Can Brake Pads Be Too Thick?Find Out

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Brake pads cannot be too thick for your vehicle provided they are the correct ones for your model and make of car.

They may only appear so in cases where the caliper is not put in place correctly or where they are thickened by debris. If you entertain any doubts as regards their fitness, please consult your user manual to verify what type and size to buy.

In summary, any brake pads produced primarily for your car by its manufacturers can never be too thick for the vehicle it is meant for. If they should turn out to be too thick, it could just be that the brake caliper has not been completely pushed in or it may need to be cleaned.

Table Of Contents

What do I do if my brake pads are too thick?

If for any reason your brake pads seem too thick, there are many things you can do about it. First, make sure that you actually got the correct brake pads for your specific kind of vehicle and second, if you are not sure of what is the recommended size and type of brake pads that will correctly fit your model and make of vehicle, consult your user manual or check with your mechanic.

If you have actually got the correct pads for your vehicle and they still seem too thick, then you should investigate to make sure whether the brake calipers are properly placed and pushed into the slot meant for them.

Secondly, if there is no problem with how you placed or pushed the caliper, and they still seem too thick, you are advised to clean them up thoroughly. Doing these things will surely resolve any issues you may have with regards to their appearance over thickness.

How thick should new brake pads be?

For short, new brake pads should be about 12 millimeters thick. Ideally, most new brake pads are a little over 12 millimeters thick. However, if you purchase new ones, always measure them to make sure that you have actually got the correct ones.

If you are using brake pads that are about 12 millimeters thick, it usually takes almost 50 000 brake applications for them to shrink down to about 6.4 millimeters.

How do I flatten my brake pads?

If your brake pads seem too thick, all you got to do to get them fit in perfectly is to remove them from the caliper and give them a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, at least just enough to remove the extra shiny glaze from the surface of the brake pad.

After some time, brake pads can become crystallized and hence glaze over, which causes the brakes to squeal and develop a notable decrease in the vehicle’s braking power.

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Is 2 millimeters on brake pads bad?

Any brake pads that have reduced down to 2 millimeters are definitely worn out, but they won’t wear out anymore in just a short time. If you plan to go on a trip even after this slimming of the brakes to as much as having only 2 mm thickness left on them, you can still go on your journey, but make sure that they are replaced the moment you return.

What at the reasons brake pads are too thick?

Brake pads are never too thick for the vehicle they are meant for by their manufacturers, but they can only seem so for some reasons. Firstly, your brake pads may appear too thick if they are dirty or have paint on them that you may have to glaze before they fit well.

Secondly, they may seem too thick if you have not pushed in the brake calipers as far as you ought to before trying to install the pads. If they are the right fit, they will fit in nicely.

How do you reset brakes after changing pads?

Whenever you change brake pads or rotors, there is a good chance that air can get trapped in the master cylinder. It is basically for this reason that you need to actually reset it.

Therefore, to make sure that your brake system does not have any air bubbles in it, bleed the brakes after changing the pads or rotors and also after repairing any leak. Essentially, any brake job carried out should be followed by bleeding them for reasons of safety.

How do I know if my brakes are glazed?

You have the option of taking some very simple and fast procedures in ascertaining whether your brakes are glazed or not. You may consider the following steps:

(1). First, examine the brake pads visually, which you can do without necessarily removing the wheels. From this inspection, you can tell whether your brake pads are actually glazed or not by just running your finger over the surface which may be smooth. If it is, you have a glazed brake to contend with. (Read Also: Can brake drums be welded?Find Out)

(2). Next, listen for any squeaking or squealing noises when you press the brake pedal.

(3). Finally, you should also listen for any continuous scratching or squeaking sound even when the brake pad is not depressed. After going through these steps in the given sequence, you are definitely bound to find out with every certainty as to whether your brake is glazed or otherwise.

How do you align your brakes?

To align your brakes simply means to adjust your brake cables, and this can effectively be done through the following procedures:

(1). First, pull the brake lever in order to judge how tight or loose the brakes actually are.

(2). Next, you should tighten or loosen the barrel adjuster as the case may be.

(3). Then, proceed to loosen the bolt on the brake caliper in order to readjust it.

(4). Thereafter, pull or release the brake cable through the caliper.

(5). Now, tighten back the caliper bolt.

(6). Finally, check your brake pads to assess your work.

Frequently asked questions(FAQ)

Why do brake pads wear unevenly?

Usually, brake pads wear unevenly when some rotors are bad while others are not, and for this reason, the brake pads on the side of the worn-out or bad rotors tend to wear out faster than those on the opposite side.

