What are the methods to determine whether brake pads should be replaced?
2 Answers
Methods to determine whether brake pads should be replaced include: 1. The normal thickness of brake pads is about 10mm, and they should be replaced if worn below 6mm; 2. Check for any abnormal noises when braking; 3. When brake pads are severely worn, their braking force decreases, and symptoms of weak braking may appear when pressing the brake pedal. Steps to replace brake pads: 1. Open the engine compartment to check the brake fluid level to prevent overflow during replacement; 2. Remove the wheel where the brake is located; 3. Remove the bolts of the brake caliper and take out the old brake pads; 4. Install new brake pads, tighten the guide bolts, and complete the replacement.
I usually check the brake pads through these methods. First is listening for sounds - when lightly pressing the brake, hearing metal scraping noises indicates the wear indicator on the brake pad is contacting the rotor, which requires immediate attention. Second is feeling the braking performance - noticing you need to press deeper to stop when slowing down for red lights shows weakened braking power, which is also telling. Every time I wash my car, I make it a habit to check the brake pads inside the wheel hub. Using my phone's flashlight, I can see the thickness - if it's about half as thick as new pads, it's time for replacement. My experience suggests paying special attention to these changes every 30,000-40,000 kilometers, especially for vehicles frequently driven on mountain roads which require more frequent inspections.
