Replacing BRAKE Pads

drewmunn · Unread post by **drewmunn** » 01 Mar 2006, 11:13

When do you know - other than looking at them of course - can you tell when the brake pads need replacing, is there any particular noise etc?

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 01 Mar 2006, 11:27

When you dont stop

Dont really know, guess when the braking becomes worryingly bad

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 01 Mar 2006, 11:43

The Xantia front pads have wear sensors that light the red brake indicator on the dash.

simonelsey · Unread post by **simonelsey** » 01 Mar 2006, 12:13

I have been told by someone ,that some pads when get to about 1/4 to 3rd left , start making grinding noise from pad. I belive manufactures put slightly different mixture to make you aware pads are low .

Please note, this may be a urban myth , But it does make sense

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 01 Mar 2006, 12:31

My grease monkey told me that when the front pads are low, there is something like a calliper part touching the lip of the disc, and making noise.
If it’s true, that’s a brilliant idea to prevent scoring the disc.

drewmunn · Unread post by **drewmunn** » 01 Mar 2006, 12:55

when i had a puncture the other week, i noticed a thin lead that looked as though it may have gone to the brakes but looked severed, so i dont think i would get a red light.

However, i have been hearing a noise that i cant compare when breaking downhill and something just doesnt sound/feel right. Have purchased some new pads but am a real newbie at mechanics and am waiting on my brother to oversea the op.

Given i havent changed em in 2 yrs since i have had it, would it seem a good idea to do it soon?

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 01 Mar 2006, 12:56

I've heard of one method for detecting worn brake pads its a metal tab that sticks up inside the friction material. When this tab contacts the brake disc it makes a screechy type of noise, the same sort of noise your pads make when they get down to the metal backing. I think this may have been an american idea.

The upside to this is that your brakes screech badly and sound knackered even when they're still working well. The downside is the same as the upside, the users will think that screeching brakes is something to be ignored, then they get down to the backing, same screech except their brakes fail badly. There is the possibility of wearing a groove in your brake discs if you don't change the pads quickly enough. Personally I prefer the electrical system that the Xantia has (as long as the sensor wires stay in their clips and don't chafe through giving false positives, or in the worst case the wire can wear through completely and then not work at all!.

bxbodger · Unread post by **bxbodger** » 01 Mar 2006, 13:09

There's only one way to check for pad wear- take the wheel off and look!!

If there's only a couple of millimeters or so of pad material left then change them.

Don't rely on sensors or warning lights- the pads may have been replaced in the past and the wires not reconnected or just cut off because of spurious signals.

drewmunn · Unread post by **drewmunn** » 01 Mar 2006, 13:12

simple as that - will do! Just wish i had a damn garage to work in instead of an open drive in this bloody cold.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 01 Mar 2006, 13:58

I have had experience of both the sensor, and the warning plate device attached to the pad.

My preference is for the warning light, as long as it works correctly, and if it's been fitted correctly it should.

This is due to the fact that when the warning light comes on, most motorists are more liable to notice it, and get it attended to.

Although I do agree the best way to deal with keeping track of the wear, and when they need replacement is to take the wheel off, and look at the pads, and discs also.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 01 Mar 2006, 14:09

drewmunn wrote:simple as that - will do! Just wish i had a damn garage to work in instead of an open drive in this bloody cold.

Even with a garage, without heating it can still be cold, and if it's not a double width it can be a squeeze, opening doors (on the car), working with jacks etc.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 01 Mar 2006, 15:35

Of course if you want to inspect properly without removing the wheel you could replace the wheels with some aftermarket ones with say 4 thin spokes.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 01 Mar 2006, 16:35

Interesting story on this subject in this months Car Mechanics magazine.
The story which is in the trade tricks section is about how someone had fitted a set of pads for a friend. The thing is the brakes were still noisy after the work, and the car visited the garage which is the source of the trade tricks section.

This was where it was apparent that the source of the noise, with the wheel off, and there is a photograph to prove it, was the brakes that this "friend" had worked on. This "friend" had fitted a pad round the wrong way.

This is why it's best to have someone, who really knows what they are doing when they work on your car.

Or if you do it yourself, study what you are doing, take it in, and think how it goes back together. Also strip one side at a time, and work methodicaly, and safely.

BonceChops · Unread post by **BonceChops** » 01 Mar 2006, 17:05

You could always take a couple of digital photo's along the way if your not sure. Then you can nip inside for a brew and a warm while you study the pictures.

BonceChops · Unread post by **BonceChops** » 01 Mar 2006, 17:07

oh yes and if its the front pads on your Xantia it is worth buying the tool for winding the pistons back in. You can do it with a screwdriver or small spanner across the cut outs but the real tool is a lot easier.
In fact if anyone could tell me the diameter of the piston and the width of the slots I will make myself a tool for next time

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Replacing BRAKE Pads

Replacing BRAKE Pads

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