Brake System

Measuring Disc Brake Pad Thickness

~1min read

Disc brake pads on the front wheels are large enough to last up to 50,000 km. Nevertheless, do not neglect regular visual inspection:

PROCEDURE

The minimum pad thickness, excluding the backing plate, must be 2 mm. The backing plate itself, that is, the metal plate to which the friction material is bonded, is about 5 mm thick.

For a quick check, with the wheel cover removed, shine a lamp through the opening in the wheel and assess the lining thickness.

A more accurate check is performed with the wheel removed. Place a ruler against the pad and measure as shown in the upper illustration. Do not forget to inspect the friction lining on the inner side!

Измерение толщины колодок тормозного механизма передних колес:
Measuring Front Brake Pad Thickness:
1 – lining material;
2 – metal backing plate.

Test yourself

A quick Audi 80 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.