When should you change the pads on your car?

When should brake pads be replaced and what are the signs of wear?

The efficiency of the braking system largely depends on the technical condition of the pads - the elements pressed against the disc or wheel drum when you press the pedal. They are equipped with linings that gradually wear out and at some point become unusable. The actual lifespan of parts may vary and depend on many factors. Therefore, every motorist must monitor the brake mechanisms of the wheels and clearly determine when to change the pads. To check the wear of the linings, you don’t have to go to a service station; you can check it yourself.

Manufacturers' recommendations

The brake pad consists of a base made of thick metal with a lining made of friction material attached to it. Its components are rubber, graphite and mineral fibers bonded with technological resins. How often to change these important parts for safe driving is indicated in the car's operating instructions. Typically, passenger car manufacturers recommend observing the following intervals between replacements:

on cars of post-Soviet countries, it is planned to install new parts after 10-15 thousand kilometers;
on foreign cars, whose spare parts are traditionally of higher quality, the interval is from 15 to 25 thousand km;
a separate category is powerful sports cars, where replacement is carried out every 5-10 thousand km.

Practice shows that the front brake pads experience greater loads than the rear ones, which is why they wear out faster.

Russian car enthusiasts should not rely entirely on the recommendations in the technical data sheet, since the wear of the linings is influenced by many factors:

The more aggressive the driving style, the faster the working surfaces wear out, because on 1 km of travel you use the brakes twice as often as the average driver.
Operating conditions of the machine. If you constantly drive on unpaved and poor roads, then wear accelerates due to dirt getting on the brake discs and drums.
The quality of the material from which the part is made.
Technical condition of brake drums and discs. When grooves appear on the surfaces of these elements, the linings wear out much faster.
Constant transportation of goods.

This raises the question of how long brake pads last in real life. The mileage range is quite wide - from 5 to 45 thousand km, depending on the brand of car and the degree of influence of these factors. That is why it is important to independently monitor the condition of the linings.

Symptoms of wear parts

While driving, there are several signs that you can use to determine when it’s time to change the pads of the front or rear brakes, or even all together. The symptoms are:

a metallic grinding sound when you press the pedal indicates complete wear of the linings;
increased travel of the brake pedal, its vibration when pressed;
when braking, there is a feeling that the front or rear of the car is being pulled to the side, and on a slippery road the car easily goes into a skid;
the handbrake does not work properly;
To stop you need to put more force on the pedal.

If, when braking, a metallic grinding and squeaking sound is heard from the wheels, then the question of how long to change the unusable parts is no longer worth asking. Replacement must be done urgently, since there are no friction linings left and the steel base is rubbing against the working surface of the disk.

Never allow the brakes to wear out completely, otherwise you will have to replace the discs along with the pads, which is significantly more expensive.

If you notice one or more symptoms indicating problems with the wheel brake mechanisms, check the condition of the linings. Recommendations for performing diagnostics are as follows:

If your car is equipped with alloy wheels with large holes, then you won’t have to disassemble anything to inspect the front calipers. If necessary, jack up the car to align the disc opening against the brake mechanism.
Wheels with steel rims must be removed. Inspect the front brake pads and evaluate the thickness of the linings. If it is less than 3 mm, the parts should be replaced immediately. With a thickness of 3-5 mm you can drive another 1-2 thousand km, no more.
Rear brakes are disc or drum. The first ones are examined similarly to the front ones, but the second ones will have to be disassembled. Remove the wheel and release the handbrake, then unscrew the drum and carefully knock it off the hub. Unlike the front pads, the rear pads need to be changed when the thickness is 1.5-2 mm.

When, as a result of diagnostics, wear of elements close to the maximum is detected, but replacement is postponed for various reasons, drive carefully and without haste. It happens that a worn lining comes off completely when you press the pedal sharply .

When conducting diagnostics, pay attention to the working surface of the brake drums and discs. If its wear is 2 mm or more (determined by the depth of the groove with a caliper), then the part must be replaced.

Other reasons for replacing pads

In addition to situations with critical wear, it is necessary to change brake pads in the following cases:

the thickness of the friction material is more than 5 mm, but the lining itself has begun to peel off from the steel base;
cracks and chips appeared on the surface, the material began to crumble;
stains of oil or brake fluid that reduce friction properties were found on the parts;
when the brake drum or disc is replaced.

Another reason for replacement is due to the abundance of low-quality fakes on the automotive spare parts market . New pads purchased from an unreliable retail outlet begin to squeak or squeak terribly after 1-2 thousand km, although the working part is still far from completely worn out. The culprit is the material of the part, whose hardness is comparable to metal, causing the surface to “slick” and create a creaking sound. If the elements made from unknown materials are not replaced, then the production on the brake discs will increase sharply.

