The brake pads cause friction between the brake rotors and the brake pads, slowing down or stopping the vehicle.
If you’re a car owner, you need to know how long these brake pads will last, especially if they’ve worn down to 3 mm in thickness. Keep reading to find out the average lifespan of a 3 mm brake pad and the variables that determine its longevity.
In addition, you will be provided with a comprehensive guide on measuring the thickness of your brake pads. I’ll also provide advice on how to keep your brake pads in good condition for as long as possible.
How thick should a typical brake pad be?
When new, brake pads have a thickness of about 12 millimeters. However, its thickness diminishes with time due to normal brake use. Here’s a table illustrating the relationship between brake pad thickness and service life.
| Light Wear | Moderate Wear | Service Soon | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11mm | 10mm | 8mm | 6mm | 5mm | 4mm | 3mm | 2mm |
How to know the brake pad thickness for your car?
Here’s how to figure out how thick your brake pads are:
Step 1. Find The Brake Caliper
The brake caliper, which is typically visible behind the wheel, houses the brake pads.
Step 2. Take Off The Tire
Jack up the car and take off the wheel in a safe manner so you can get to the brake caliper.
Step 3. Examine The Brake Pad
You can tell how thick a brake pad is by looking at it. Indicators represent the minimal thickness allowed on most brake pads. Brake pads should be replaced if their thickness is at or below the minimum safety level.
Step 4. Measure the thickness of the brake pads in Step
Determine the thickness of the brake pad by using a gauge or a straight ruler. Make sure you include the metal backing plate in your measurements, not just the friction substance.
How Long Will 3 Mm Brake Pads Last?
A common question regarding brake pads is how long they will last if they are 3 mm thick.
A brake pad with a thickness of 3 millimeters may withstand normal driving conditions for about a week. A more cautious driver might get another three weeks to a month out of it.
It’s worth noting, though, that this expected lifespan may change depending on a number of things. The following are examples of such elements:
-Driving Patterns and Total Annual Mileage
If you are a cautious driver who uses techniques like light pedal pressure and evasive steering to avoid collisions, you may be able to get several weeks of use out of a single pad.
In contrast, the lifespan can be severely reduced to just a few days if you have aggressive driving behaviors typified by sudden stops and rapid accelerations. Your driving style is the single most important factor in determining how many miles you can get out of a 3 mm brake pad.
-Brake Pad Quality and Construction
A lot depends on the stuff that was used. Superior brake pads, which may be fortified with ceramic or other cutting-edge compounds, outlast their cheaper equivalents by a wide margin.
However, brake pads designed for maximum performance may have a shorter lifespan in exchange for their increased stopping power. Therefore, the longevity of your 3-millimeter brake pad is greatly affected by the material you have.
–Distance Traveled So Far On The Present Pad
The brake pad lifespan is proportional to the vehicle’s total mileage. If the brake pads have been used for a long time, even a thickness of 3 mm could mean that it’s time to replace them.
Can you make brake pads last longer?
You can, at least to some extent. But you shouldn’t put too much stock in it.
–Drive gently
If the thickness of your brake pads is 3 mm, you can extend their life by altering the way you drive. Don’t slam on the brakes or try to stop suddenly. Brake pad wear can be reduced by releasing the accelerator sooner before a stop instead of slamming on the brakes suddenly.
–Reducing Effort/Weight
The load on your car will affect how hard your brakes have to work. As a result, reducing the weight of your car by getting rid of extraneous stuff can help your brake pads last longer.
–Avoiding Sudden Stops
High-speed braking puts a greater strain on your brake pads than slow braking of the same distance. If you want to extend the life of your brake pads, it’s best to slow down, especially in heavy traffic.
Brake Pad Wear Symptoms
It’s time to get new brakes if they’re producing funny noises or giving way under pressure. They may not give any indication that they need to be replaced until after they have fully failed.
It’s probably time to get new brake pads if you see any of these things:
-Squealing of the Brakes
It’s possible that your brakes are getting worn out if they’re making a lot of noise. Eventually, the pads will squeak loudly whenever you press down on them.
