Does a brake pad thickness of 4mm require replacement?
2 Answers
If the brake pad thickness is less than 5 millimeters, it needs to be replaced promptly. Here is relevant information about brake pads: 1. Introduction: Brake pads consist of a friction material layer, heat insulation layer, adhesive layer, and backplate. The brake pads work by the brake caliper pushing the backplate to press the friction material against the brake disc for braking, making the quality of the friction material particularly important. 2. Precautions: Emergency braking causes significant damage to brake pads. Therefore, it is advisable to brake gently or use intermittent braking during normal driving to minimize wear on the brake pads.
As an experienced driver who's driven over a dozen cars, brake pad thickness needs to be considered in context. 4mm might sound okay, but it depends on the wear rate. My previous German car had new pads at 10mm thickness, and the warning only came on at 3mm. If you're driving mountain roads daily or frequently slamming on the brakes, wear will be faster. I recommend using a flashlight to check the inner side of the wheel every 5,000 km. If the wear indicator tabs are scraping or there's over 1mm difference between sides, replace them immediately even if there's still 4mm left. Don't just focus on the numbers - if you notice the pedal feeling softer or hear metallic sounds during braking, those are warnings.
