So you think it is time to replace your brake pads cause they might have some wear and tear?  How do you check on this?

You can check for brake pad wear by viewing the pads from outside the front tire. On most cars, you can look through the openings on the outside of the wheel assembly to see the pads.  On rare occasions, you may have to remove the wheel to see the pads.  The outside pad should be staring you in the face. Look at it from above. The pad will be pressed against the metal rotor.  Now, there are two way to determine whether the pads need replacing.

First, visually look at the pad indicators. If the pad depth is less than ¼ inch, plan on replacing it soon. If it's less than 1/8 inch, you're getting close to damaging the rotor.  This means replace the pads asap or you will have to spend much more on rotors. This varies slightly from car to car, but is a good general guideline.

Second way is to check by ear.  Brake pads have noisemaking shims into the brake assembly to tell you when the pads need changing. If you hear a screeching sound when you apply the brakes, then your pads are most likely worn down and need replacing.  If the sound is more a scraping metal noise while driving without brake pedal pressure, you've already damaged your rotors and need to fix the brakes immediately.

Now that you have determined that the pads are due for replacement, you need to select what pad is best for you.  Consult a professional to discuss your driving habits and vehicle use to get the pad that best suits you.  If you are looking to further upgrade your brake system, it is never a pad thing to change or upgrade to slotted or drilled rotors.  At the same time, using Synthetic brake fluid and steel braided brake lines will give you improved pedal response and much better braking performance.

View our Brake Upgrade Section Here which includes Brake Pads, Brake Lines, Brake Rotors, and more.