–Poor Stopping Performance on Hills
It’s possible that your brake pads are worn if you have trouble stopping on hills. When it’s chilly and rainy outside, this issue can get magnified.
–Pads degrade rapidly in high temperatures.
The high temperatures and humidity levels inside cars during the summer months reduce the effectiveness of worn brake pads. Because of this, braking performance might drop precipitously when the temperature rises.
–Wheels Making a Rumbling or Grinding Noise
To bring your vehicle to a fast stop, brake pads are compressed against the rotors. These pads probably need to be replaced if they start making funny noises or rusting on the outside.
-Noticeable Brake Pads Showing Signs of Rust
Damage to your wheels and braking system can accumulate over time from using worn brake pads. When the tops of your brake pads start to develop rust spots, it’s time to get them replaced.
–Negative Issues with Safe Stopping Distance
Stopping from a distance is difficult, and rust on the brakes is a good indicator that they need to be serviced.
–The Brakes Don’t Seem to Work
There is a strong possibility that brakes are worn out and should be changed fully when they are ineffective during either hard or soft (dynamic) stops.
What is an Ideal Thickness for Brake Pads?
The thickness of the brake pads refers to the depth of the brake linings. The brake linings are the component of the brake pad that makes contact with the metal backing plate and generates friction. They make direct contact with the rotor when the brakes are applied, making them essential to the braking system.
Brake calipers squeeze brake pads against rotors in response to a foot on the brake pedal. When the brake linings make contact, they limit the wheel’s spin and eventually stop the car. The condition of the brake linings is crucial to the success of this procedure.
Brake performance is directly proportional to lining thickness. A new set of brake linings will usually be 10-12 millimeters thick. However, as the linings wear down from repeated usage, the brakes’ ability to generate enough friction diminishes. When the linings wear down to about 3mm, it’s time to replace them to prevent brake failure and rotor damage.
When Your Brake Pads Are 3mm Thick, What Should You Do?
A brake pad with a depth of 3 mm has seen severe wear and should be replaced. You can count on peak performance with these measures in place until it can be replaced:
1. Clean the brake fluid lines
Brake performance and pad life can be improved by routinely cleansing the brake lines to remove impurities and air bubbles. Brake pad deterioration can be slowed by retaining clean, dry brake fluid, which can be achieved by flushing the brake lines.
2. Modify How You Drive
Driving more smoothly results in significantly less wear on the brake pads. When stopping, apply the brakes gradually rather than slamming on them.
Maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you to avoid having to brake suddenly in emergency situations.
3. Don’t overload your car.
A vehicle’s braking system might be put under unnecessary stress by carrying too much weight. Do not drive with more people or cargo than the vehicle can safely carry.
4. Think about getting new brake linings.
Better brake pedal feel and reduced flex can be achieved by upgrading to high-quality brake lines, such as stainless steel braided lines. Better modulation of the brakes is the end consequence. The wear and lifespan of brake pads may be improved with the use of these lines.
5. Check for Bent Rotors and Adjust If Necessary
Brake rotors and calipers should be checked regularly for signs of warping or sticking. Uneven pad wear can be caused by warped rotors, and stuck calipers can prevent pads from retracting completely, hastening wear.
6. Downhill braking should be kept to a minimum.
It is preferable to use engine braking by downshifting rather than depending exclusively on the brakes when descending steep hills. This method lessens pressure on the brake pads, extending their useful life.
7. Keep a Safe Distancing
Keeping a safe distance from the car in front of you allows you to brake more gradually and avoid any abrupt stops. The brake pads will last longer and have less wear as a result of this.
Conclusion
To keep your vehicle safe and running smoothly, you need to know how long 3mm brake pads will last. If you drive a high-performance vehicle, your brake pads will wear out in roughly a week at 3 millimeters in thickness. You could probably get another month out of them if you drove more carefully.
You can get more miles out of your 3mm brake pads with safe driving and regular maintenance. Maintaining a safe and effective braking system requires routine inspection of brake pad thickness and rapid replacement of worn pads.
