You’ll need to find the specific instrument that snugly fits between the brake pad’s backing plate and the rotor face. You’ll need a jack, axle stands, breaker bar, wheel nut sockets, and a torque wrench (at least) for this. Measuring brake pad thickness is a relatively simple job, but it often involves removing the wheels. It’s recommended to replace pads and rotors at the same time. Take your car to a technician immediately and have the brakes replaced. This is an indication that they’ve reached the minimum legal thickness. If you hear a shrill screeching noise from your wheels, it’s almost certainly the brake pads. 40,000 miles (depending on your driving habits and techniques) is a reasonable average. Generally, you should expect brake pads and rotors to last a long time. It’s best to ask specifically to make sure. Mechanics should inspect the brakes every time you visit. You should check brake pad thickness about every 5,000 miles or a couple of times per year. At 1.6 mm, your brakes will be dangerously ineffective.īrake manufacturers will tell you when the pads and rotors need to be replaced. It may be the minimum legal requirement, but that doesn’t mean you should let your brake pads wear down to this point. As always, measure this from the steel backing plate to the lowest point of the pad. The regulated minimum thickness for the steering axle is 1.6 mm for hydraulic disc brakes and 3.2 mm for air brakes. Realistically, you must always keep your brake pads above 3 mm.
What Is The Legal Minimum Brake Pad Thickness? However, most skilled mechanics will concur that this is the minimum secure brake pad thickness. When your brake pads wear down to 3 mm, they should be replaced. They’ll be alright for a while – there’s usually no need to replace them. Once you go below 6 mm, the brake pads stop performing so effectively (in most cases). How thick should brake pads be? Ideally, 6 mm or more. What Is The Ideal Thickness Of Brake Pads? The car will also struggle to stop.Ĭheck out this brake pad measurement chart for a clear graphic to explain what’s ideal, acceptable, and dangerous. If this happens, you’ll hear a horrible screeching noise (far worse than the shrill warning noise). This leaves the metal backplate to press against the rotor face. In severe cases of neglect, the frictional material will completely wear away. This is hazardous to yourself, your passengers, and other road users (including pedestrians). Your car will have drastically reduced stopping power. In contrast, if your pads go below the recommended brake pad thickness, they’ll get too hot. The more material there is, the easier it is to absorb and dissipate the frictional heat. How Thick Should A Brake Pad Be?Ī thick brake pad makes all the difference when stopping. Many modern rotors are ‘vented’ to counter this. If they get too hot, you’ll experience what’s known as brake fade: when the brakes stop working properly. That’s why you see racecar rotors glowing orange as they approach corners. Note that brake pads and discs get very hot due to all the friction, especially during hard braking. In turn, this reduces the rotational speed of the wheels and slows (or stops) the car. Its frictional surface pushes into the spinning rotor face.Īs the surfaces touch, friction slows the rotor down. When you press the brake pedal, hydraulic brake fluid forces the piston (or pistons) in the caliper towards the spinning rotor. Each wheel has two pads – one for the outside and one for the inside. Brake pads have a metal backing plate with a high-friction surface bound to them.
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