3.2 millimeters
is the bare minimum of thickness you want on your brake pads. Ideally, your pads will be over 12 millimeters in thickness. When you purchase new ones, you always want to measure them just to make sure they are the ideal size.
What thickness should brake discs be?
What's The Recommended Thickness Of Your Brake Pads? Ideally, your brake pads should be
thicker than 6.4 mm (1⁄4 inches)
for proper functioning. If it's thinner than this, consider getting a replacement soon. Most car mechanics also agree that the bare minimum brake pad thickness is 3.2 mm (1⁄8 inches).
What is the legal minimum thickness for brake discs?
Providing continuous cracks are not apparent, minimum brake disc thickness is
37 mm
. Brake discs should be replaced in pairs. Brake pads should also be replaced when new brake discs are fitted. If this instruction is not adhered to, there is a danger that braking performance could be seriously reduced.
Does brake disc thickness matter?
It's vital to know
the minimum thickness for your vehicle
because if the rotor thickness is thinner than the minimum level it can be dangerous to drive. A thinner rotor is lighter in weight and decreased in its ability to absorb and dissipate heat.
What is minimum brake disc thickness for mot?
The MOT test does not remove your road wheels. Disc thickness cannot be measured to check if it falls below the manufacturers minimum settings. Unless the tester can see that the pad thickness is below
3mm
he cannot fail the vehicle. More often than not you cannot see the pads to be able to make a judgement.
Is there a legal limit on brake discs?
The disc wear limit isn't legally binding in any way
. If the brakes aren't capable of passing a VOSA/MOT rolling road brake test, then they are considered fine as far as the law goes. That's not to say they won't be more likely to warp, judder, fade or make a horrible noise when in use.
Can you change brake discs without changing pads?
We are often asked why
brake discs cannot be replaced without replacing
the pads at the same time. … The main reason is that if you don't replace brake discs and pads together, your brand new discs will wear unevenly and can get damaged.
How do you know when brake discs need replacing?
If less than 3mm of the brake pad is visible
, then they need to be replaced. Vibrations: If you feel your car vibrating as you brake, it is a sign that your brake discs might be abnormally worn or have suffered thermal damage following severe braking.
How often should you replace brake discs?
Recap. Brake pads should last anywhere between 25,000 and 60,000 miles, with brake discs lasting
between 80,000 and 120,000 miles
. There are lots of easy ways to make these last longer, such as gentle and engine braking.
When should I change my brake discs?
You can find this information in the vehicle handbook or by querying with your car manufacturer. As a rough estimate, you can expect your brake discs to have a lifetime of
around 80,000 – 120,000 miles
.
How do I know which brake discs to buy?
The best way to ensure you get the correct brake discs is to
check the diameter of the brake discs already fitted
. The diameter and thickness of the disc is illustrated below. To measure the diameter you may not have to remove the wheel, however it would make the measuring process easier.
What can happen if a brake disc is too thin?
The problem with caliper/pad retention is that when the disc is too thin,
the pistons in the caliper push out the pads further to make contact with the disc
. If the pads are also thin, this can mean the caliper overextends; the pistons aren't properly supported and either apply pressure unevenly or won't retract.
What is brake disc skimming?
Brake disk skimming is
the process in which the brake disks of a vehicle is skimmed to renew the disk surface
. The most commonly use disks on vehicles are ventilated discs but one can also opt for solid disks. Disk skimming is now a very popular procedure to renew brake disks due to the affordability of the process.
Do garages fail MOT on purpose?
If a car is found to have a major defect the car can still be driven away to another garage to be fixed. … The comparison site said: “
Garages are unable to prevent motorists from
taking their car away. “Do your research before your MOT so that you can plan for a failure and what you will do.
Can MOT fail on brake discs?
Brake discs and drums
A brake disc or drum
will only fail if it is significantly worn
. Being worn below the manufacturer's recommended limits isn't a reason in itself.
Does MOT check brake discs?
Brakes are one of the most used part of any vehicle so it is no surprise they are on of the main reasons so many vehicles fail their MOT. … This is why
during any MOT, the brake pads, discs and in some cases shoes, will be checked
.
