ALT-3 Automotive Maintenance when to Replace Front Brake Pads
It is often a worry for car owners to know quitewhen to replace the cars front disc pads. Brake pads do last a long time but eventually they will need to be replaced. There are many ways to check a brake pad's condition before disaster strikes. If brake pads are not regularly replaced eventually the surface area of the pad will wear away revealing bear metal. The exposed metal will rub against the brake disc during braking. This will result in a heavy metallic noise and ruined brake discs. It is also very dangerous to continue to drive a vehicle in this condition as you’ll lose nearly all braking capability.
How can I tell when my brake pads need changing?
Some cars have a warning light on the fascia. The light might have an explanation mark and will glow red. If the warning light comes on, there is no need for immediate panic but you’ll need to get the brake pads replaced as matter of urgency. If you have no warning light and you have your car regularly serviced, the service garage will tell you when the surface area of the brake pads are getting low. The mechanic will advise you to replace the brake pads or suggest they will need replacing shortly.
The last course of action is to periodically jack the front wheels one at a time. Never climb right underneath the car unless you’ll using axle stands. Once the wheel is jacked up and rotating freely. Remove the road wheel. You will immediately see the braking system. The metal device holding the brake pads is called a caliper. If you turn the wheel towards you, you’ll see the brake pads in the caliper held in place by clips. Sometimes they may be hidden by an anti squeal shim you might need to remove this. This little shim can usually be removed with a pair of piers. Don’t rely on the thickness of the outer brake pad. The inner brake pad will wear down the quickest and this is the pad you’ll need to measure. You should be able to do this without removing the pads. If the pads are less than a millimeter thick, they should be changed immediately. New pads will last a long time probably about 30,000 miles or more before a replacement is necessary. Rear pads if any do not wear down as quickly as front pads and will not need to be replaced as often.
