Brake Pad Replacement.

JohnM20
JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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edited June 2021 in Towcars & Towing #1

The brake pads on my 2015 Mondeo are 6.0mm (front) and 6.5mm (rear) before it is metal on metal. Do they need replacing yet? Looking on line there seems to be a big variation of when to change them from 3mm to 7mm so I'm not really any wiser. Obviously the garages will say yes, change them now but I'd like to get my next holiday out of them which I estimate will be less than 1000 miles travel in total during the holiday and perhaps another 100 before I go. What are the thoughts of those that know? I don't tend to be heavy on the brakes. The brakes have so far done 52,000.

Comments

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited June 2021 #2

    After 6 years and 52k miles I’d say the pads don’t owe you anything and change them. Then you can forget about them for another 50k miles.

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited June 2021 #3

    OH said there is usually a groove on them and you would still have enough pad left if the groove is there.  OH has just done all his pads front and rear on the Landcruiser as he has  a CT( MOT) just over 4 weeks time.One his old jobs was designing MOT brake testers for Crypton at Bridgwater many years ago.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2021 #4

    You've no idea how long John's Mondeo's brake pads have been fitted for. 🙄

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2021 #5

    .. What are the thoughts of those that know? I don't tend to be heavy on the brakes. The brakes have so far done 52,000.

    There's no reason at all to replace the the pads at around 6mm thick. You need to check that all pads are wearing uniformly, car generally have sliding calipers these day & if they still/seize, you'll end up wearing the pad on one side more so than the other often wearing it till you wear the lining out completely while the pad on the other side of the disc still has loads of meat on it. (this is exactly what I'll be sorting on Emily's car tomorrow)

    Your car will only fail an MOT if the pads get as thin as 1.5mm .... not that I'm suggesting you leave them that long.

  • keithpres
    keithpres Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited June 2021 #6

    Your pads are about 50% worn. I change my brake pads when they have worn down to about 3mm. 

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited June 2021 #7

    Fair point......educated guess based on huge and obvious clues in the OP. 😏

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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    edited June 2021 #8

    Thanks for all your comments. It wasn't a cost issue but more about being able to get them replaced, if necessary, before our next holiday in two weeks time with an estimated mileage of 1000 miles in total. It looks as though I'll be perfectly OK until I get home again.

    I can't readily see a groove in the pads but on the front pads, at least, there appears to be a small shoulder in the pad material about 3mm out from the metal, and then a further 3mm of slightly narrower pad material. I'm guessing this is in lieu of the groove and probably easier to see. 

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2021 #9

    just ensure the pads are wearing evenly ie is the 6mm mention above consistent on either side of the disc & on both sides of the car. When replacing the pads on my daughter's car yesterday I found that on one side of the car the pads had worn down to virtually metal on metal but there was still a good 5 or 6mm on both sides of the disc on the other side.

    If you're not sure, isn't there a local one man band type garage locally where you can ask?