Hey guys. I did a few searches, but didn't find a definitive answer. I know you can check the brake pads with the wheels still on the car, but I have no idea what I'm looking for. Can you actually see the pads with the rims on the car? If so, how do you measure them? Does anyone have any pictures of what I'm supposed to be looking at?

e

 

I think your supposed to measure the distance between the rotor, and caliper. Should be in mm's.

 

Hey E,

Every time my car goes for Service at my local Lexus dealer, they measure the pads on the car. I think they user a caliper. Sorry I can't be of more help.

IA

 

I have a tread depth measurement tool. Would that work? Where should I put it?

 

technicians use a vernier caliper... and no, they don't do it thru the wheel... they take the wheel off to measure it...

if you're running 17" and larger wheels, you can stick a small mirror in there to view the remaining pad material... any more than 3mm is acceptable... and you want to make sure that both the inner and outer pads are wearing evenly... if not, you got a problem...

there is a viewing window on the front calipers to see the pads... pretty obvious...

the rear calipers, you view from where you put pads in, near the 2 pins...

 

I'm running 16s right now. From the outside of the wheel, I can see the caliper and the green of the pad (at least I think it's the green of the pad), but I what I don't know is how to measure how thick it is.

 

you would measure from the brake rotor to the metal backing that the brake pad it attached to.

 

Thanks IA. So if I take my tread depth measurement tool and have . . . it's too hard to explain in words. I'll take a picture of what I'm talking about and post it later. Let me ask you this -- where is the metal backing that the brake pad is attached to in relation to the inner wall of the caliper? I mean, can you see the metal backing that the brake pad is attached to from the outside of the car?

 

I just went out to the garage and I couldn't measure squat. However, I did snap a few pictures. Unless I am looking at the wrong thing, it looks like my front pads have tons of life left in them. The reason I was concerned is because they've been squeaking a lot the past few days.

Oh, and I checked my receipts for the car. Lexus changed the front pads in August of 2003 at 48,000 miles and the read pads in October of 2004 at 57,000 miles. I got the car in June of 2005 at 65,000 miles and am now at 95,000 (the last 30k have pretty much been all highway miles).

Anyway, here's the picture (isn't the green piece in the rectangle the pad?):

 

I took a picture through my wheel and marked what I believe is the brake pad.

 

Okay. Mine looks to be about the same as yours. How many mm's are left on yours (if you know)?

 

The best I can do is less than 8mm. That measurement was taken 13K ago. For some reason I didn't get a sheet at the last oil change. I'm due for my next one now.