What does excessive wear of brake pads mean?
4 Answers
Excessive wear of brake pads refers to a brake pad warning, usually indicating that the brake pads have reached their wear limit and need to be replaced promptly. Failure to do so may result in brake failure and damage to the brake disc. There is also a less common cause that can trigger an excessive wear warning for brake pads: when the brake pad wear sensor is damaged and an open circuit occurs, it may cause a false alarm, and the vehicle's dashboard will display an excessive wear warning for the brake pads. Below is relevant information: 1. Automobile brake pads: Automobile brake pads refer to the friction materials fixed on the rotating brake drum or brake disc of the wheel. The friction lining and friction blocks bear external pressure to generate friction, thereby achieving vehicle deceleration. Automobile brake pads are generally composed of steel plates, adhesive insulation layers, and friction blocks. The steel plates are coated to prevent rust, and the coating process is monitored using an SMT-4 furnace temperature tracker to ensure the temperature distribution during the coating process meets quality standards. 2. How brakes work: The working principle of brakes mainly relies on the friction between the brake pads and the brake disc (drum), as well as between the tires and the ground, to convert the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle into heat energy through friction, thereby stopping the vehicle. A good and efficient braking system must provide stable, sufficient, and controllable braking force, and have excellent hydraulic transmission and heat dissipation capabilities to ensure that the force applied by the driver on the brake pedal is effectively transmitted to the master cylinder and sub-cylinders, while avoiding hydraulic failure and brake fade caused by excessive heat.
Hello friend, I'm a seasoned driver with twenty years of experience. Simply put, excessive wear of brake pads means they've become too thin to function properly. It mainly happens because the friction material gradually wears away every time you hit the brakes, and when the thickness drops below, say, 3mm, it's considered excessive. There are many reasons—like me, driving long distances frequently, hard braking accelerates wear; wet roads also speed it up. This issue can't be taken lightly because it not only increases braking distance, raising the risk of rear-end collisions, but can also damage the adjacent brake disc, which would cost several times more to repair than just replacing the pads. During routine maintenance, I recommend checking the thickness every 10,000 kilometers and listening for any squealing sounds. Early detection can save you unnecessary expenses—safety first! It's best to have a professional shop take a look, don't wait until you're driving without brakes to regret it.
I'm an ordinary office worker who drives my kids to school every day, and I'm quite concerned about excessive wear on the brake pads—meaning they're almost two-thirds gone and too thin. Honestly, this isn't a minor issue. Imagine driving on the highway and having to press the brakes for a long time before stopping—how dangerous would that be with my child sitting next to me! It's even scarier in bad weather. Checking is simple: just look at the thickness near the wheels or notice if the brakes feel a bit spongy. I make it a habit to get maintenance at the shop every six months, where they use a measuring tool to check. Ignoring it not only risks accidents but also damages the brake rotors. Replacing the pads costs a few hundred bucks, but if the rotors need replacing too, it could be one or two thousand. Money is secondary—safety comes first. So I remind everyone to stay vigilant, avoid sudden braking and acceleration, and develop good habits to extend the life of your brake pads.
When it comes to excessive wear of brake pads, to put it bluntly, it means the brake pads are too thin and need replacement. Generally, it becomes dangerous when the thickness drops below 3mm. When I first bought my car, I didn't know better and drove aggressively, wearing them out quickly, which resulted in poor braking performance—I almost rear-ended someone once. Checking is simple: look for deep grooves or scratches around the brake disc, and listen for noises—squeaking sounds indicate significant wear. Don't wait until the problem becomes severe; otherwise, not only will braking performance suffer, but road bumps could also damage the entire system. Replacing the pads costs a few hundred, but if the disc gets worn through, repair costs double. I recommend checking them yourself every quarter or having a mechanic take a quick look during maintenance. Safe driving starts with the details.
