When should I change my brake pads

[Manilablock]

Mga bossing, ask ko lang po kung paano malalaman na malapit ng maupod ang brake pad at sabay po ba na papalitan para sa apat na gulong or pair (both front or both rear) po ang pagpapalit.

Para po ito sa RAV4 (2004 model ko), kasi nakakarinig ako ng matining na tunog pag nag brake ako pag slow drive or ung nag mamane-obra ako sa garahe. Pero pag drive naman ako sa hi-way same pa din ang pakiramdam ko at kapit pa din ang brakes.

Meron pa bang measurement in term of km para yun ang maging basis sa pag-papalit ng brakes?

Mas ok ba na sa casa ako magpapalit ng brakes or pwede po sa auto shop na lang ako buy at sila na din ang mag papalit, ano pong brand ng brake pad ang recommend po ninyo para sa RAV4 model 2004.

Thanks po..

[userfriendly]

You can have it changed at your suking mechaniko. No need to go to casa. Brake pads are replaced when they wear down. Normally, you remove the wheels and check the thickness of the pads. If its very thin, replace it. Some cars can be checked without removing the wheels.

I prefer original pads. Bendix is also a popular brand. just make sure you replace by pair. So change both front pads at the same time. Rear pads at the same time.

[miso_honi]

Mga bossing, ask ko lang po kung paano malalaman na malapit ng maupod ang brake pad at sabay po ba na papalitan para sa apat na gulong or pair (both front or both rear) po ang pagpapalit.

Para po ito sa RAV4 (2004 model ko), kasi nakakarinig ako ng matining na tunog pag nag brake ako pag slow drive or ung nag mamane-obra ako sa garahe. Pero pag drive naman ako sa hi-way same pa din ang pakiramdam ko at kapit pa din ang brakes.

Meron pa bang measurement in term of km para yun ang maging basis sa pag-papalit ng brakes?

Mas ok ba na sa casa ako magpapalit ng brakes or pwede po sa auto shop na lang ako buy at sila na din ang mag papalit, ano pong brand ng brake pad ang recommend po ninyo para sa RAV4 model 2004.

Thanks po..

most american made, canadian made and asian cars have the brake warning tab that makes a high pitch faint noise when the pads wear down to minimum thickness. the warning tabs are usually installed on the leading edge of the inboard brake pad except for toyota previa or estima where the stainless strip warning tab is on the leading edge of the outboard pad. if the pads are thin or contaminated with oil or is physically deformed or had been overheated, they need to be replaced

[OTEP]

I use Bendix (Php700-900/pr depending on size).

If you are using the original alloy wheels, take off the wheel and peer into the brake caliper (the chunky thing that's riding on the round brake rotor)


There will usually be a viewing window (opening) on the caliper to help you see:


When the pad wears down, the brake indicator starts contacting the brake rotor and it makes a high pitched sound (braking is still not affected early on). But its time to have the brakes checked before its too late:


New brake pads look really thick (this is the brand I usually use on units when we replace pads):

[Manilablock]

Thank you very much Otep, very informative din ung mga pictures. This saturday papalitan ko na ung brakepads ko, un nga lang nde pa ako sure kung front or rear, hehehe pero safe naman siguro na patangal ko lahat ng tyres at pa check ko all brakes. lalo na at nag uulan ngayon.

salamat po ulit

[Retz]

Two(2) brake pads ba per brake rotor?

[OTEP]

Yes. Thats why a box contains four pads. Para siyang brake ng bike clamping on both sides

[Retz]

Yes. Thats why a box contains four pads. Para siyang brake ng bike clamping on both sides

Thanks sir. I have read on some threads saying that one indication of a wear down brake pads is the brake fluid level. pag bumaba ang brake fluid level na we-wear down na ang pads. is this information accurate? if it is, how come? what is the relation between the brake fluid and brake pads?

[OTEP]

Yep because the caliper piston moves to maintain the distance of the pad with the rotor. And when this happens as the pads wear, the fluid tends to stay on the brake lines instead of the reservoir. When you get new pads, you push the piston back and the fluid returns to its reservoir.

