How to Check Brake Pads
Learning how to checkbrake padson a vehicle is more than making an inspection for part wear. It is true. They are the only component in the system in need of regular replacement, but they can also give you signs of potential system trouble. Furthermore, brake pads themselves can become the target of physical damage when problems begin to develop in the brake assembly. However, you can only catch and prevent many of these problems by learning how to check your brake pads at home using a few simple tools.1. When to replace brake padsOn many vehicle models, brake pads come equipped with a wear indicator. This is a metal clip mounted on the pad that rubs against the disc rotor when the friction material on the pad wears down significantly. Once the clip touches the rotor, it begins to emit a squeaking or metallic sound to alert you that it is time toreplace the pads. However, not all brake pads come with this warning system. Still, even if your car brake pads come with it, it is a good idea to make a visual inspection of your brakes to check for damage and other signs of potential system problems.2. Accessing the brake padsLoosen the wheel nuts on one of the front wheels. Then, raise the wheel off the ground using a jack and secure it with a jack stand. Apply the parking brake, chock the rear wheels to prevent your car from rolling and remove the wheel. Mounted around the disc rotor, you’ll see thebrake caliper. The caliper holds the brake pads in place on each side of the rotor and houses the cylinder and piston that pushes on the rear pad against the rotor.Remove the one or two caliper mounting bolts from the rear and lower part of the caliper using a ratchet and socket. If your caliper only comes with one mounting bolt, you can unscrew this bolt and swing the caliper off the rotor to access the pads. If it comes with two mounting bolts-one on each side-unscrew these bolts, pull the caliper off the rotor and secure it to a suitable component using a piece of heavy wire. This will prevent the caliper from hanging loose and damaging the brake hose attached to it. With the caliper off the brake rotor, you now have access to the brake pads. Look at the exact position of each one so that you replace each pad in its correct position and original place. Then remove one of the pads for inspection.3. Inspecting the brake padsLook for signs of contamination and damage like oil spots and cracks around the surface of the brake pad. If there are signs of contamination or damage, you will need to replace the pads and have the brake system inspected to find the cause of the problem, if necessary.Now, measure the thickness of the lining on the brake pads. This is the friction material that rubs against the disc rotor. The lining should have a thickness of 1/8-inch or thicker. Otherwise, you need to replace the pads. Also, see if the lining is tapered. A slight difference in thickness from one side to the other of the pad is normal. However, if the difference is significant, you will need to have the brake system inspected to find the cause and replace the brake pads as well.After inspecting both brake pads, reinstall the pads and caliper, and tighten the mounting bolts. Mount the wheel and tighten the lug nuts snugly. Lower your vehicle and tighten the nuts gradually, following a crisscross pattern. Finally, tighten the lug nuts to the torque listed in your vehicle service manual for your particular vehicle. If you don’t have access to this manual, you can consult one in the reference section of your public library. Inspect the brake pads on the opposite and rear wheels, if equipped, following the above procedure.You can perform this procedure every 6 months or before, if you suspect problems with the brake pads or the brake assembly on any of the wheels. A visual inspection is the only way to know the physical condition of the brakes pad and brake assembly. Yet, this is a simple maintenance task you can perform in a few minutes in your own garage or drive way to help you spotpotential problemsbefore they turn into expensive repairs.
