3 Ways to Check Brake Pads

This article was co-authored by Duston Maynes . Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere. This article has been viewed 226,066 times.

Article Summary

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To check your brake pads, get a rough estimate of how thick they are by using a drinking straw. First, locate the rotor, the round metal part your wheel sits on, and the caliper, the long metal part pushed up against the rotor. Then, push the drinking straw in between the rotor and caliper until it touches the brake disk. Make a marking on your straw where it meets with the brake pad. Next, measure the distance between the marking and the end of the straw, which will give you a rough idea of how thick your pads are. Subtract 0.2 inches from your result to account for the pads’ backing plate. Your brake pads should be at least 1/3 of an inch thick to be in good condition. For tips on how to get a more accurate measurement by removing the wheel, keep reading!

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