The way to check brake pads on your car

It is very important to learn how to check brake pads on a car since they are the only component in the system that needs regular replacement. They can give you signs of potential system trouble. Besides, brake pads themselves can become the target of damage when problems begin to develop in the brake assembly. However, you can only prevent many of these problems by learning how to check your brake pads with a few simple tools. On many car models, brake pads equipped with a wear indicator which is a metal clip mounted on the pad that rubs against the disc rotor when the friction material on the pad wears down significantly. Once the clip touches the rotor, it begins to make a squeaking sound to warn you that it is time to replace the pads. However, not all pads are equipped with this warning system. Even if your car brake pads have it, still, it is a good idea to make a visual check of your brakes for damage and other potential system problems. First thing you have to do is to apply the parking brake, chock the rear wheels to prevent your car from rolling, loosen the wheel nuts on one of the front wheels. Then, raise the wheel off the ground using a jack and stable it with a jack stand and remove the wheel. Mounted around the disc rotor, you’ll see the brake caliper. The caliper holds the pads in place on each side of the rotor and the piston pushes on the rear of the pad, which pushes against the rotor. Remove the caliper using a ratchet and socket or a spanner. If your caliper only comes with one mounting bolt on the rear of the caliper, you can unscrew this bolt and swing the caliper off the rotor to access the pads. If it comes with two mounting bolts on the rear of the caliper, then unscrew both bolts, pull the caliper off the rotor to access the pads. This will prevent the caliper from hanging loose and damaging the brake hose attached to it, (but if have to remove both bolts, you can use a hanging wire or cable tie on the caliper and hang from the car to prevent the brake hose being damaged or broken). With the caliper off the brake rotor, you now have access to the brake pads. Look at the exact position of each one so that you replace each pad in its correct position and original place. Then remove the pads for inspection. Check for signs of thickness, contamination and damage like oil spots and cracks around the surface of the pads. If they are getting low on thickness or there are signs of contamination or damage, you will need to replace the pads and have the whole brake system inspected to find the cause of the problem, if necessary. After inspecting both brake pads, use a caliper tool to press the piston/s in until the piston/s are in as far they go or are flush with the inner surface of the caliper, and install the new pads and position the caliper into its location over the rotor, and tighten the mounting bolts. Mount the wheel and tighten the lug nuts snugly. Lower your car and tighten the nuts gradually, using a crisscross pattern. Finally, tighten the lug nuts to the torque listed in your car service manual. You can do this procedure every 6 months or before when you suspect problems with the pads or the brake assembly on any of the wheels. A visual inspection is the only way to know the physical condition of the pad and brake assembly. However, this is a simple maintenance task you can do in a few minutes in your own garage before they turn into expensive repairs.