The legal minimum steering axle thickness is 1.6 mm for hydraulic disc brakes and 3.2 mm for compressed air brakes. As always, measure this from the steel beam plate to the lowest point of the buffer. Even if only one side is worn, the brake pads should still be changed in pairs. Never change a single page. The pads are only sold in batches of four anyway, with a pair for each brake caliper. High-performance brake pads aren`t always necessary, especially if you`re driving a small, lightweight tailgate. However, look for ceramic or metal options to get the best braking force. Ceramic pads are more efficient under load because heat is less of a problem. Still, they are often expensive and you need to buy high-quality rotors that come with them. Therefore, metal brakes are the most common choice for the daily driver. Although you can do a visual inspection of the brake thickness yourself, we do not recommend it as you need to be very careful to make sure that nothing goes wrong.
Note that brake pads and brake discs become very hot due to friction, especially during sudden braking. That`s why you see racing car rotors shining orange as you approach corners. Many modern rotors are «ventilated» to counter this, because if they get too hot, you will experience what is called brake discoloration: when the brakes no longer work properly. They may only be small, but brake pads play an important role! The braking system consists of hydraulically controlled pistons inside the brake calipers. The pistons press the brake pads against the brake discs and convert kinetic energy (movement) into thermal energy (heat) by friction – which is why the brakes get hot during use. How thick should the brake pads be? Ideally 6 mm or more. Once you go below 6mm, the brake pads stop working so effectively (in most cases). You`ll probably be fine for a while if you`re on a tight budget – there`s no fierce urgency here. Just because this is the legal minimum requirement doesn`t mean you should ever drop your brake pads at this level. At 1.6mm, your brakes are dangerously ineffective. To perform a brake pad measurement, get gauges.
This is by far the easiest way to do it. These elements indicate that your brake pads are worn. And if you continue to drive with these worn brake pads, a brake failure occurs and can lead to serious accidents.| To help you, here are some notable things that can warn you of thin brake pads: And if your brake pads are thinner than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch), they are no longer reliable. In general, you should expect brake pads and brake discs to last a long time – probably around 40,000 miles on average (depending on your driving habits and techniques). Brake manufacturers tell you when pads and rotors need to be replaced. It is best to follow their guidelines. We will discuss the ideal thickness of the brake pads below. There`s no hard and fast rule about the length of a set of pads, but you can use a bit of common sense. In general, pads can last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles. If you have three kids and you`re driving a big, heavy SUV, look at the lower number, especially if you`re towing. If you drive an economy or hybrid car, you will look at the greatest number of them.
But also think about that, really think about your driving. Are you an early brakeman? Are you behind on the brakes? Do you stop smoothly or do you tend to stand on the brakes? All this can affect the life of the pads. Sudden braking means a short service life. If you can remove the wheels yourself – or get help from a professional or contact with experience – you can now access the brake pads and calipers (the parts they are mounted on) to measure depth. While the legal limit is only 1.5 millimeters, anything less than 6 millimeters affects the performance of your vehicle. We recommend replacements at or below this depth. However, a disc brake system works a little differently. As a result, most city dwellers face increased brake wear and end up replacing brake pads more often than their suburban counterparts. All this means that the thickness of the brake pads is crucial to keep an eye on them.
This guide explains the minimum, new and ideal brake pad thicknesses, with a table included. Some car owners may need a brake pad replacement after 25,000 miles, and others may find that their brake pads last more than 50,000 miles. It really depends on a number of factors, such as driving conditions and styles, as well as the material of the brake pads. Realistically, you should never let your brake pads fall below 3mm. Why MM? Every time I have my cars inspected, they list the thickness of the brakes and tires in 32. on. Most auto mechanics also agree that the minimum thickness of brake pads is 3.2 mm (1/8 inch). Each thinner than that, and you need an immediate replacement of the brake pads to prevent brake failure. With worn brake pads, the brakes do not work at all. The only way to stop the car is to go through the engine brake and, if necessary, the emergency brake. Materials used to construct brake pads include steel beam plates, washers, friction materials, rubberized coatings, and thermal insulation coatings. They are solid materials, but they are not strong enough to last forever.
If you feel vibration when pedaling, it may be due to bad brake pads or brake discs. This vibration is caused by the brake pad touching the rotor. If any of them are damaged, this will continue to happen. Friction leads to erosion. When the fast-rotating metal brake discs rotate against the brake pads, they slowly wear out the material on the pad. Eventually, the brake pads reach a point where they are so worn out that their performance is affected. There is not enough material left to create the friction needed to properly slow down the car. It should take about 50,000 miles (more or less) for thickness at 3 to 4 millimeters. It all depends on how aggressively and how often you use your brakes, so while 50,000 miles is average for many, 20,000 miles may be more realistic for some. Also note that some brake pad materials last longer than others. This feature is available for new models of modern high-end vehicles.
There is a warning light that informs you when you need to change your brake pads. There are two sensors, one located on the friction material that generates a signal when it comes into contact with the brake rotor. The other is a position sensor that calculates the number of pedals that need to move before the brakes are applied. If your brake pads reach 3 mm, they need to be changed. This may not be the legal requirement, but most experienced mechanics will agree that this is realistically the minimum safe brake pad thickness.
