- Most passenger vehicles have rear brakes that consist of a rotor--a big metal wheell--and a caliper that holds brake shoes against the rotor. New brake pads are generally a little less than 1/2-inch thick, and they should be changed when they are about 1/4-inch thick. Make sure you understand what good brakes are supposed to look and feel like so when there is a problem, you can recognize it.
- Pay attention to how your brakes feel when driving. If you have to push the pedal a long way before the vehicle begins to stop, or if the brakes feel spongy, you might have low brake pads. Be aware that low brake pads are not the only reason you may be stopping too slowly. For example, low brake fluid or a brake line leak could also be at fault. In addition to how they feel, listen for any unusual noises while you are driving and using your brakes. Sounds like grinding, scraping, whining, or screeching every time you hit the brakes means it's probably past time to get them changed. Before you panic and call the mechanic, do a visual inspection of your brake pads to make sure they are causing the problems.
- Set the emergency brake. Inspect your rear brake pads by kneeling on the ground and looking for the rotor. Rotors are big metal disks set behind your wheels, and you will be able to see them better by kneeling down at the back of the vehicle. Once you see the rotors, look for the metal clamps that hold your brake pads against the rotors. These clamps, or calipers, usually have holes in them so you can see the brake pad thickness. If your brakes are less than 1/4-inch thick, you need to have them changed out. And if the pads are getting worn out unevenly (one is thicker than the other), you need to have a professional look at them because there is a problem with the way the pad is sitting on the rotor.
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