# Brakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 16, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454 "2012-05-16T04:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![azmarge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@azmarge](https://community.cartalk.com/u/azmarge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454/1 "2012-05-16T04:53:37Z")
I was told by my dealer that my back brakes had 2mm left and front brakes 4mm left. Do I need a brake job now or can I wait?? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454/2 "2012-05-16T05:43:01Z")
If it’s true, you should have the pads on the front and back replaced now. That’s a little over 1/8" on the front and a little over 1/16" on the back. About 1/8" is when to replace the pads. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454/3 "2012-05-16T05:57:03Z")
2 mm and 4 mm equals about an 1/8 of an inch of friction material on the brake pads/shoes. So they’re basically worn out. You can continue to drive the vehicle until the friction material is totally gone. But in doing so damage to the rotors/drums will occur. But these would probably be replaced when the brake job is performed. But you have to look at the safety aspect. Worn out brake pads/shoes don’t perform as well as new. There could be a braking situation where the friction material is totally gone, and if you’re on the backing plates, you’re not going to stop as quickly. It’s important that a vehicle goes. But it’s more important that a vehicle is able to stop. Get a brake job and you’ll sleep better. Tester ---
**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454/4 "2012-05-16T06:11:18Z")
It can wait, but not for long. Maybe another two or three months if you have to prepare financially for the expense. I’m in agreement with Tester on the safety aspect. I would rather deal with a day my car won’t start than a day my car won’t stop. Won’t start = unplanned day off work or taking a cab home from the grocery store. Won’t stop = personal injuries, property damage, possible fatalities, lawsuits, traffic tickets, higher insurance premiums for the next several years, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 7:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454/5 "2012-05-16T07:41:07Z")
You might want to shop around a little for the brake job…Prices can vary quite a bit…Today, it has become very common to to replace the rotors whether they need to be replaced or not…On my own cars, I can’t remember the last time I replaced a rotor… ---
**Author:** ![azmarge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@azmarge](https://community.cartalk.com/u/azmarge)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/72454/6 "2012-05-18T07:46:38Z")
Thanks everyone. I will get the brake job done in the next week or two. Very helpful to me. Marge