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How to Examine Brake Pads? The Method is Quite Simple

 Brake pads are an automotive component that many people overlook. When you step on the brake pedal, though, you rely on them. As a result, you should understand how to examine brake pads for signs of wear and tear. This is to safeguard the safety of you and your passengers.

Brake pads that are worn out will not provide adequate stopping power. As a result, you will be unable to safely stop your vehicle. You may notice small faults before they lead to brake failure by inspecting them on a regular basis. You will be able to drive your car with peace of mind.

brake pad

Brake failures account for one out of every ten MOT failures, and worn brake pads are a typical cause, but one of the easiest to avoid. In reality, by doing simple vehicle maintenance, we could prevent over half of all MOT failures. Go through and check MOT history of your car and verify how many times the brake pads were a culprit for an MOT failure. So, here's how to avoid failing your MOT because of brake pads.

Brake Pads: What to Look for and How to Check Them

It is not difficult to inspect brake pads. As a result, you can accomplish it on your own. Just make sure you have the right equipment for the job.

To begin, check sure your brake pads are cool before touching them; even a 20-minute trip might cause them to get hot. Also, keep in mind that low or tainted brake fluid can create a slew of issues with your vehicle. After inspecting the pads, replace or fill up the brake fluid with good dot 3, dot 4, or the recommended brake fluid for your vehicle.

If you are unsure, book your car in with a garage in Reading as a professional car mechanic will know by the braking system in your car, which brake fluid is best suited.

Examine Your Wheels              

Brake pads assist in the removal of brake dust from the brake discs surface, hence dust accumulation on the wheels is to be expected. Furthermore, it might indicate that the pads are in good functioning order.  As a result, the lack of dust in the wheel might indicate that the brake pads are wearing down. Searching online for a car service near me and taking your car to an expert technician for a precise diagnostic may be the best option at this stage.

It simply takes a few minutes to understand how to inspect brake pads with the wheels on, and you can do it right now. However, if you are unsure about the effectiveness of this strategy, you may wish to experiment with alternative options.

Without Removing the Wheels, You May Inspect the Brake Pads

Most vehicles have slots in the wheel that allow you to see the brake pads. Simply shine a light through the slits to determine the thickness of the pad. When you buy a fresh brake pad, it's approximately 12 inches thick; if you use it and it shrinks to 1/4, that's great. However, anything less than 1/4 indicates that your pad needs to be replaced.

As previously said, worn brake pads can cause an MOT failure, thus it is essential that you verify and check MOT status of your car and get the brake pads replaced by a certified technician.

Brake pads on some cars feature a wear indication slot on one of the edges. Your pads may have been long gone if the slot is scarcely visible or invisible.

Removing the Wheels and Inspecting the Brake Pads

If you can't see the brake pads via the slots in the wheel, you may also remove the wheels to inspect them. You'll need brake pad check tools like a jack and wrench or a tug to complete this:

1.     Ascertain that your vehicle is on a level surface.

2.     Place the jack next to the wheel you wish to remove under the car's frame.

3.     Remove the wheel nuts with the wrench after lifting your car off the ground.

4.     Remove the wheels from the vehicle.

Once the wheel is removed, you may examine the pad thoroughly. Check the thickness with a Vernier calliper. You may need to replace them if they are less than 1/4 inches thick. Check the brake discs, callipers, and lines as well. They are crucial braking components that act in tandem with the brake pad. If necessary, replace all or any of them.

Other Options

There are more techniques to assess the condition of your brake pads besides the ones described above. In certain vehicles, worn-out brake pads can illuminate a warning light on the dashboard. Also, keep an eye out for strange noises originating from your steering wheel. A defective pad might make a loud screeching, snarling, or grinding noise.

If you feel your steering wobbling while driving or when you press down on the brake pedal, it might be a sign that your brake pads are worn. While malfunctioning brake pads may not be the primary cause of such problems, it is prudent to do a brake pad test.

 

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