'Driving With Nothing But a Prayer Huh:' Woman Takes Her Car to the Shop. The Mechanic Can’t Believe the State of Her Brake Pads

A woman went viral on TikTok after showing off her car’s practically mangled brake pad—charred black, crumbling, and completely unusable.

Alyssa (@alyssa_m35) said she finally made it to a mechanic last month to get the issue fixed, though it wasn’t clear if she went in because she knew something was wrong or because her car started driving weirdly.

In her clip, she held up one of her brake pads for the camera. It was pitch black, broken into pieces, and slick with used car oil that rubbed off on her hands and was clearly visible on camera.

“My literal brake pad,” she wrote in the text overlay, joking that the reason she hadn’t gotten it fixed sooner was, “I’m just a girl.” As of this writing, the video had racked up more than 9.9 million views.

When to Check Your Brakes

According to Cars.com, there’s not necessarily a set mileage for when to replace your brake pads, which is why it’s smart to check them regularly. How quickly they wear out depends on how and where you drive. City driving with constant stop-and-go traffic will wear pads down faster than cruising on open rural roads. That said, your owner’s manual may have specific intervals for brake inspections, so it’s worth looking that up and following the recommendations just like you would for oil changes or other maintenance.

A good rule of thumb is to check your brake pads whenever you rotate your tires—roughly every six months if you keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance. Staying ahead of brake wear can save you from bigger, more expensive repairs later—and from your brakes being in the same shape that Alyssa’s were.

How to Check Your Brakes For Wear 

If you want to know whether your brakes are wearing out, there are a few easy signs to watch for. According to Allstate, squealing or clicking noises are one of the most common indicators. Many brake pads have a built-in tab that makes a loud screech when they’re getting thin. A deep metallic grinding sound is more serious: That usually means the pads are gone entirely and the metal is grinding against the rotor. 

You might also be able to feel when something’s off. A brake pedal that pulses or vibrates under your foot may be a sign that you have worn brake pads. If the pedal feels soft or spongy, that can be a sign of low brake fluid, possibly from a leak. If your car pulls to one side when you brake, that might mean the pads are wearing unevenly.

It’s also worth taking a look at your brakes yourself. You can usually see the pads through the openings in your wheels. If they look thin or uneven, they’re due for a change. Some cars even warn you with a brake light on the dashboard when there’s a problem. And if you notice a burning smell after braking, your brakes could be overheating.

Finally, pay attention to how the car stops. If it’s taking longer to come to a stop than it used to, that’s a clear sign something needs attention.

Viewers Are Shocked She Made It This Far

Commenters who watched Alyssa’s video reassured her she wasn’t the only one to push off car maintenance way too long.

“Brake pads aren’t real, don’t worry!! (My dad takes care of my car),” one woman joked.

“What’s a brake pad?” another asked.

Some couldn’t believe she’d driven that many miles without an issue.

“Girl, that’s a whisper of a concept of a brake pad at that point,” one commenter wrote.

“Baby, it was not you breaking, it was God doing it for you,” another said.

“How many miles did it take you to stop?” a third person asked.

“Driving with nothing but a prayer, huh,” added a fourth.

Others were less sympathetic, warning that the “I’m just a girl” excuse only goes so far—especially when safety is involved.

“Guys, please stop saying, ‘I’m just a girl’ for these situations,” one wrote. “You can literally die from this.”

“Girl, this is, like, insane,” another said. “Maintenance is important; changing brake pads is not expensive. Please keep the maintenance up on your car.”

“Everyone’s saying, ‘I’m just a girl,’ but clearly y’all misunderstood,” added a third. “Barbie could do any job, including fixing her brake pad. What happened to Barbie, huh?”

Motor1 has reached out to Alyssa via TikTok direct message.