Many modern cars are equipped with special sensors that detect a decrease in the thickness of the friction layer and send a signal to the driver when it reaches a critical level. This is also a reason to remove parts with worn linings and install new ones.

True, the sensors often become clogged with dirt and lose their functionality, so it wouldn’t hurt for the car owner to check the condition of the brakes himself.

Recommendations for selection

Rule one and very important: you cannot change the front or rear brake pads one by one. It is necessary to install a set of new elements on the front or rear axle, otherwise when braking the car may seriously drift to the side. Even when one pad is worn out, all four must be replaced . As a temporary option, it is possible to install 2 new parts on one rear wheel.

When choosing new pads in the store, use the following recommendations:

Products must match the car model and be sold in high-quality packaging with included instructions. The inscriptions on the box are clear and without errors indicating Chinese origin.
Make sure that the friction material is the same color, without foreign inclusions.
The surface pressed against the plane of the disk must be flat. Small chips along the edges and depressions are allowed if they occupy no more than 1% of the total area of the working plane.
Cracks at the interface between metal and friction material are unacceptable.

Ideally, you should buy original products in original packaging. This will save you from unpleasant surprises, unscheduled replacements and emergency situations when operating your car.

When do you need to change brake discs and pads?

Everything you need to know about replacing consumables in your car's brake system

The brake system is almost the most important device in any car. However, even experienced drivers sometimes have questions about the nuances of servicing the brake system. “Autorambler” answers the most popular of them.

How to determine the degree of wear of brake discs and pads?

The friction parts of the brake system (pads and discs) are so-called consumables that require close attention. In particular, to control the wear of brake pads, most cars are equipped with “squeakers” (a metal plate that, if the pad is heavily worn, begins to scrape the disc and make a specific sound). In addition, some cars are equipped with pads with wear sensors: when the pads are worn out (minimum thickness of about 1-2 mm), the on-board system will notify you about the need to replace them. However, it is best to periodically (at least once every 10,000 km) check the thickness of the pads and discs yourself. And if the thickness of the pads can be determined, as they say, “by eye,” then to measure the discs you will already need a caliper and a machine manual, which specifies the corresponding tolerances of the car manufacturer (usually at least 10 mm).

Are there average intervals at which brake pads and rotors should be replaced?

The service life of brake pads and discs directly depends on driving style, as well as on the weight of the car and its other design features. On average, when operating a car in city mode, the front pads last for 20-40,000 km, and the rear pads last one and a half times more (the front pads are more loaded). At the same time, the mileage of the linings in drum brakes is approximately 150 thousand km.

As for brake discs, they usually last more than 100,000 km. In this case, it is necessary to control not only the thickness of the brake “pancake”, but also its working surface. Cracks may appear on it, which reduce the effectiveness of slowing down the car and provoke vibrations.

What should you pay attention to when buying pads and brake discs?

First of all, it is best to purchase pads and discs from original or popular manufacturers (the price is lower than the original, but not significant). The high cost of “originals” is not always justified, but this does not mean that you need to run for analogues: instead of high-quality parts, you may get a Chinese fake, which, as a rule, is two times cheaper than the original spare parts. Therefore, it is better to buy “consumables” from a well-known chain of auto stores or from official dealers.

What does untimely replacement of pads and discs lead to?

Untimely replacement of discs and pads, in addition to the risk of mechanical breakdown of “consumables” and failure of the brake system, can lead to failure of the brake calipers: when the total thickness of the disc and pads decreases, the brake piston moves out of the caliper body by a large amount, which can lead to its misalignment and jamming.

Do I need to change brake fluid after every pad or rotor replacement?

Replacing pads and discs has no direct relationship to replacing brake fluid. And it should be changed in accordance with the regulations established by the manufacturer (best of all - once every two years or every 30 thousand km).

For assistance in preparing the material, we thank Vladimir Kladnichkin, technical expert of the Vilgud car service network.

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When do you need to change brake pads?

The brake system is an essential component, the correct functioning of which determines not only the performance properties of the vehicle, but also road safety in general.
The procedure for diagnosing and servicing the brake system includes a number of mandatory operations, among which timely replacement of brake pads is mandatory. But how do you know when to change your brake pads?

What affects pad wear?

The main factors on which the service life of brake pads depends are:
• the type and quality of the friction material of the brake pads;
• condition of the surface of brake discs (drums);
• vehicle weight;
• intensity of use and driving style of the car;
• quality of road surface;
• design features of the brake mechanism.

Signs of Brake Pad Wear

The main indicator that signals that brake pads must be replaced urgently is a decrease in braking efficiency.
External manifestations of this type of violation are: • noise (squeaking, grinding) and vibration during braking;
• increased brake pedal travel;
• the car pulls to the side when braking;
• increase in braking distance;
• critical reduction in the thickness of friction linings.

