# Time to change my break pads? can never tell **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** brakes, kia\ **Created:** [August 22, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414 "2023-08-22T14:47:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![king123\_car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@king123\_car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/king123_car)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/1 "2023-08-22T14:47:42Z")
![IMG_6969](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/3/43c025ef41d3707142a8cdd20f595a02d8818f9a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/2 "2023-08-22T14:52:42Z")
That one looks just fine, but there are 3 more at that end of the car, plus the 4 at the other end. ---
**Author:** ![king123\_car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@king123\_car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/king123_car)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/3 "2023-08-22T15:07:19Z")
Just for this one (1) brake pad pictured, how did you make the determination that it is fine? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/4 "2023-08-22T15:11:50Z")
There is a layer of friction material bonded to a steel backing plate to form the brake pad. You replace the brake pads (all 4 across the axle) at the same time when the layer of friction material is thinner than 2.5 mm or 0.100 inches. Some pads have a metal tab that rubs on the brake rotor and makes a VERY annoying noise to remind you to replace them. > **[When to Replace Your Car's Brake Pads](https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a26407325/when-replace-brake-pads/)** > > You can avoid expensive brake repairs by knowing the warning signs of worn brake pads. The pad in the picture looks to have the steel plate edge visible in the picture and the lining is equally thick to the left of it. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/5 "2023-08-22T15:12:42Z")
It would be much better find someone who knows and have them show you in person. You don’t want any misunderstandings where brakes are concerned. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/6 "2023-08-22T15:18:29Z")
> [@king123\_car](#): > > Just for this one (1) brake pad pictured, how did you make the determination that it is fine? Because the brake lining appears to be 6-8mm thick. Minimum pad thickness is generally 2mm. New pads are generally 8-10mm. ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/7 "2023-08-22T16:23:45Z")
Be sure to check both ends of each pad. Uneven wear indicates problems. ---
**Author:** ![king123\_car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@king123\_car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/king123_car)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/8 "2023-08-22T16:49:20Z")
Thank you for the detailed answer ---
**Author:** ![king123\_car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@king123\_car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/king123_car)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/9 "2023-08-22T16:50:03Z")
Good to know, thank you ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/10 "2023-08-22T17:43:56Z")
Unless you have changed pads yourself it can be a little hard to visualize what you are looking at. It’s also sometimes hard to tell unless the wheel is off. So when I have my tires rotated every 6000 miles, I just ask them the condition of the brake (not break) pads. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/11 "2023-08-22T23:22:55Z")
No Kia experience, but I can assess the amount of friction material remaining of both front pads (on the same wheel) on my Corolla by just taking the wheel off & looking through an inspection hole at the front end of the caliper. On my Corolla this takes some experience to interpret what you are seeing. On other Toyotas (like on the truck in the vdo below) though, you inspect from the rearof the caliper, and it appears to be pretty obvious what you are seeing. Next time you have a wheel removed, suggest to take a look, maybe Kia offers a similar inspection hole for your car. BTW, the method shown in the vdo isn’t the way I change brake pads. I doubt if that is the method Toyota recommends for that particular design. On my Corolla I follow Toyota’s recommendations & position the caliper away from the disc first. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/0/0058b5bd3f328340d548fbf59289a87fbdc0836b.jpeg "Super Quick and Easy BRAKE Maintenance on my Toyota Tacoma! (04465-04090)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3wuQd7DJeI) ---
**Author:** ![king123\_car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@king123\_car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/king123_car)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/12 "2023-08-23T00:24:59Z")
Think in several months I will take the pads off and compare them to brand new pads, if significant difference will replace, if no significant difference will return ---
**Author:** ![LostnTransit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lostntransit/32/35072_2.png) [@LostnTransit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LostnTransit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-to-change-my-break-pads-can-never-tell/192414/13 "2023-08-23T15:11:02Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/d/bd479b9254f320ab9a89c11fb89f52a87036ae03.jpeg) ](https://cdn1.creativecirclemedia.com/quill/original/20210104-200635-c37c2009775e128dceb0faaa5b69b63c.jpg)