For this reason, you are advised to always change the rotors of the two sides either in front or back whenever you change the rotor and pad on one side. Again, when your brake caliper is not properly pushed in when installing the pads, chances are that they may wear faster than the others too.(Read Also:Can You Brake And Downshift At The Same Time?)

Can you fix glazed brakes?

Yes, you can and satisfactorily too, but only on a temporary basis by removing the brake pads and sanding down their surfaces such that they will not be too smooth any longer. This measure is only temporary because the harm has already been done since the materials of the brake have been tempered by heat and as a result, the only real fix to this problem is to simply replace them permanently. (Read Also:Can Brake Drums Be Turned?)

Why do rear brake pads wear faster than those in front?

Though much of the weight of most vehicles is borne on the front wheels which make the pads in front wear out fast, the rear wheels serve a very supportive role in whatever strain the front wheels undergo.

It is due to the fact that the front wheels suffer more than those at the rear which makes them wear much faster than those at the back. (Read Also:Are Brake Pads Supposed To Be Loose?)

Essentially, therefore, the front brake pads wear out faster than those at the rear. However, there are some instances where the rear wheels may bear more weight and undergo more strain than the front pads, and in such situations, they are liable to wear out faster, but usually, the front pads wear faster than the rear ones.

How close to the rims should brake pads be?

Simply put, the rims and brake pads should be about ¹/8 inch close to each other. This space between them will provide you with enough amount of free play at the brake lever, and due to this requirement, the brake pads should be about three millimeters or 1/8 inch away from the rim. Ensure that the can is closed before you adjust the cable barrel in order to get the lever throw where you exactly need it.

Why are my brakes rubbing?

Whenever you receive any rubbing sound coming from around your brakes or their accessories, it is usually a reliable and early sign that your brakes could in fact be rubbing against the rotors.

Luckily, the brake pads may be in their early stage of wear before the noise becomes really loud and more irritating. Another possibility is a brake pad that has not yet been fully released. There may also be rust on the rotors if you haven’t driven the vehicle for a while.

How do you fix rubbing brake pads?

To fix the complaint whenever your brakes rub, ensure that the brake is centered. If it is loose, make sure to squeeze the brake lever in order to center it and also tighten the bolt that mounts it to the frame.

Should the brakes continue rubbing even after all these efforts, check to see if your wheel needs to be trued as well. One way or another, the solution to the problem will be provided by one of these procedures. (Read Also: Can Brake Cleaner Remove Paint?)

Should you sand down brake rotors?

No, you really don’t. If your rotors actually need resurfacing, a brake lathe only can also get the job effectively done.

Should you opt to sand by hand, it will not only take an extremely long time to remove enough material but may also end up removing too much material or get landed with an uneven rotor, which may only necessitate the use of a brake lathe. (Read Also:Can You Brake Check A Cop?)

What happens if you put grease on brake pads?

There isn’t a straightforward answer to this question so to say, because you can approach it from multiple directions.

The temperatures of the surroundings determine how fast grease will melt, run or burn off if you choose to drive the vehicle with grease rubbed on the brake pad.

However, a lot depends on what kind of grease and how much of it you have rubbed really on either your brake pad or rotors.

In any case, your vehicle will still be stopped effectively and will not spin out of control either, simply because you have rubbed grease on its pad or rotors.

What is the legal minimum brake pad thickness?

It is about 1.5 millimeters. Many manufacturers recommend that you should change your brake pads once they get to about 3 mm, however the legally allowed thickness in the UK, for instance, is 1.5 mm.

How much does a brake pad cost?

It costs about 150 dollars for one brake axle and can range from about 100 dollars per axle up to 300 dollars per axle in some cases.

Other few pieces of hardware found in the brake system that might need service too whenever you are changing the brake pads include the brake calipers and rotors, and that also cost you too. So, put all these together and you will have a good idea of the overall cost.

How long can you drive on 3mm brake pads?

If your brake pads are as thin as about 6 mm, your mechanic will most likely recommend that you have the brakes checked after every 1000 to 2000 miles to see whether they have to be replaced immediately.

Most brake pads that are worn to about 3 mm are recommended for immediate replacement and either the replacement or resurfacing of the rotors too.

Can brake pads be too thick – Conclusion

There is a standard thickness for brake pads that are recommended by the manufacturers which are safe to drive with, and so it is unsafe to do otherwise.

Luckily, you can always tell when your brake pads are compromised, either through the light that may glow on your dashboard or the noises you are likely to receive from the brakes. Whatever the case may be, treat all braking issues with seriousness.