How to Check Brake Pads Without Removing Tire?

It’s not difficult to check the brake pads of the tires after removing them, but checking brake pads without removing tires from the vehicle can be a little difficult but not impossible.

How to Check Brake Pads Without Removing Tire

Most probably there are three methods to check the brake thickness or thinness. Let’s have a close look at each mother to learn about checking the brake pads without removing the tire.

Required Tools:

There are no specific tools required for checking the brake pads. We would only need to have the things that can be easily available in our homes. 

These things are:

1. Visual Check

It’s always worthwhile to check everything visually before performing any task especially related to vehicles. Mostly, there are some holes in the tire that we can examine visually. Use a torch for a clear view of brake pads Most often, there is no need for a jack and you can see the vision but lifting up the required side of the tire can give a prominent view of the brake pads with a perfect angle.

Visual Check

2. Method of Checking Pad Thickness

Being reliable on visual inspection only is not a good thing to do. Because you cannot get the perfect idea of the thickness or thinness of the brake pads only with a visual check. Still, it is not a good thought to remove the tire only for checking the pads.

The second method can be utilized in this regard. For this measurement, use any soft substance like straw or anything that must be a thin and long substance that also could be marked with a marker. Now, slide the straw alongside the brake pad until it touches the end of the brake pad. 

After that, mark the straw with a marker or pointer whatever you are using. Try to mark the straw as close to the brake as it’s possible to get an appropriate measurement. 

Method of Checking Pad Thickness

Now cut the straw where you have marked it with a marker. This little piece of straw is not the thickness of your brake pad. You need to follow another step to get an accurate measurement. At this point, you need to measure 5mm from the 0 sizes of the ruler. Now the remaining straw from the 5mm subtraction is the final thickness of your brake pad. If the final measurement of that small piece of straw is 4mm or less, your brake pads are thin and it’s time to change them.

3. Uneven Wear and Tear Check

The above two methods are for checking the brake pads of one tire only. However, if you are looking to find the idea of checking brake pads of all tires. Uneven wear and tear check is the best method in this regard. One type of wear and tear means that the front brake pad is fine but the rear is having problems. Compare the thickness of the brake pad from one side to the other side of the vehicle. A little difference in the thickness of any tire brake pad is a sign of changing all brake pads of each tire.

4. An Important Point To Remember

There is a worth discussing point everyone should keep in mind is that do not inspect the brake pads at the time you have driven from somewhere. Wait for some hours to let the vehicle cool down, otherwise, it can cause you burning hands or any other damage like that. Not in the matter of brake pads but wait for your vehicle to cool down before doing anything mechanical with your vehicle.

5. Brake Maintenance Signs

Sometimes it happens that you do not have any brake pads issues but there is another problem with the brakes. At this point, you need to give proper maintenance to the brakes. Some of the issues could happen

If your brake light is on, there must be some issue that is needed to be solved. If you are feeling any type of vibration in the brake, you must visit the mechanic. A serious issue can happen if you feel your brake is soft. This issue must be resolved within less time. Try not to drive in such conditions.

Brake Pads Without Removing Tires: Important Points

Before going through the question of how to check brake pads without removing tires? We need to know some of the certain things that are mentioned below.

  • Why should we check brake pads? 
  • When should we check brake pads? 
  • What are the signs of brake pad problems? 
  • When should we change the brake pads?

Let’s have answers to these questions shortly without any further due:

Why Should We Check Brake Pads?

Brakes are an integral part of a vehicle. It is always important to know about the brakes of your vehicle are working perfectly or not. Making a time-to-time check on brake pads can save you from major brake problems

When Should We Check Brake Pads?

Brakes are an integral part of a vehicle. It is always important to know about the brakes of your vehicle are working perfectly or not. Making a time-to-time check on brake pads can save you from major brake problems.

What Are the Signs of Brake Pads Problems?

There are some specific signs of brake pad problems. 

  • Unresponsive brakes 
  • Noisy brakes 
  • Spongy brakes 
  • One-sided car sliding
  • A certain change in car mileage
  • Brake warning lights in modern cars

When Should We Change the Brake Pads?

With an access use of brakes, brake pads of your vehicle go thin. After an inspection of brake pads and you get to know the pads are thin, it’s time to change the brake pads of the tires of your vehicle.

Conclusion

To conclude, it would be an easy task for car owners to check the brake pads without removing the tire, just after reading this article. Though brakes are always important for driving, it must be a serious concern to check the brake pads on and off to prevent any type of danger. 

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