How do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?

Ive been told by the guy that inspected my car that my rear brakes wont last another 6 months, and I haven't had any problems with them right now, and I need to know when to replace them. What are the signs that it is time to be replace. If I can hold off replacing them a few months I definitely will (money is tight in a bad economy).How do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?6 months is a long time - for me I'll drive 8,000 miles in that 6 months. I'd wait.



The only way to know (without waiting too long) is to visually inspect the pads. Just have them checked again in about six months.



If, you do wait too - toooo long to check them, the pads will wear down to nothing, and some of the metal that holds the pad will scratch against your rotors or drums, depending on what kind of rear brakes you have. This would be really bad as damaged rotors or drums are more expensive to replace, and if they do get damaged/not replaced, they will wear out your future brake pads faster.How do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?If you have over 70,000 miles on rear brakes, replace them. If you wait too long, you'll have to replace them at a much MUCH higher cost.

Hold off for a couple months, but it's just a gamble.How do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?Do you hear a squealing or grinding noise when you step on the brake pedal? If you do, don't skimp, get them replacedHow do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?annoying squeking sound and the handbrake/parking brake handle is higher than the usual height.How do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?the Mechanic is looking for how worn down the %26quot;Shoes%26quot; if there drum brakes and he is also looking at the inside of the drum itself for groves,burning he is either seeing metal on metal contact or he can see the %26quot;Shoes%26quot; are Very thin.when they get too thin they the braking pad will actually crack and break off.How do you know when you need your rear brakes replaced?well for 1 thing you don,t want to wait until you hear metal because it will cost you more then brake shoes, you will need drums then. it also depends on weather they are rivet or bonded. you can,t always tell by the squealing because it could be only brake dust.