Brake pads have 10/32 of an inch left - how long do they have?

[NewJeffCT]

I brought my car in for its 60,000 mile service today (well, it was closer to 67,000... but I was busy)

the guy told me that my brake pads have only 10/32 of an inch left, which means they need service ASAP. I didn't want to shell out for brakes on top of the regular service...

so, I'm wondering how long I have considering normal wear & tear?

and, assuming the pads need to be replaced, what else would I need to get done?

Thanks

[graywarrior]

1. This should help

http://inlineskating.about.com/od/annualtuneups/a/annualmaint_5.htm

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. interesting link considering the topic of the OP...

but I guess it is kinda funny...

sP

[pdx_prog]

2. First off....

Don't trust any idiot that would tell you 10/32" instead of 5/16".

Second.....5/16" is quite alot of brake pad...

[XNASA]

3. I don't know but I have my own ongoing brake dillema.

We took our '03 Mazda Tribute in for some routine maintenance. It has about 22000 miles on the odo.

The service manager told us that it will soon be time for new front brake pads and that it's common to change the rotors at the same time.

Apparently, new front rotors are needed every 24000 miles or so.

I'm going to upgrade to aftermarket brakes.

Bastards.

[Monk06]

20. During the seventies I changed pads on my Corolla three times in

four years and never replaced the rotors.

Any mechanic that tells you have to replace
pads and rotors at the same time is a liar.

As long as the rotors are not scored from
waiting till the pads wear down to metal
your're fine.

Plus pads are easy to replace. Just pop off
the spring clip remove the old pads, Carfully
insert the new ones and your fine. You can do
it in your driveway with a screwdriver and a
small hammer to coax the new pads into the
caliper.

[jmowreader]

21. I would ALWAYS recommend replacing the rotors

at the same time you replace the pads. Just call me exceptionally paranoid.

Brake pads are still good so long as they've got 3/16" (or 6/32" in your mechanic's lingo) so for now you're fine.

[hunter]

25. Well, maybe one of the reasons you had to do it three times...

...is because the rotors weren't flat.

But then again (a long time ago when I was poor and single) I'd fearlessly put new pads on a scored rotor.

The one thing you really don't want to do is let the rotors get too thin, although I've seen people do that too.

This is all like a metaphor for the current U.S. economy, isn't it?

God I pray the brakes don't fail...

[seemunkee]

4. depends

If you have a stick you can downshift more and use engine braking to make the brakes last longer.
You should really get them done soon or it will be more expensive if you damage the drum/disk whichever it is. If they get dameaged they may only need to be turned but otherwise your looking at a replacement.
If your half way mechanical brakes are an easy thing to do especially disk brakes.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. In essence you have slightly less than 1/3 of your pads left

but I wouldn't get brakes from a dealer anyway (sounds like you took it to a dealer) as they charge more. I'd take it in soon though (within the month unless you are prone to make suddern stops) because depending on the model, it's cheaper to turn the rotors than replace them

[BigMcLargehuge]

6. 1/8th remaining, or less, usually means new break pad time

5/16ths is plenty. Assuming you aren't doing brake stands, you should be able to go another year or two with what you have left.

[catmandu57]

7. Usually the rotors

will need turning, i wouldn't worry about brakes just yet, and go somewhere other than the dealer, changing brake pads isn't rocket science.

[hunter]

9. I'm sorta like you. The crunch of metal-on-metal is my signal.

Gotta turn them rotors anyways.

But my cars' brakes have always had a little bits of spring steel on them that make chirping or scraping sounds when the pads need replacing.

I don't trust any mechanic who isn't a friend.

[NewJeffCT]

11. I don't know any mechanics...

But, I have found that national service chains like Midas, Meineke or Goodyear tend to be more honest than the smaller mom & pop type places... I'd give an example, but I'm at work right now.

[catmandu57]

12. try here

http://cartalk.com They have a section on finding a trusted mechanic, recommended by other people, you may find someone close to you.

[jeanarrett]

17. I find this absolutely NOT TRUE!

The only places I have EVER been screwed with brake matters is the national chains. They charge for things you don't need and aren't always honest about what you do and don't need.

My little "mom and pop" mechanic shop has been wonderful to me for the 7 years I've used them! They are honest, will hold a check a few days until payday, give me rides when I have to leave my car, they know I have five kids and give me good deals and just generally treat me well. I have NEVER had a complaint about anything they have done. One time, they had an employee who used an electric drill to loosen my spare tire when it clearly said to do it by hand--the mechanism was wrecked and they fixed it for free and fired the employee. I can see a national chain just pulling the cable back up and then claiming "don't know what happened." Their bottom line is profit and quantity. My little "mom/pop" shop's bottom is service. Big difference.

[catmandu57]

18. That's why I gave him the link

I agree with every word you said. I used to be the other half of a small shop, we let people slide many times, as long as they could get the parts.

[NewJeffCT]

19. my local experience

Well, I started to go to a local mom & pop place a few years back. The guy seemed nice enough and the price for an oil change was a bargain.

Since he seemed good, I asked him for an estimate on changing the timing belt on my wife’s car since it had recently hit 60,000 miles and I know that is generally the standard mark for that change. So, he looked it up in his computer, did some calculations and came back with a price of $400+ for the timing belt & water pump.

While I know next to nothing about cars, I know enough to at least get more estimates on major repair work.

So, I called up two national chains and both told me the same thing – my wife’s car does not even have a timing belt, it has a timing chain. So, it was a repair that was not even necessary for her car.

The local guy would have gone ahead with the repair & charged me the money and (hopefully) replaced the timing chain.

I later confirmed the timing chain thing by looking it up on the Toyota website.

[jeanarrett]

23. All right--that's one example.

But you made a broad statement about "mom and pop" businesses based on one experience with one "mom and pop" shop. These small businesses have it hard enough trying to do an honest day's work and compete with the big, impersonal, profit-oriented national chains.

Just out of curiosity--how much did the national chain quote you for the work?

[NewJeffCT]

24. Nothing

They told me it was not a necessary repair, so it was not needed.

[underpants]

10. Less than half left

I would guess about 10 32s left

[jayfish]

13. Well If He Really Said 10/32 He Needs To Go Back To Math...

class or mechanic school as anyone who got at least a C in that class/school would say you had 5/16 left :P . That being said you have nearly a 3rd of your pad left and shouldn't worry about it. If you do decide to have the pads replaced I would replace the rotors as well. They are cheap from a durability standpoint and a cost standpoint. And I'd rather have them replaced outright than have Mr. 10/32 turn(resurface)them.

Just my .02

Jay

[NewJeffCT]

15. It was typed into his writeup

It could have been he only had an option as to how many 32nds he could pick from on some sort of standard computer form? Or, he could just need a refresher course in fractions?

[NewJeffCT]

22. As a follow-up

I thought about it this morning - it may have been a typo and maybe it was 1/32" of an inch and not 10/32".

The guy did say it was pretty urgent, even after I said I was going to get some estimates at other places.

[Richardo]

14. How fast is the westbound train going?

When did it leave the station?

C'mon man!!

[Midlodemocrat]

16. At what point will it pass the eastbound train?

And will they stop for coffee and donuts first?