Reading brake wear

Here's a photo of my impreza WRX brake wear window:

formatting link
The labeled areas: A: base of the brake pad B: wearing portion of the brake pad C: brake rotor

When is the brake pad due for replacement? When area B is down to 1mm?

Reply to
bob
Loading thread data ...

Correct area B, I would suggest changing sooner than at 1 mm left, to protect your brake discs

Reply to
Illuminated

Area B. It looks half worn to me. Certainly do NOT allow it to go down to 1mm. The material could flake off the pad base and potentially damage the rotor while reducing braking capability.

Trust the judgement of your mechanic in replacement. The shop has your safety, and others, in mind.

Reply to
Victor R

There's certainly no downside to changing them 'early' (other than loss of value) and, if the vehicle has seen 'extreme duty' or the pads are very old, you might change them.

If you are changing pads, consider Stoptech Street Performance pads (got mine from KNS brakes online) or, Centric Ceramic. Put the Centrics on my wife's Outback and it was an improvement. Put the Street Perf. on the front of my WRX and they are awesome.

Do not neglect flushing the brake fluid if old.

Reply to
1 Lucky Texan

A large number of brake pads have a "tell-tale" which is a measure which is attached to the pad. When the wear gets down to the last couple of mm it scratches on the disc. You still have brakes but the scrapping noise lets you know that you had better do something about it.

Reply to
bugalugs

A point of clarification; "your mechanic" is the one you have a personal relationship with. I respect my mechanic a lot. A random business you've just stepped into might be the bad guys who sabotage your car thinking that you'll bring it back for more work.

Reply to
synthius2002

For regular driving and a lil of performance driving, I prefer the OEM pads because:

- They come with the shims and grease needed

- I never had a squealing brake pad problem

- The wear on the disk has never been excessive.

- They bring the wear indicator tabs.

- They have the right braking feel

Using after market pads, at one point or another I have had problems with one of the items above.

I th> Here's a photo of my impreza WRX brake wear window:

Reply to
AS

I the OEM pads off my car were marked Akebono. Some folks have reported OEM pads made by Sumitomo. It may depend on what model you have, what market you're in, or what model year you have as car makers do occasionally change suppliers.

Reply to
1 Lucky Texan

the OEM pads off my car were marked Akebono. I don't recall if there was any manufacturer marked on my wife's car's pads. Some folks have reported OEM pads made by Sumitomo. It may depend on what model you have, what market you're in, or what model year you have as car makers do occasionally change suppliers.

Reply to
1 Lucky Texan

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.