If you notice that your brakes are beginning to squeak or squeal when you press on the brake pedal, or you feel the brake pedal going a little bit further down than it normally does, it may be time to replace the brake pads on your car. Thanks to the internet, it is easy to find tutorials that can walk you through the process of replacing your brake pads. As such, you may be thinking about doing the work yourself and saving on labor costs. But, you may want to pump your brakes and think twice before replacing brake pads yourself. Here is why. 

1. You Need Specialized Tools to Remove and Install New Brakes

One of the reasons why you may want to think twice about replacing your brake pads yourself is because you need specialized tools to complete the job. These are not tools the average person already has on hand, unless they have completed brakes before. You may need tools like a C-clamp or a specialized brake tool designed for the calipers on your make and model of car. These tools can be pricey, so you may not really be saving much money on labor if you have to buy these tools. 

2. You Can Easily Introduce Air to the Brake Line

Another reason why you may want to think twice before replacing your brake pads yourself is because you can easily introduce air into your brake line when you are replacing your brake pads. If there is air in your brake line, your brake pedal may get soft, or go down completely to the floor. Bleeding the brake lines is the only way to remove air. This is often a costly and time-consuming fix. 

3. Your Brake Job May Be More Complex Than Replacing the Brake Pads

The final reason why you should think twice before replacing brake pads yourself is because your problem may be more complex than just replacing brake pads. Your brakes may squeal if the rotors or calipers are bad. A professional can diagnose and repair all of the problems with your brake system, while you may miss these problems because you are not trained to catch them. 

Replacing the brake pads on your car is something that the average person should not complete themselves. You need specialized tools to complete the job, you can easily add air to the brake line, or your brakes may need far more than brake pads. If you are experiencing brake problems, bring your car to a brake professional to have brake installation and repair completed.