How to accurately determine the need for replacement

1. Visual inspection of the brake mechanisms. We carry out a visual inspection during scheduled (seasonal) tire replacement, as well as in cases where there are characteristic signs indicating a malfunction of the brake system. The condition of the brake pads is best controlled on disc brakes; on drum-type brake mechanisms, the thickness of the friction linings is checked through a special hole in the protective casing, or after removing the drum.

2. Measure the thickness of the pads. As a rule, the car manufacturer specifies the minimum permissible thickness of the friction linings, upon reaching which the brake pads need to be replaced. It is worth remembering that the value of this indicator depends on the make and model of the car, the design of the brake mechanism, as well as the type of friction material used in the pads.

It should be noted that the frequency of replacing brake pads is not regulated by either the duration of their operation or the mileage of the vehicle .

Either you or a service station technician can determine when you need to change the brake pads.

It is important to remember that due to the special importance of the braking system for traffic safety, it is recommended that its service be carried out exclusively in specialized service centers.

Replacing brake pads and discs

The brake system, in particular pads and discs, is one of the most heavily loaded and intensively used components of a car. Theoretical replacement intervals are usually indicated in the operating manuals for specific machine models.

However, in practice, everything is different - they need to be changed as they wear out, the intensity of which depends on the material of manufacture, atmospheric conditions, condition of the road surface, driving style, etc.

There is nothing complicated in the design of brake pads: they are steel plates to which are attached special linings made of high-strength materials that are resistant to friction and temperature changes.

Brake pads: features and replacement intervals

Manufacturers indicate in the technical documentation how long their products will last, but this information is for advisory purposes only. You can determine in advance how often you will have to buy new consumables.

On average, brake pads are replaced at the following mileage:

domestic cars: 12 +/-3 thousand km;
imported cars: 17 +/-3 thousand km;
sports cars: 5 +/-1 thousand km.

Brake pads: when do they need replacement?

The easiest way to determine when the pads need to be replaced is by the wear sensors and/or the indicator on the dashboard, if provided for this model. Additional signs of the need for replacement are a “light” pedal, increased braking distance and increased fluid consumption.

A characteristic sign of brake failure will be a specific sound during heavy braking. After the pads are worn, the sensor plate emits a characteristic squeak when in contact with the surface of the disc. The design of most foreign cars includes light indicators that are connected through contacts built into the pad linings.

If the car does not have any mechanical or other means of signaling the condition of the brakes, you should periodically check their wear by measuring the size of the linings of both rear and front wheels without taking into account the metal base. Replacement is required if the thickness of one of the pads is less than 1.5+/-0.5 mm. If the car has alloy wheels with large holes, this check is not difficult to perform visually, even without removing the wheels.

Brake discs: features and service life

Unlike pads, brake discs last much longer. In most cases, they are changed after 80 thousand kilometers. More accurately, the service life is indicated in the technical documentation of a specific model, but this data is also conditional.

Manufacturers use different technologies and materials, which affects the rigidity and strength of various modifications of disks. The amount of wear depends on the quality of the pads, driving style, road conditions, weather conditions and other factors.

Brake discs: when do you need replacement?

To know when to replace your brake discs, you should regularly monitor their condition. Excessive wear may cause the following anomalies in the machine:

Increased braking distance;
Reduced level of working fluid;
Lightening the pedal;
“Pulling” to the side when braking;
Uncharacteristic noise in the wheel area.

If one of the above deviations occurs, it is necessary to check the condition of the brake system. In this case, special attention should be paid to both discs and pads. It is best to entrust this to qualified service center specialists.

Systematic inspection of brake discs is required on both the front and rear wheels. In addition to the condition of the surface, you need to measure their thickness using a caliper. The acceptable range for use is usually indicated on the back of the disc.

Note. Replacement of discs, as well as pads, regardless of which mechanism has unacceptable wear, must be done on one axis only in pairs.

At the technical centers of the FAVORIT MOTORS Group of Companies, qualified mechanics will be able to quickly check the condition of the brake system and, if necessary, change the pads and/or discs. In addition to high craftsmanship, European service, high-quality auto parts and consumables, our arsenal of advantages includes a guarantee for all work, short service times, reasonable prices and attractive bonuses.

When should you replace brake pads?

Every diligent owner of his car regularly inspects it before leaving, checking the level of oil, brake and coolant. But many car owners don’t even think about periodically checking such “little things” as brake pads (bars), but in vain. There can be no trifles in the issue of accident-free driving, because safety and, in some cases, people’s lives directly depend on their condition.

