# Is this an indication to change the brake pads?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [February 6, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083 "2019-02-06T14:20:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Noelm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Noelm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Noelm)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083/1 "2019-02-06T14:20:03Z")

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2006 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition (16 inch wheels)

Since a week or so, when I am going downhill and using brakes to slow down, I feel as if the brake pads are uneven. I feel the unevenness touching the wheels. I don’t feel much difference in braking distance as such when driving on a regular road. But you can’t miss this unevenness feeling on the slopes.

Is there any way to figure this out without taking a wheel off?

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083/2 "2019-02-06T14:28:06Z")

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It could be brake pads are wore differently between wheels, but usually when you feel a pull or drift while braking would indicate some sort of suspension problem. You cannot check brakes without taking off the wheels. You probably ought to take it to a service center for inspection.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083/3 "2019-02-06T14:34:34Z")

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Any time you feel something wrong with your braking, get it checked out by a mechanic (a good independent mechanic is fine, no need for a dealer) at your earliest opportunity. And yes, the wheels have to come off (one at a time at home, if you know what to look for).

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**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083/4 "2019-02-06T21:22:17Z")

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Uneveness may be what is also called pulsation. When you sense it while braking, it usually means one or more rotors (discs) are warped. If a caliper is seizing and causing that rotor to overheat, that’ll do it.

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**Author:** ![Noelm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Noelm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Noelm)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-indication-to-change-the-brake-pads/134083/5 "2019-02-22T14:30:21Z")

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Final update,

The rotors needs replacement. Brake Pads have life on them, but the mechanic doesn’t want to put new rotors with old pads, so replacing both.