How often should brake pads be changed? How to check brake pad thickness yourself
There is no fixed cycle for the replacement of brake pads. If you go to a 4S shop for maintenance, the staff will say that the brake pads should be replaced this time without checking, which is extremely irresponsible. Only the oil and filter elements on the car have a fixed replacement cycle, and all other items must be inspected to determine whether they need to be replaced. What I want to talk about today is the brake pads. Most people change the mileage between 30,000 and 80,000 kilometers, and the mileage varies greatly. If you step on the brakes more, you will change them sooner. If you often run at high speeds and step on them less, you will change them later. However, it is also related to the material of the brake pads. The brake pads of some models are generally replaced earlier, which is caused by the brake pads being too soft.
If the vehicle is not maintained by yourself, go to a 4S shop or a repair shop, then it is enough to ask the technician to check the thickness of the brake pads during each maintenance. If the prediction is not enough to drive until the next maintenance, it should be replaced. If the car is maintained by yourself, how do you check it yourself? You also need to look at the mileage first. If the mileage is very small, less than 30,000 kilometers, you can take a look at it yourself. If you take a photo with a flashlight, you can see the thickness of the brake pads. . If it exceeds 30,000 kilometers, it is best to check it carefully. The method is to remove the tire, and it will be clear at a glance. There are two brake pads for each wheel, one on the outside and one on the inside. If you only look at it with a flashlight from the outside, you can only see the one on the outside. The wear degree of the inner and outer brake pads of most cars is similar, but some cars have quite a difference. If the inner piece is worn to the limit and the outer piece is not worn to the limit, it is not accurate to just look at the outer piece at this time.
After the tire is removed, the inner and outer brake pads can be seen clearly, and it is accurate, because if you do not have much experience, the thickness judgment is not very accurate when viewed obliquely from the outside. Generally, there is 3mm left and it needs to be replaced. If there is still 5mm after removal, it is best to take it apart and have a look at the next maintenance. If there is still 1 cm, it means that the brake pads are still very thick, so there is no need to disassemble them next time. There is an alarm plate on the brake pad. If it is worn to the limit, it will rub against the brake disc and make a sound. Therefore, if you forget to check the brake pad and make a sharp abnormal sound when you step on the brake lightly, you must pay special attention. It may be that the brake pad is thin. up.
The brake pads of most cars wear fast on the front wheels and slow on the rear wheels. The front wheels are replaced almost twice and the rear wheels are replaced once. Because the center of gravity of the vehicle moves forward during braking, the braking force is concentrated on the front wheels, so according to the number of kilometers, Check the front wheels first. Of course, there are a very small number of rear-wheel-drive vehicles that wear the front and rear wheels equally or even the rear wheels quickly.
If you are replacing it by yourself, it is best to buy branded parts from a large manufacturer with good quality, and do not buy sub-factory parts with poor quality. The price of sub-factory parts is cheap, and the cost must be low, so the quality will be poor. Poor quality brake pads have poor high temperature resistance. If the brakes are stepped on downhill frequently, the performance will be greatly reduced when the temperature is slightly higher, the friction force will become smaller, and the braking force will decrease. Brake pads with poorer quality will also crack or even break and shatter, affecting driving safety. After replacing the brake pads, remember to step on the brakes with both feet, and drive the car after stepping on the brakes hard, otherwise it is very dangerous if the front two feet do not brake.
