Brake pads are flat, rectangular pieces of high-friction (grippy) material that squeeze against your vehicle’s brake rotors (the metal discs on the wheel hubs) by a caliper when the brake pedal is pressed, creating friction and slowing down or stopping your vehicle.
In this article, we’ll provide steps on how to check brake pad wear and replace worn brake pads.
Why Regular Brake Pad Maintenance is Important
Regular brake pad maintenance is essential for ensuring the safety and performance of your vehicle. Worn-out brake pads can significantly reduce your braking power, making it more difficult to stop your vehicle, especially in an emergency situation. Additionally, worn-out brake pads can cause damage to other components of your braking system, such as the rotors, leading to more costly repairs.
In some cases, worn-out brake pads can produce a loud, metallic screeching sound when you apply the brakes. This sound is a warning signal that it’s time to have your brake pads checked and replaced. If you ignore this warning, you run the risk of completely wearing through the brake pads and damaging the rotors, which can be much more expensive to repair.
How to Check Brake Pad Wear
Checking brake pad wear is a simple process that you can do yourself, or you can have a professional mechanic do it for you.
Start by inspecting the brake pads visually: Start by inspecting the brake pads through the wheel spokes or by removing the wheel. The brake pads should be thick and uniform with no visible cracks or grooves. If the brake pads are thin or worn down, it’s time to replace them.
Next, measure the brake pads: Use a brake pad gauge or ruler to measure the thickness of the brake pads. Most brake pads should be between 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick. If the brake pads are less than 1/4 inch thick, it’s time to replace them.
Finally, check for uneven wear: If one of the brake pads is wearing faster than the other, it could indicate a problem with your braking system. Uneven wear could be caused by a misaligned caliper, worn caliper piston seals, or a sticking caliper.
How to Replace Brake Pads
Replacing brake pads is a relatively straightforward process, but it can be a bit more challenging if you’re not familiar with vehicle maintenance.
PRO TIP: Do not replace front and rear brake pads at the same time. The pads’ friction material needs a few kilometers to “bed in” before it can begin to grip the rotors; if you replace front and rear brakes together, your vehicle’s ability to slow down will be significantly hampered.
To replace brake pads:
- Gather the necessary tools: You will need a jack and jack stands, a lug wrench, a c-clamp, and a socket set to remove the wheels and calipers.
- Remove the wheel: Use a lug wrench to remove the wheel and set it aside.
- Remove the caliper: Use a socket set to remove the bolts that hold the caliper in place. Once the bolts are removed, carefully lift the caliper off the rotor.
- Remove the brake pads: Use a c-clamp to compress the caliper piston and remove the old brake pads.
- Install the new brake pads: Place the new brake pads into the caliper and use the c-clamp to compress the piston back into the caliper.
- Reinstall the caliper: Reinstall the caliper and tighten the bolts securely.
- Reinstall the wheel: Replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts to the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Repeat the process for the other wheel.
Brake pads play a crucial role in slowing down or stopping your vehicle, and regular brake pad maintenance is essential for ensuring safety and performance. When inspecting and replacing brake pads, a healthy dose of common sense goes a long way: If you are unsure about whether your brake pads need replacing; or have never replaced brake pads before, have a licensed mechanic do the work the first time around. Watch and learn; and then, when you are ready, have a mechanic observe and advise while you turn the wrenches.
