How to Know When to Replace Car Brake Pads

Replacing your brake pads at the appropriate time is important to the safety and function of your vehicle. Knowing when to replace the brake pads is a simple but necessary task and should be done as soon as you recognize the problem to avoid damage to the car.

Instructions

1

Know what to look for on a new pair of brake pads. A new pair of brake pads will not show any signs of wear and they will measure 12 mm thick. You should be able to see them through the window on the brake caliper.

2

Look through the window on your brake caliper, by first jacking your car up and removing the wheel. This is done by simply removing the lug nuts and pulling the wheel off. This will expose the braking system and the calipers.

3

Notice if the pads are thicker on the outside than the inside. The pads will wear on the inside first, causing it to thin out. If you can't tell and want to be sure, measure it with a small tool that measures in millimeters. If you are anywhere above four millimeters, you are okay.

4

Listen for a squealing notice when you press the brake pedal during driving. This is the most common indicator that it is time to replace your brake pads. Your brake pads are often at the two millimeter thickness when this is happening. If you do not replace your brake pads, they will wear completely down, causing the metal components of your braking system to rub together, leading to major and expensive damage.