What does excessive wear of brake pads mean?

2 Answers
LaEleanor
07/29/25 7:48am
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.
Was this review help?
17
2
Share
Erik
08/13/25 2:28am
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.
Was this review help?
2
4
Share
Expand All
More Forum Discussions

How to Calibrate the Senova X35 SAS?

Select the X35 model, click "Start Diagnosis", and load the program. Double-click "Electric Power Steering (EPS)" to enter the diagnostic interface. Select "ECU Configuration" and click "Steering Angle Sensor Calibration". Click "Calibrate" to complete the calibration.
9
3
Share

How to remove the small wrench icon on the 2014 B50 dashboard?

Insert the key, but only insert it without turning. Hold the lever next to the odometer for 5-10 seconds, then turn the key to power on. After another 5-10 seconds, start the car. Keep holding the lever throughout this process without releasing it. Generally, following these steps will clear the small wrench icon. If it doesn't clear, repeat the same process a few more times.
9
0
Share

What Causes High Transmission Temperature?

Reasons for high transmission temperature: 1. Clogged pump suction filter screen; 2. Poor radiator cooling capacity; 3. Severe machine overload operation; 4. Serious wear or damage to the transmission hydraulic pump; 5. Severe system leakage, improper operation of the torque converter inlet regulating proportional valve; 6. Transmission clutch slippage can also lead to excessively high transmission temperature. The transmission is a mechanism used to change the speed and torque from the engine, capable of fixing or changing the gear ratio between the output and input shafts, also known as a gearbox. The transmission consists of a gear transmission mechanism and a control mechanism, with some vehicles also equipped with a power take-off mechanism.
16
2
Share

Can the car still be driven if the transmission is slipping?

If the transmission is slipping, the car should not be driven as it poses a safety hazard and requires immediate repair. Causes of transmission slipping: 1. Wear and tear of the clutch, brake, or one-way clutch leading to slipping; 2. Addition or replacement with non-specified oil; 3. Slipping caused by low main oil pressure. The transmission mainly refers to the car's gearbox, which is divided into manual and automatic types. Manual transmissions primarily consist of gears and shafts, achieving speed and torque variation through different gear combinations; automatic transmissions are composed of a torque converter, planetary gears, a hydraulic torque variation system, and a hydraulic control system, achieving speed and torque variation through hydraulic transmission and gear combinations.
11
2
Share

What is the valve clearance for the Ford Focus?

Ford Focus valve clearance is 0.22 to 0.28MM for intake and 0.27 to 0.330MM for exhaust when the engine is cold. Valve clearance is set to ensure the proper operation of the internal combustion engine's valve train. Since the valve train operates at high speeds and elevated temperatures, components like the valve tappet and valve stem expand when heated. Without proper clearance, this expansion could automatically push the valve open, preventing it from sealing tightly against the valve seat, leading to air leakage. The Focus is an A-segment family car and one of Ford Europe's flagship models. It is equipped with either a 1.5L EcoBoost or a 1.5L Ti-VCT engine, and all models meet the China VI emission standards.
16
2
Share

How Should Beginners Drive on the Highway?

Beginners on the highway should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Here are some tips for beginners driving on the highway: 1. High-speed driving: Avoid sudden steering wheel movements while driving on the highway. Do not reverse, drive against traffic, or make U-turns or turns across the central divider. During normal driving, the following vehicle in the same lane must maintain a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front. 2. Precautions: When entering the highway, accelerate to a speed of at least 50 km/h as quickly as possible. Vehicles entering the highway from the ramp must increase their speed in the acceleration lane. When merging into the main lane, they must not hinder vehicles already traveling in the main lane and should drive in the outer lane.
14
5
Share
Cookie
Cookie Settings
© 2025 Servanan International Pte. Ltd.