Minimum Thickness of Brake Pads: Covering All Aspects

“What is the minimum thickness of brake pads” should be a crucial question for beginners who want to change their car’s brake pads. A brake pad that is too thin or too thick will cause brake malfunction, which is a recipe for disaster.

Thus, it is essential to know how thick your car’s brake pads should be to enable the brakes to work well. This article will discuss the minimum width of brake pads and explain how to replace brake pads.

What Is the Minimum Vehicle Brake Pad Thickness?

The recommended minimum vehicle brake pad thickness is ⅛ inches, any brake pad thinner than this is a recipe for disaster. To know the exact thickness of your vehicle’s brake pad, you can either consult your car’s manual or measure it yourself.

Take note that brake pads undergo constant wear and tear due to the frequent frictional force it applies to stop a vehicle. Thus, the thickness will reduce as time goes on, and since the width is essential to its work, make sure it doesn’t reduce past ⅛ inches.

If it does, it could spell danger for the driver and vehicle as the brake rotors may grind against the calipers and affect the brake pedal. However, take note that the ⅛ inches is just a rule of thumb and the value may decrease depending on the type and model of the vehicle.

– Toyota Minimum Brake Pad Thickness

The Toyota minimum brake pad thickness is 1.0 mm or 0.039 inches. You can measure it by removing the wheels and accessing the brake pads through the caliper. Ensure that you use a micrometer for accurate results, otherwise, you can use a ruler.

– Ideal Rear Brake Pad Thickness

The ideal rear brake pad width is between 0.31 inches (8mm) to 0.39 inches (10 mm), taking into account the type of car and model. Meanwhile, the thickness of a front brake pad should be around 0.47 inches (12mm).

– Measuring the Thickness of Brake Pads

The width of brake pads are usually thin, therefore, it is better to measure them with a micrometer to obtain accurate measurements. To access the brake pads, you need to remove the car tires and the wheel then measure the brake pad’s thickness at its thinnest point. Usually, the ideal brake pad breadth is stamped on it, thus your measurements should give you the same value.

To measure brake pads, first, place the brake pad between the anvil and spindle of the micrometer and tighten the spindle until it firmly presses the pad against the anvil. Make sure you lock the thimble from turning by using the locking lever.

Then read the sleeve measurement and also take note of the thimble measurement. Next is to read the measurement on the vernier. Then add the values of both the sleeve and the thimble measurements and then add the vernier measurements to the end of your answer.

If you can’t lay your hands on a micrometer screw, then you can use a ruler to measure the width. Just take out the tire and the wheel and measure the brake pad at its thinnest point with the ruler. However, take note that if your ruler is not calibrated in inches, you’ll have to convert it. Always aim to get the minimum pad thickness printed at the back of the brake pad.

– Brake Pads Are Too Thin

When you measure the brake pads and realize they are too thin, then it’s time to replace them. Replacing them is not as difficult as you think but it requires a little bit of skill and the right tools. The first step is to lift the car with a jack and then remove the wheel so you can access the brake pads. Once the wheels are off, compress the caliper piston with a C clamp to expose the brake pads, then remove them.

If clips are holding the brake pads in place, remove them as well then replace the old pads with new ones. Put the new brake pads in the calipers and install the clips that hold the brake pads in place.

The next step to follow in this process is to bleed the brakes, which is the process of removing air that may have been trapped in the brake system. You’ll need to consult your vehicle’s manual on how to bleed the brakes.

When you’re done, take the car on a test drive and step on the brakes to ensure it is working properly. If it is not, you’ll need to repeat the whole brake pad replacement process until you get the brake working properly again. If the brakes are faulty, then your vehicle, life and other pedestrians are in danger.

How Do You Know When Your Brake Pads Are Thin?

You’ll know when your brake pads are thin when you hear noises during braking and when your brake warning lights illuminate. Also, when your car moves to one side after you apply the brakes, then know that your brake pads may have been compromised.

– Noises When You Press the Brake Pedal

When you hear funny noises during braking, then you should replace the brake pads immediately. This could be because the brake pads have become so thin that the metal tabs are grinding against the rotors.

If the brake pads are not replaced in time, the metal tabs would fade, allowing the brake pads’ backing plate to come in contact with the brake discs and damaging them. This produces brake dust that settles on the wheels; another sign that your brake pads are thin.

– The Illumination of Brake Cautioning Light on the Dashboard

When you see the brake cautioning light on your dashboard, it could be a sign that the brake pads need replacement. Take note that the brake light on the dashboard is for the entire braking system, not only for the brake pads. Thus, if you check and the brake pads are at their required thickness but the light is still on, then you’ll need to inspect the entire braking system.

