# Brakes? Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** brakes\ **Created:** [October 16, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026 "2007-10-16T17:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TomScholfield](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tomscholfield/32/5681_2.png) [@TomScholfield](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TomScholfield)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/1 "2007-10-16T17:25:51Z")
Can anyone give me some advice on how to tell when I might need new brakes. I am driving a 2004 Huyndai Elantra with 69,000 miles with original brakes. Also, right now my brakes are pulsating when I press the brake pedal down. What could this be? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/2 "2007-10-16T17:44:23Z")
People in NH usually find out at their annual safety inspection…or when the brakes no longer stop smoothly or quietly. The pulsating is probably from warped rotors. Time to get the brakes checked…and probably done! ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/3 "2007-10-16T17:44:50Z")
The pulsations are a clear symptom of warped brake rotors. This nuisance is all too common on modern cars. The only reliable cure is to replace the offending rotors. (Even if only one is bad, it is recommended you replace rotors in pairs.) The shop that does the work will most certainly install all new brake pads as well. Then you should be good to go for another 69,000 miles. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/4 "2007-10-17T01:36:59Z")
Unless you lie on the highway, your brakes are long gone. Or really overdue for an expensive repair. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/5 "2007-10-17T18:36:04Z")
69K on originals? For sure you’re overdue. One point though: ensure the stud nuts are torqued to specs when they remount the wheels or those new rotors will warp. How did you miss the wear pad tab screeching as the pads wore out? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/6 "2007-10-17T18:39:34Z")
If you “lie on the highway” it’s the OTHER people’s brakes you need to worry about! Missed a “v” did we? ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/7 "2007-10-17T18:41:29Z")
I see we still can’t edit our post once it’s posted like we could on the old site. I forgot to add: If you are the original owner of this vehicle (you may not be) how did you miss hearing the brake pad wear indicators screeching when the pads wore down? If you aren’t the original owner, the seller should have told you the pads were worn out. This is a safety issue. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/8 "2007-10-17T19:23:24Z")
Hey Roadrunner, I told the web lackeys to give you editing rights so you should have them now. On each of your own posts, but not those of others, look for a pencil icon in the lower right corner. Click on the pencil and edit to your heart’s content. ---
**Author:** ![TomScholfield](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tomscholfield/32/5681_2.png) [@TomScholfield](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TomScholfield)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/9 "2007-10-17T20:28:32Z")
I had the brakes checked a couple 2 or 3 thousand miles ago and the shop said they were fine. I have not heard any screeching. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/10 "2007-10-17T22:01:05Z")
Chances are they checked the pad thickness but did not check lateral runout of the disc surfaces. I’d suggest you tell them the symptoms you’re experiencing and let them diagnose from there. You could have warped discs without having worn out ppads. ---
**Author:** ![TomScholfield](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tomscholfield/32/5681_2.png) [@TomScholfield](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TomScholfield)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/11 "2007-10-18T00:10:21Z")
Thanks for all the info folks ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/12 "2007-10-18T01:49:18Z")
I put 138k on my last set of brakes, it all depends on how and where you drive, and the vehicle. As for the pulsing, do a couple of hard stops from 60+ (in a safe area). Don’t lock up the wheels, but just shy of that. It cures the pulsing most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 3:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes-huh/6026/13 "2007-10-19T03:44:22Z")
Blah. Thanks for the attempt to help Steve. I clicked on the pencil, did my editing and hit ‘save changes’. (A window came up saying the window is empty. D’oh. Fill in or quit. ??? I deleted each sentence in the second post and clicked ‘cancel’ the first time and hit ‘save changes’ the second and everything reverted back to the way it was.??? What did I do wrong? Or did I?