When should I change my brake pads?

[skategoat]

I know pads should be changed when they have 1/3 thickness left. What is that in millimetres? I measured and I have 6.5mm left. I'm guessing that's about half the thickness.

Also, do you guys bother machining rotors or do you just replace them?

 

[gizmopt2002]

I forgot what my pad thickness was. But don't bother resurfacing the rotors. When I got my 30k service, they did it as included. It was nice not to have the warping, but it only lasted for no more than 1000 miles. A huge waste of money. I recommend changing them at 60k if you tow occasionally, do expressway driving, and some hard braking once in awhile. Once we get the money, we are getting Frozen Rotors, and Hawk pads.

 

[skategoat]

gismo, how many times did you change your pads before you changed your rotors?

 

[Uneek]

I would recommend picking up a set of pads and then just wait for the brakes to squeak. There are wear indicators that will cause the brakes to squeak once the pads get close to the minimum thickness.

I haven't resurfaced the rotors on any of my cars past and present. If it's not warped, there's really no reason to have them turned. By having them turned, you're taking away useful service life. I just take a piece of sand paper and go over both sides of the rotors to remove any contaminents.

 

[gizmopt2002]

On the Runna I am still on the original pads/rotors. On other cars I've replaced the Pads 2 times before the rotors, and some at the same time.

 

[greasefingers]

The standard thickness of new pads is 11.5mm. The minimum thickness is 1 mm, but I would replace them when it gets to 3 or 4mm (.125in to 0.156inhes)
I replaced mine at 2mm as you can see from below.

 

[skategoat]

I have 68,000kms on my 4Runner and I'm amazed that I have 1/2 thickness left on my pads. That's not necessarily a good thing. Maybe the factory is using a compound that is too hard.

 

[Koz]

Mine only last 20K miles.

Koz

 

[greasefingers]

I have 68,000kms on my 4Runner and I'm amazed that I have 1/2 thickness left on my pads. That's not necessarily a good thing. Maybe the factory is using a compound that is too hard.

I would measure again as the pads are not a