more detailed inspection, should first prepare for the possible replacement of the system's brake pads. This component is a small but critical piece of the overall braking system and its functionality. The brake pad is designed to press against the wheel rotors and generate a level of energy and friction to slow or stop the vehicle's motion. Like we mentioned earlier, we take these small wonders of engineering for granted because when these 1/2″ thick pads of specialized material are operating correctly, they bring our vehicles to a halt and slower speed hundreds and thousands of times during normal operations that are very natural and silent in the grand scheme of the vehicle's overall function. But, as soon as something on the brake pad is worn or skewed, the problem will be easily noticed by our senses. Naturally, as we consider all this repetition, fluctuation in speed , and changes in friction , it is easy to understand why the brake pads can be vulnerable to wear and require replacement. In most average cases and normal driving scenarios, the vehicle's brake pads should be changed every 25,000 to 70,000 miles depending on the pad type and conditions under which the vehicle was normally driven. For daily drivers that are frequently required to face heavy traffic or city conditions where repeated braking is normal, the life of the brake pad might be much shorter.
If brake pad damage is much more extreme it may cause additional wear or damage to the rotors which will result in replacement or a system upgrade if it is determined that the specific operation level of the vehicle requires much more robust components to handle the workload. Extreme wear and damage may be confirmed by unsettling sounds like grinding or screeching when braking indicating that one or more brake pads have worn completely down leaving no material between the brake pad's mounting plate and rivet/spike which then lets metal grind against metal quickly causing damage and forcing serious, more involved repairs or replacement. In most cases, the average driver will detect one of the less dramatic audible or visual signs, inspect the braking system and replace the worn brake pads with OEM replacement parts to bring the functionality and stability of the vehicle back to normal, safe operation. As with other situations, including Subaru enthusiasts who might be practitioners of different motorsport genres or levels of extreme performance, replacement comes more frequently while wear, tear, and constant maintenance comes alongside a bit too easily. Enthusiasts who are constantly taking their favorite, semi-modified platform on weekend track events and just driving aggressively for sport should seriously put aside the closely repeated service requirements and replacement of factory brake pads to investigate the multitude of offerings to serve their amplified need. These offerings will allow them to possibly upgrade to high-performance brake pad sets, potentially larger rotors, and more robust braking system components to give their Subaru some extra capabilities, protect the vehicle from unnecessary wear, and provide ultimate safety and stability under any conditions - on road, track, or trail. No matter what the enthusiasts' performance goals may be, they must always remember that a good, high quality braking system should operate silently and efficiently. Upgrading to something that can deliver success to the level of performance desired is always the best investment.
Is your Subaru experiencing some braking issues or exhibiting some of the signs and sounds we have discussed in the article above? Are you trying to decide if replacing your brake pads is your best course of action, or are you investigating a braking system upgrade to align your Subaru platform with the level of performance you pursue in your daily life? Whatever your reasons or goals prove themselves to be, don’t stand idle with questions or confusions about how to resolve your problem by finding the correct solution. Our experienced team of enthusiasts here at Subimods would be more than happy to assist you in making the best, most logical decision about maintaining, replacing, or upgrading any of the braking system components in question. Reach out anytime!
Subimods continues to concentrate on providing aftermarket innovations and products that take the Subaru platform of your choice to new levels in the present and the future, no matter if you choose a more exciting, dynamic daily drive, a more exhilarating weekend on the track, or a more aggressive adventure overland and in the wild. Scroll through the products displayed below to get a sampling of the many offerings available from the industries premiere manufacturers.
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Bryon Turcotte - Managing Editor/Writer
Turcotte has worked as a writer, journalist, and digital content developer for 30 years. He began his career in music journalism in 1995 then worked for several years as both a staff writer, managing editor, and a freelancer for both regional and national music publications. Over the next three decades his contributions extended beyond the music industry as he served within the realms of higher education, science and technology, manufacturing, and finance. He has been serving as a content developer and writer on the Subimods Marketing team since August 2023.
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