It is clear that there is no point in dismantling the wheel every time to check the condition of the bars; there are certain signs that tell the driver about the approaching time for their replacement. In this article we will look at how to determine brake pad wear. And also what type of slats are there, which of them have to be changed more often: front or rear. How many thousands of kilometers can they run and what, in general, should be paid attention to.

Types of friction coating of pads

The main working material responsible for the process of stopping a car is a friction layer attached to the metal part of the block. The ideal combination of materials used in their production has not yet been achieved. There are currently four types of brake bars produced:

Pads with a semi-metallic friction layer applied to them, in which up to 65% of the components are copper, steel wire or iron powder, mixed with graphite for better friction. Their advantage is high heat transfer, and their disadvantages are rapid wear and noise.
Planks with material glued to them from organic components: high-temperature resin, rubber, glass, Kevlar and carbon. Their positive qualities include less noisy operation and softness, while their negative qualities include a shorter service life and a sufficient amount of dust emitted by them.
Pads with a small content of metal elements, no more than 30%, with the addition of organic substances (described above). This contributes to good heat transfer, but affects their noise.
Ceramic planks are currently considered the best option. Their friction layer is made of ceramic fibers with the addition of a filler that includes a small amount of copper. Being lightweight, these pads are more durable in operation and produce less noise.

Factors affecting pad wear

Let's look at the factors that influence how often your brake pads will need to be replaced. There are few of them, but they directly affect indicators such as how long it will take for this to happen, and how many kilometers the car will travel before the corresponding indicator on the instrument panel works. Here are some of them:

Travel mode. When the car moves in the city, it is often necessary to stop at short intervals, which contributes to rapid wear of the bars.
Driving style. A non-aggressive driving style puts less stress on the brake mechanism and increases the interval after which the pads will need to be changed.
The nature of the machine loading. When the trunk is constantly loaded, the load on the front brake trims is reduced, and accordingly, they will need to be changed less often.

Replacement dates and signs

Based on the model of the brake mechanism and the friction material of the bars, manufacturers indicate how many thousands of kilometers the pads can last. Manufacturers also recommend when it is necessary to change the strips, focusing on the remaining minimum permissible friction layer.

All this is described in the instructions for the car, but there are average standards, the value of which ranges from 20 to 30 thousand km, for the front slats in disc brakes. And for drum and disc type rear brake pads, this mileage interval in km must be multiplied by two.

The weight of the machine also plays a big role in the wear rate. The above figures are relevant for small passenger cars weighing up to 1300 kg. If we consider large sedans weighing about 1600 kg, then the wear of the bars will occur one and a half times faster. For cars with a curb weight of 1800 kg or more, the pads will need to be replaced after they have covered a distance half as much as a small passenger car can travel.

If the car was bought used, there is often no way to find out when the pads were last changed and what their mileage was. Some signs will help you understand that it’s time to replace them:

The pad wear warning light on the instrument panel came on. Some brake pads have an electronic or mechanical indicator that signals when the friction material has worn down to the minimum limit and it is time to replace them.

There was a sound when the car stopped. This sound occurs at a certain percentage of wear of the friction material, when it is worn down to metal.
When stopping suddenly, a sound is heard and a beating is felt in the area of the wheels. The reason for this is uneven wear of the pads or cracks and chips that may occur on the disc or friction layer. In this case, even the indicator, if present, may not work. Uneven wear of the friction layer is dangerous because after a certain number of kilometers you will have to change not only the strips, but also the wheel disk or drum.

(Caution! Loud sound.)

The braking distance and the time spent stopping the car have increased. This happens when uneven or complete wear of the strips occurs, in which case they need to be replaced urgently.
Skidding due to uneven operation of the brakes, when one of the wheels grabs faster, and the second, on which the pads are worn, slows down.

The most accurate way to know that it is time to change the brake pads is to regularly visually inspect them after the car's mileage has exceeded the generally accepted 30,000 km. In this case, a ruler or caliper will help to correctly determine the condition of the friction layer. At the same time, its permissible residue should not be less than 1.5 or 2 mm, depending on the make of the car.

All of the wear factors described above also apply to rear brake mechanisms, regardless of their type. The only difference is that the testing methods for rear disc brakes are similar to the front ones. The only difference that is relevant for drum brake pads is that their wear can also be determined by the operation of the hand brake. If, when the handbrake is depressed on a slope, the bars do not keep the car from rolling, then it’s time to replace them.

Also, when visually inspecting the condition of the drum brakes, some car models have a window in the drum. By looking at it, you can determine the degree of wear of the friction layer of the pads.

Do not allow the friction layer on the pads to completely wear out, set for yourself, depending on your driving style and other factors, the optimal mileage for your car, after which it will be time to check their condition.