Minimum brake pad thickness. How to determine brake pad wear

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The brake system is responsible for the safe braking of the car. The efficiency and speed of stopping depends on its serviceability. The number of mechanisms in the brakes is quite large, and all of them should work like clockwork, because the failure of one will entail at least unpleasant consequences. Let's talk about what the minimum thickness of brake pads should be, as well as how to check for wear.

About the main types of lasts

The automotive industry has come a long way in recent years. A modern car, as a rule, has an advanced braking system, this is the presence of computer-controlled systems. This should include ABS, stability control system, etc. The constant development of machines leads to the progress of the types of brake pads. There are the following types:

• with semi-metallic friction layer (65% copper,iron powder, wire);
• organic friction layer (rubber, glass, kevlar);
• from organics and metallic inclusions in the ratio 70/30);
• ceramic friction layer with slight copper inclusions.

Each of the above species has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, a semi-metallic friction layer has good heat dissipation, but it wears out quickly and makes a lot of noise during operation. But organic brake pads make almost no noise and work softly, but in the process they emit a lot of dust that settles on the wheel disk. We can safely say that ceramic are the most preferred. They don't make noise and don't wear out too quickly. Their only drawback is their high cost.

Why do pads wear out too fast?

There are several obvious causes of premature pad wear. Constant driving around the city, when you have to brake often. This leads not only to wear, but also to a high temperature of the disc with pads. Many motorists prefer aggressive driving with prolonged and sharp braking. This also results in a high wear rate. While a quiet ride often contributes to a long "life" of the brakes.

If you often have to drive with a loaded trunk, then this, on the contrary, helps to reduce the load on the front axle and brakes, respectively. In general, linings for brake pads are recommended to be changed within the time specified by the manufacturer. For rear axlethis is usually 40,000 km, and for the front about 20,000 km. Although they may fail earlier or later, it is better to perform regular checks for this.

When should I change my brake pads?

In addition to the mileage, auto manufacturers also indicate the minimum allowable thickness of the friction lining at which it is necessary to replace. After all, it often happens that you have already driven 20-30 thousand km, and the pads are like new, or vice versa, you have traveled a little, and the wear is already critical.

The weight of the car also matters. The less the car weighs, the slower the pads wear out and vice versa. But in most cases, the minimum thickness of the brake pads on different brands is almost the same and is 2-3 mm.

Sometimes critical wear can be seen visually without even removing the wheel. In this case, you can pre-stock a kit for one axle. If the corresponding icon on the dashboard lights up (this option is not available on all cars), it means that an electronic sensor has worked that determines the minimum allowable thickness of the friction linings.

"Musical" pads and beating

There are a few more signs that allow you to determine the production of overlays. If your brake pads have recently been replaced and the price is surprisingly low, then don't be alarmed that they will turn out to be "musical". This indicates their low quality and insufficient quantity of some element in the composition of the alloy.

Butthere are also special systems that make a characteristic sound when the minimum thickness of the brake pads is reached. This is already a sign to the driver that it is time to replace.

As for such a phenomenon as beating during braking, this is already more serious. The minimum loss on your part is the usual replacement of pads. In the worst case, you will have to replace the disc or drum. This is due to the fact that the beating occurs as a result of uneven wear of the pads or brake disc, chips or cracks in the friction layer. Uneven wear, in turn, may be due to poor quality linings or discs. In any case, the situation requires a speedy resolution of the problem.

On what not to do

Not every car owner regularly checks his brake system. This leads to a variety of consequences, up to accidents on the road. It's still good if you hit a tree in your yard, but what if the brakes fail on the highway? Of course, experienced motorists will use engine braking, but not everyone will have time to figure out what is happening at all.

Never let your brake pads wear down to metal. This will damage the brake disc and eventually disable the system. Check the condition of the brakes regularly. It is not difficult to do this on your own. Don't crawl under a car every 5,000 miles, but when the time comes, don't be lazy.

What conclusions can we draw?

So we figured out how to determine the wear of the brake pads. This can be done visually, as well as using a ruler or caliper. If you do not have the time and desire to deal with this issue on your own, then entrust this matter to the specialists at the service station.

The minimum thickness of brake pads should be 2-4mm, but values such as 1.5mm are acceptable. If the pad is smaller, change it. If it is in the acceptable range, but it already fits, we are preparing for a replacement soon. It is also worth regularly checking the brake discs for wear and overheating. The latter leads to the fact that the disc warps, and the system works less efficiently - the braking distance increases and a beating appears. So we figured out when the brake pads are being replaced. The price for them differs depending on the manufacturer and varies between 800-3500 rubles. But don't go for the cheapest "musical" friction linings.