[agp]

Yung sentra ko due na din for brakepad replacement, meron na din ako ng bendix brakepads palitan ko na sana pero nakita ko wala palang shims yung dating brakepads rspec ang brand hindi siguro naibalik nung gumawa o dating may-ari. Nagtanong ako ng shims sa advance pasay meron daw sila set kasama guides etc. hindi pwede shims lang at sabi 900 daw yung set mas mahal pa sa brakepads!

Meron pa kaya makukuhanan ng shims lang o meron kayang surplus nito? Eto yung manipis na stainless sheet na nakapatong sa brakepads dun tumatama yung brake piston, kailangan ata to para di mag-squeal yung brakes.

[Retz]

Yep because the caliper piston moves to maintain the distance of the pad with the rotor. And when this happens as the pads wear, the fluid tends to stay on the brake lines instead of the reservoir. When you get new pads, you push the piston back and the fluid returns to its reservoir.

I see. So when you hear high pitch sound when engaging your brake pedal or the fluid level from the reservoir lessens or diminishes, it is safe to assume that it is now time to replaced your brake pedal.

[Ry_Tower]

I see. So when you hear high pitch sound when engaging your brake pedal or the fluid level from the reservoir lessens or diminishes, it is safe to assume that it is now time to replaced your brake pedal.

Don't assume, visual checking by a competent mechanic is still best. Delikado yan.

[OTEP]

It's safe to assume that it's time to check the brakes.

In one of the vehicles I use, the brakes make a high pitch noise but the pads are not worn. I think the rotor and pad just got dirty from off-road use. So now, we check at least one side at every oil change.

[vinj]

Under normal circumstances, you can check and clean your brakes every 10,000kms. If you drive under heavy braking conditions (high speed, mountain roads, heavy automatic vehicle, etc), every service stop, check and clean your brakes.

The pads also have wear indicators which make a consistent high pitch sound whenever you brake once the pad reaches a certain wear point.

[jick.cejoco]

Yep because the caliper piston moves to maintain the distance of the pad with the rotor. And when this happens as the pads wear, the fluid tends to stay on the brake lines instead of the reservoir. When you get new pads, you push the piston back and the fluid returns to its reservoir.

when your pads are worn out, you push the caliper pistons back inside its bore. this process usually dumps the old, moisture laden and contaminated brake fluid back to the master cylinder. my practice is to clamp the brake hose with a hose pincher to prevent the old fluid to return to the master cylinder and open the bleeder screw as i push the piston back to dump the old moisture laden contaminated fluid out. then, when the piston is seated back, close the bleeder screw and remove the hose pincher. this of course requires replenishing the master cylinder with fresh unadulterated brake fluid

[OTEP]

4 wheel discs have increased brake surface area which increases braking force. The exposed rotors also cool down faster than enclosed drums. Overheated brakes result to increased brake distances.

Discs are also simpler to service.

For a parking brake, i really dont know. The pajero has a small drum brake built in the rear discs solely for use as a parking brake. Nissan patrols use a drum brake on the propeller shaft as its parking brake.

[holdencaulfield]

umiingay na yung brakes ko. i felt the rotors and they are uneven. should they really be smoothed out? ano bang mangyayari kung hindi ko ito ipapa-machine shop? TIA!

[OTEP]

May pulsation sa pedal. Otherwise hindi ka naman mawawalan ng preno. 5 years pending na pagpapa reface ko, naalala ko lang. Hehe.

[holdencaulfield]

May pulsation sa pedal. Otherwise hindi ka naman mawawalan ng preno. 5 years pending na pagpapa reface ko, naalala ko lang. Hehe.

hindi ko pa naman nararamdaman (or sanay na lang ako) yung pulsation. buti naman walang effect sa braking. kakatamad kasi pa machine shop, kadalasan ang tagal!
thanks doc!

[CVT]

I just did on our GS after only 15KKm...