How to Check and Inspect Car Brake Pads?
4 Answers
To inspect car brake pads, follow these steps: 1. Listen for sounds: If you hear a metallic scraping sound when lightly applying the brakes, it indicates a problem with the brake pads, and they should be replaced immediately at a repair shop. 2. Check the thickness of the brake pads: A new brake pad is about 1.5 cm thick. When the visible thickness is reduced to about one-third of the original, increase the frequency of inspections and be prepared to replace the brake pads at a repair shop. 3. Feel the braking force: Thinner brake pads will affect braking performance. Brake pads, also known as brake linings, are critical safety components in a car's braking system, determining the effectiveness of braking. Brake pads generally consist of a steel plate, an adhesive heat-insulating layer, and a friction block. The steel plate is coated to prevent rust, and the coating process is monitored using an SMT4 oven temperature tracker to ensure quality by measuring the temperature distribution during coating.
Checking car brake pads isn't actually difficult. When I do it myself, I first find a safe spot to park and engage the handbrake. Simply squat down and look through the gap between the wheel hub and brake disc - on most cars you can see the brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes. The key is observing how much friction material remains. New brake pads are about 1cm thick, and should be replaced when worn down to approximately 3mm. If visibility is poor, removing the tire for inspection is more accurate, while also checking the brake disc for scratches or abnormal wear. I also prefer using a phone flashlight to illuminate the sides, paying attention to whether the inner and outer brake pads wear evenly - uneven wear might indicate caliper issues. Hearing metal scraping sounds or noticing a softer brake pedal while driving are both signals for inspection. Safety first - I recommend visual checks monthly for peace of mind.
I often check my brake pads myself with a few simple steps: First, make sure the car is parked and turned off, then inspect each tire. Many modern wheel rims have gaps designed in them, so you can see the side of the brake pads by peeking through the spokes. Focus on how much of the dark friction material is left—if it's almost flush with the metal backing plate, it must be replaced. While checking, I also run my finger along the edge of the brake disc to feel for obvious grooves and wiggle the tire to listen for any loose, abnormal noises. Once, I noticed the left front brake pad was unusually thin, and it turned out the caliper guide pin was stuck when I took it to the shop. Now, during every maintenance session, I have the mechanic measure the thickness with a specialized tool for more reliable data.
My brake pad inspection method involves two steps: First, a static visual check. Find a well-lit spot and peek inside the wheel rim without removing the tire. With my SUV's spacious wheel design, I can easily gauge the remaining pad thickness by eye. Second, dynamic feedback while driving - lightly apply brakes to listen for that distinctive high-pitched metallic scraping sound, which means the wear indicator is alerting you. I remember once during a road trip noticing longer braking distances, and upon inspection found the rear pads were down to just 2mm. Since then, I've made it a habit to squat down and inspect all four wheels every 5,000 kilometers, while also checking the brake fluid level.
