Brake pads or rotors: what your car actually needs

Brake jobs are where most people get sold things they do not need. Here is how we decide, and how you can check us.

Pads wear first

A new pad has about 10 mm of friction material. At 3 mm we recommend replacing, at 2 mm it is due, and below that the backing plate starts cutting the rotor.

Rotors have a minimum

Every rotor has a minimum thickness stamped on it. We measure with a micrometer, and if it is above the minimum and not warped, it stays on the car.

Why pads and rotors often go together

Modern rotors are thin to save weight, so many reach the minimum by the second set of pads. That is a measurement, not a sales line, and the photo shows it.

What the noise means

A squeal is usually the wear indicator. A grind is metal on metal, and by then the rotor is almost always damaged.

Ask for the numbers

Any shop should tell you the pad thickness and the rotor measurement. If they cannot, ask again before you pay.