# Worn out brakes without warning?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/worn-out-brakes-without-warning/206310>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** cr-v, honda\
**Created:** [September 27, 2026, 5:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/worn-out-brakes-without-warning/206310 "2026-09-27T05:42:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![auto-owner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/50afbb/32.png) [@auto-owner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/auto-owner)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 5:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/worn-out-brakes-without-warning/206310/1 "2026-09-27T05:42:25Z")

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Can brake pads be down to 1mm with no squeak or pedal-feel?

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 7:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/worn-out-brakes-without-warning/206310/2 "2026-09-27T07:19:40Z")

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Wear indicators usually make contact with the rotor @ 1 mm of pad thickness, that is minimum thickness. However, only the inboard pads have wear indicators, it is possible for an outer pad to wear out before a wear indicator makes noise.

Your service provider should be giving you the “warning” of worn brakes during your maintenance visits, isn’t the brake pad thickness shown on the inspection report? We usually recommend brake pad replacement when the pads are 3 mm, this gives the customer plenty of time to schedule the repair.

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**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/worn-out-brakes-without-warning/206310/3 "2026-09-27T15:25:12Z")

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Yes they can, but if you are looking/checking the brake pad thickness at every tire rotation (5,000 miles), you should not have any surprises most of the time…

Or as Nevada said, most techs will quickly check the brake pad thickness and document it every time the wheels are removed and go from there… And that is one reason you should rotate your tires every 5,000 miles (unless staggered)…