You’ll need to take off the wheel to get a better look if you can’t see the brake pad through it. Place your jack under the vehicle frame adjacent to the tire you wish to remove with your car parked on a level surface. Lift your car up about 6 inches, remove the lug nuts, and then replace the tire. The caliper, rotor, brake lines, and brake pad will all be clearly visible once the tire has been removed. Check the brake pad closely for signs of excessive wear. It’s time to book a brake appointment if the pad is less than 4 millimeters thick or only has 20% of its original life left.
Check out our brake pad replacement cost guide now that you know how to inspect your brake pads to get an idea of what to budget for new brake pads.
With Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth brake repairs available from Brakes To Go, you may avoid going to the brake shop since a qualified brake service expert will come to you! UNLIMITED FREE BRAKE QUOTE
In This Article...
Other approaches
There are additional ways to keep an eye on your brake pads. Pay attention to any grinding, snarling, or screaming sounds coming from your brakes. When you apply the brakes, if you hear grinding or growling, it usually implies that the brake pads have worn through and are grinding into the rotors. Do not delay in having your brake system inspected.
Another indication of worn brake pads is vibration in the steering wheel or brake pedal. It’s time to bring your car to your trusted technician for a complete inspection if you experience vibration while driving or notice vibration when applying the brakes.
Find out more about high-quality brake pads, where to buy your car part, or where to find it today.
Only for entertainment and informational reasons, the information in this article should not be used as a substitute for consulting a qualified technician or mechanic for expert guidance. We advise you to speak with a licensed technician or mechanic if you have any specific queries or issues regarding any of the subjects discussed here. We will not, under any circumstances, be held responsible for any loss or harm resulting from your reliance on any content.
Yorgi
I’d want to say that I’m not a BMW mechanic. This content is being given away for free without any conditions and is simply meant for enjoyment. Use this article’s information solely at your own risk.
This do-it-yourself was developed to assist BMW owners in swiftly determining whether they need new brake pads without taking the wheels off. This is merely a visual check, not a highly accurate one.
Due to the error in the Check Control brake pad service notice, this approach is useful. In my experience, out of all the Check Control systems, the “brake service required” warning is the least reliable.
Preventing damage to the pad wear sensors is another reason to monitor pad thickness. When pads begin to wear below 3mm, the sensors become damaged and must be replaced, costing about $25 per unit. If the pads are changed at or before 3mm, the sensors can typically be reused.
A. Materials/Tools required:
The best light is a powerful LED flashlight, but any light will suffice. If you have never used a contemporary Cree-based flashlight, I highly recommend giving one of these a try. Both will produce light that is significantly more powerful than a 3-cell MagLite with an incandescent bulb: DealExtreme offers the UltraFire WF-606A. I have one in every car because it costs $17 and is three times brighter and smaller than a 3-cell Maglite. RC-G2 Romisen MXDL at DealExtreme A fantastic $12 Cree XR-E-based tiny light.
If the car has been driven before the examination, the rotors might easily reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit. During the check, refrain from touching the brake calipers or rotors.
1. Check pad thickness by shining a flashlight into each wheel’s braking caliper.
You should replace the pads if there are 3mm (or 1/8 of an inch) or fewer of the original pads left. The brake pad sensor starts to wear on the rotors at the 3mm mark, and eventually it is damaged, resulting in the “low pads” warning light, which is different from the “brake service necessary” message.
The metal backing plate for the brake pad is around 3mm thick. The pads must be replaced if the pad material is roughly the same thickness as this metal plate.
Without removing the wheels, you can check the brake pads.
The wheel openings on the majority of autos let you see the pads. Simply shine a touch light through the holes to measure the thickness of the pad. A brand-new pad has a thickness of around 1/2 inch; if you use it and it thins out to 1/4 inch, no problem. However, anything less than 1/4 is a sign that you should replace your pad.
Some cars have a wear indicator slot at the edge of the brake pads. Your pads may not have been there for very long if the slot appears to be barely discernible or undetectable.
Method
1. Move the straw until it reaches the brake base while moving it along the brake pads.
2. To acquire the most precise reading possible, mark the straw as closely as you can to the edge of the brake pads.
3. Cut the straw at the indicated location.
4. Mark 5 mm from the cut end of the straw by positioning it next to your ruler.
5. Adjust the ruler’s mark to 0 mm and take your last measurement.
6. You should think about replacing your brake pads if they are 4mm or less.
Take your car to Supa Quick for additional check if you’re unsure. Our brake specialists will examine and complete the required work to restore your car to a safe driving condition.
