How Do I Check Brake Pad Wear

[Roker]

The local Toyota dealer says that my rear brake pads will not last until the next service, I think they a touting for work. On most cars you can view the pad wear by looking through the wheel, My 05 Avensis has small holes 25mm diameter behind the trims and makes it dificult to view the pads, plus there seems to be a cast housing/frame around the pad so I cannot see the ends of the pads. Has the wheels got to be removed to check the pads.

The hand book says that they will sqeal to indicate when replacement is due,(not to be confused with metal to metal) the dealer knew nothing about this.

[Q.S.]

The local Toyota dealer says that my rear brake pads will not last until the next service, I think they a touting for work. On most cars you can view the pad wear by looking through the wheel, My 05 Avensis has small holes 25mm diameter behind the trims and makes it dificult to view the pads, plus there seems to be a cast housing/frame around the pad so I cannot see the ends of the pads. Has the wheels got to be removed to check the pads.

The hand book says that they will sqeal to indicate when replacement is due,(not to be confused with metal to metal) the dealer knew nothing about this.

Best bet is to take the wheels off and get a visual on them. Presumably the original pads have a "squealer" attached to one pad on each side, this is a metal leg that is attached to the pad (inner one usually) that rubs against the disc when they are worn down to the limit. The problem is that these sometimes break/rot off and are only good if the pads wear evenly. If a pad gets rusted into the caliper or the caliper siezes in any way, they wont wear evenly.

[Roker]

Thanks Guru. I forgot to ask, if I replace them myself do I need a special tool to return the pistons, or can I force them back by levering like I used to to on the older cars? The dealer (Ireland) wants €165 to replace the rear pads only.

[cmia]

rear pistons need a rewind tool

fronts u need a vice.

[Q.S.]

Thanks Guru. I forgot to ask, if I replace them myself do I need a special tool to return the pistons, or can I force them back by levering like I used to to on the older cars? The dealer (Ireland) wants €165 to replace the rear pads only.

Like cmia said, provided yours are the type where the handbrake works through the disc pads, you will need a rewind tool of some sort. If your model has the handbrake via shoes inside the disc, they are as normal but I think you have the former type.

There is a very simple tool that is a metal cube with a 3/8 square drive in the centre of each side and pegs of different size and spacing on each side. These fit into the cutouts in the piston and with pressure applied from a ratchet and extension, the piston is screwed back in until there is sufficient space for the pads.

Other more sophisticated tools are available but are obviously more expensive.

The new pads have a peg on the rear that must be located into one of the cutouts in the piston.

[Beagh1958]

To Roker.

Try Euro Car Parts in Belfast for brake caliper tool. They have a sealey kit with a couple of adaptors for £12 with a couple of pound extra for P&P. No point wasting money on top quality tool's if your only going too use it once or twice.

Regards, Beagh.

PS: www.eurocarparts.com or call them on 0044 2890 689 700.

[Roker]

To Roker.

Try Euro Car Parts in Belfast for brake caliper tool. They have a sealey kit with a couple of adaptors for £12 with a couple of pound extra for P&P. No point wasting money on top quality tool's if your only going too use it once or twice.

Regards, Beagh.

PS: www.eurocarparts.com or call them on 0044 2890 689 700.

on older cars years ago, I used to retract the brake pisons by forcing in a tapered chisel or levering it, why do I need a tool for modern cars?

[Q.S.]

To Roker.

Try Euro Car Parts in Belfast for brake caliper tool. They have a sealey kit with a couple of adaptors for £12 with a couple of pound extra for P&P. No point wasting money on top quality tool's if your only going too use it once or twice.

Regards, Beagh.

PS: www.eurocarparts.com or call them on 0044 2890 689 700.

on older cars years ago, I used to retract the brake pisons by forcing in a tapered chisel or levering it, why do I need a tool for modern cars?

They are still the same unless they have the handbrake working via the disc pads. There is a self adjusting mechanism inside the rear caliper that the handbrake utilises to apply pressure to the pad, this mechanism has to be retracted to allow space for the new pads to be inserted. To retract it, it has to be screwed back in and at the same time the piston has to be pushed back (as you would normally do). The two operations need to be done simultaneously.