Checking the pad life on disc brakes
Checking the pad life on disc brakes
When you pressure the brake pedal to slow down your vehicle, the brake pads gets pressed against the discs that spin along with the wheels. Because of this, brake pads wear down and need to be renewed. In addition to the types of pads, the frequency of replacement depend on where and how you drive.
The pads are fixed in brake’s calipers that have an inspection hole on top that enables you to check the thickness of the pads on both sides of the disc, also named as the rotor. On some vehicles that have aluminum-alloy wheels, the outer pads might be checked with the wheels on, however in most cases the vehicle should be jacked up and the wheels should be removed to look at the pads on both sides.
Mechanics use different guidelines to decide when pads should be renewed. New pads thickness vary between 3/8 of an inch and 1/2 inch, depending on the vehicle. Some technicians suggest replacing the pads when they’re down to about 1/4 inch, other’s recommendation is 1/8 or when only 20 to 25 percent of the original thickness remains. If the thickness were too low, the metal backing plate on which they were fixed would be squeezed against the rotor. Once pads are worn away, it can hardly be repaired.
Measurement by the old-fashioned way — with a ruler — is still existing or many technicians still use tools designed to examine and measure pad thickness. Another way to check is to possess new, exact replacement pads that enable you to make comparison.
Since brakes are crucial driving safety feature, pad thickness should be beyond concern. A repair service also should measure the thickness of rotors and if they and the pads are evenly worn. Uneven pad wear might be happen by sticking caliper slides or pins; the calipers might be required to be cleaned, lubricated and replaced. In any of those cases, to make sure about safety drive, it is necessary to complete not only replacement of the pads, but also other things.
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