For these simple, step-by-step instructions, watch the video:
Disclaimer: This data is provided solely for informational or educational reasons. Regarding the correctness, completeness, and dependability of this material, we disclaim any warranties. The author’s opinions, not necessarily those of Supa Quick, are stated in this article.
How can I tell if my brake pads need replacing?
On many cars, the brake pad may be seen via the wheel holes. You must ascertain the brake pad’s thickness in order to check its lifespan. To see the brake pad clearly, you might need a torch. It could be time to have the pads replaced if they appear to be too thin—less than 1/4″.
You might see a wear indicator groove running down the middle of some brake pads. It’s time for replacement brake pads if the slot is completely gone or hardly visible. The wear indicator not only makes itself visible, but it can also cause other cautions. When the brake pads are worn down to a minimum level, some vehicles turn on a dashboard warning light, while other vehicles emit a loud squealing sound to alert the driver.
How do I examine my brakes at home?
- Take notice of your brakes. According to J.D. Power and Associates, brake pads are made to create noise as an early warning indicator that they need to be replaced (J.D. Power).
- Pay close attention to your steering wheel and brake pedal.
- If the warning light illuminates, take note.
Do my BMW’s brakes need to be changed at a certain time?
Depending on how you drive, BMW brake pads typically last between 30,000 and 70,000 kilometers. You should get an examination more frequently if you commute in congested traffic and apply the brakes frequently. We advise consulting your BMW owner’s manual for details on suggested maintenance intervals.
How long do BMW brake pads last?
How durable are BMW brake pads? Depending on how you drive, BMW brake pads typically last between 30,000 and 70,000 kilometers. You’ll need to have an examination more frequently if you commute in heavy traffic and use your brakes frequently.
What does it cost to replace the brake pads on a BMW?
The cost of new brakes depends on your BMW model. Depending on the brake pad material, replacement brake pads can range in price from $150 to $300 per axle on average. Your brakes’ other components, including the rotors, may have been impacted by any prior damage to the brake pads.
What is the price of BMW brakes?
Depending on the type of brake pad selected, BMW brake pads can cost anywhere between $150 per axle and $450 per axle. In extremely rare circumstances, they can even be higher if the manufacturer demands that a certain brand of brake pads be supplied for your BMW.
What are the three telltale symptoms of worn brake pads?
The brake pads of your car shouldn’t be permitted to get any thinner than 1/4 inch to ensure appropriate operation of the braking system. The thickness of the brake pads is crucial for road safety. The acceptable wear limit of brake pads is reached when they are 1/8 inch thick.
It is unsafe to drive with brake pads that are that thin. Replace brake pads as soon as they begin to look to be very thin on an automobile. To be able to stop the automobile swiftly and safely, brake pads on any car should not be any thinner than a third of an inch. To save yourself and others and stop potentially deadly braking issues, replace all very thin brake pads right away.
How can I know if I need brakes on the front or the back?
You may quickly test to see if your front or rear brakes are malfunctioning by following these steps:
1. Slowly brake while driving and keep an ear out for noise.
2. Carry out this action once more, this time applying your emergency brake.
3. Your front brakes are probably the source of the noise you hear when braking normally. The back is making the noise if you hear it when applying the emergency brake.
Despite this, you should always replace all pads equitably when doing a replacement.
The front brake’s construction enables it to deteriorate at the same pace as the rear brake even under conditions of greater frontal strain.
New brakes guarantee that there aren’t any lingering issues on one side. Additionally, it makes scheduling maintenance easier.
Although the front brakes should be your top priority, you shouldn’t skip replacing all the brake pads.
It can be just as dangerous to drive with bad rear brakes as it is to drive with terrible front brakes.
To lessen the effort placed on the front brakes, the rear brakes support the majority of the braking.
I have a brake pad warning light on. Can I drive?
Driving is safe when this light is on for a brief period of time. As was already indicated, when you still have some brake pad material remaining, the light will turn on. However, if you wait too long and keep driving, you will run out of material and harm the rotors. Waiting too long is hazardous and raises the likelihood of being involved in an accident because the brakes won’t stop the car as quickly without any pad material.
As always, if you have any problems with your brakes or wear indicators, our qualified specialists are here to help.
What occurs when brake pads are worn out too much?
They act as a cushion between your braking rotors and your wheels, causing friction to slow your wheels down. Sadly, when your car’s brake pads are worn out, they expose the metal, and grinding metal against metal will further corrode the entire braking system by heating it up and possibly breaking it.
What noise do worn brake pads make?
Squealing. Noises like squealing or squeaking typically mean that your brake pads need to be replaced. Some brake pads have little steel clips that serve as wear indicators by making a squealing sound when the pad is worn down.