What's the minimum thickness of the rear brake pads before they're considered worn out?

 

How low are your current pads?

Are you having problems with squeeling or is your brake pedal travel too far?

Pads can be worn to almost the nothing before needing replacment. Between 3mm - 5mm is the general rule.

Others will chime in on this as it a safety issue that you shouldnt mess with. If you think, after inspection, that they are low and in need then just replace them. It would take less than an hour if you just do the pads.

 

2MM is Volvo min. specs.

 

Thanks. I measured out the pads to 6 mm yesterday. There was some intermittent squeak that I thought was wear indicators, but after a test drive yesterday I think it was just the weather. I'm pretty sure the rotors are nearing the end of their lives so when the pads wear down I'll need to do the full job.

Brake pedal is still solid and the car stops well. The rears look a little thin at 6 mm and I just wanted to confirm they weren't at their design limits yet.

 

Call me ****, but I usually change mine when they are around 4-5 MM thick. Just me maybe

 

Glenn, I am in the same boat.


JPN

 

For me, Im in the 5-4mm range.

Even though the braking/stopping power is the same (you can pretty much wear them to almost to the backing plate) they will heat up faster as there isn't as muchmaterial so the heat being generated, if and when usingheavy brakes a lot like in stop and go traffic, will eventually transfer through the caliper and heat the fluid which may give you a spongy feeling in the pedal. But this is in the most extreme case.