Quick Question about Brake Pads

[mcgordon8750]

Hello, I was wondering how much life is usually left in a brake pad once it begins to squeal? I'm about to take a week long trip in my truck towing a small travel trailer (<2000lbs). And the front pads started squealing yesterday. I'll only be going about 600 miles, but there will likely be a bit of mountain driving.

Do I need to do the pads before I go or can I wait unitl I get back?

Thanks for any advice!

[98 SNAKE EATER]

If the squeal is from the wear sensors, I'd get them replaced ASAP

It's a 10 minute job, so there's no need to put it off another day

[reffug]

they should be replaced but with careful driving I don't see 600 miles as a problem.

course thats just me.

[raydouble]

There is no reason to not pull off your tire though and see, with your own eyes, what is going on with your brakes.
Most especially before a 600 trip.

[Chevinater77]

the bare minimum is 1mm, i let mine squeel for about 3 weeks and they were fine, i was replacing the rotors as well and moving to 100 series pads that are said to last a little longer! 600 miles shouldnt be that big of a deal, just use your gears on the down hills!

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Another reason for replacing them early is due to the higher heat generated by the thin friction surface of the worn pads

This heat, combined with overextended pistons can cause the calipers to seize

And last I checked, these calipers don't come cheap

[snowwolf]

Last week my rear pads all of a sudden started to make an horrendous noise, I HAD to drive my car 100 miles and was really carefull about braking and using the 2nd and 1st gear (auto) to slow down,

when I changed the pads, all the pads were really worn but one pad had delaminated from the metal as it was very thin, and it was metal on metal which has really scored up the rotor, I had to fit an old warped rotor that I had in the garage, so I didnt mess up the new pads.

So if I was you, I would change the pads!