– When Your Vehicle Swerves to One Side During Braking

If your car careers to one side when you apply the brakes, then it means that the brake pads have worn out unevenly. When that happens, the thinner brake pads have low stopping power compared to the thicker ones.

Thus, when you apply the brakes, the vehicle moves towards the side of the vehicle with the thinner brake pads due to less frictional force. It is safer to replace both brake pads than only the thinner ones because the other one might have undergone wear as well.

How Do You Inspect the Brake Pads on Your Vehicle?

To inspect the brake pads of your vehicle, you’ll have to remove the tire then the wheel and look through the caliper. This work can be tedious and making a wrong move could damage the braking system, thus we recommend that you get the assistance of a professional.

However, if you want to do the inspection yourself, then you can follow these instructions but be careful you don’t damage any part of the car. First, make sure you park the car on an even surface then lift the side of the car you want to inspect with a car jack. Then remove the tire and the wheel by loosening the bolt with a lug wrench. This will expose the brake rotor and the caliper which has the brake pads.

Look through the hole in the caliper and you’ll see both the inside pad and the outside pad. Then measure each pad with a micrometer or ruler. Always compare the measurement to the value stamped behind the brake pads. If the measurements are lower than what is indicated on the back of the brake pad, then it’s time to replace the brake pads.

How Often Should You Replace the Brake Pads in Your Vehicle?

You should replace the brake pads in your vehicle between 30,000 miles to 40,000 miles, which is the rule of thumb. However, the pads can last anywhere between 25,000 miles to 70,000 miles, depending on their quality and thickness. It also depends on the driver’s skills.

If a driver drives in a way that they have to constantly hard brake, then the brake pads will wear out quite faster. Aside from that, every driver needs to make a habit of checking their brake pads every 5,000 miles to ensure they are in good condition. The new brake pad thickness mm should be around 10 mm, therefore if you measure after 5,000 miles and you see a significant reduction, then you can change them.

– Ensuring Your Brake Pads Last Longer

The first thing is to make sure your brakes are properly aligned so that they don’t wear unevenly. When they are improperly aligned, one may wear faster than the other. Also, don’t ignore it when you realize that your brake pads have begun wearing out. Failure to replace quickly could result in damage to the rotors.

Also, avoid hard braking as much as possible as this puts extra stress on already stressed brake pads. Drive in such a way that you’ll always have to press the brake pad slowly and softly until the vehicle comes to a stop. Even if the situation demands that you hard brake, do it slowly so that the pads can cool down between stops.

Always use the brake pads recommended for your car and avoid cheaper options that may not last long. Cheaper options may save you money in the meantime but will cost you more money down the road as you’ll have to change them quicker than genuine pads. Remember, your safety is more important, thus change the brake pads regularly to keep your car running safe.

– How Much Will It Cost You To Replace Brake Pads?

It will cost you between $190 to $380 to replace your brake pads, depending on the type of vehicle and the work involved in accessing the pads. If your car is using OEM pads, then be prepared to pay more than the figure quoted above because of their quality.

– Replacing the Rotors During Brake Pad Change

Should you also replace the rotors when you change your brake pads? It depends on the condition of the rotors when you’re inspecting the brake pads. If the rotors are not rusty, worn, or warped, there will be no need to change them. However, if they are faulty after you’ve inspected them, then change them along with the pads.

Replacing the rotors will cost between $160 – $210 per axle, therefore you should carefully choose the mechanic who will do it for you. If a bad mechanic does a bad job, then it’ll cost you extra cash to have them re-fixed.

Conclusion

From what we’ve read so far, it is obvious that the minimum thickness of a brake pad should be strictly adhered to in order to avoid road accidents.

Here are other important facts we’ve discovered:

• The recommended minimum thickness of a brake pad is ⅛ inches; any pad thinner than this could spell disaster for the driver, vehicle, and pedestrian.
• You can measure the exact thickness of your brake pads yourself or allow a professional mechanic to help you out.
• If you decide to measure it yourself, then you can get a micrometer, which would give you accurate readings, or you can use a ruler.
• Take note that the recommended brake pad thickness is usually stamped at the back of the brake pads, so if your reading is lower than that, then your pads need replacement.
• Replacing a brake pad is a tedious job that involves removing the wheel and exposing the rotor and caliper where you can get access to the brake pads.

Brake pads can last anywhere between 25,000 miles to 70,000 miles, depending on how often and how hard you apply them. To enable your brake pads to last longer, avoid hard braking as much as possible while applying the brakes softly until the vehicle comes to a stop.