Surely you know what the brake pads of your car or motorcycle are, but do you know when and how to change the brake pads? Find out here:



One of the most important elements of any type of vehicle, regardless of whether it is a car or a motorcycle, are the brake pads.


We know it, and that is why in this post we are going to tell you how often the brake pads have to be changed, or at least they should be changed, in order to ensure that your vehicle will brake perfectly, and avoid any possible scare during driving, which could put your safety at risk.


So if you are concerned about your safety on the road, and until now you haven't given your brakes the attention they deserve, take note and find out when to change your vehicle's brake pads.


 How often do you need to change the brake pads

In both motorcycles and cars, it is a fact that brakes wear out over time, and although it is true that it is difficult to define an exact period to change the brake pads , throughout this post we will to give a series of recommendations for changing the pads on motorcycles and cars that will be of great help.


And it is that changing the brake pads will vary mainly depending on the driving style of each driver, having to greatly differentiate between car or motorcycle brake pads.


When to change the brake pads of your motorcycle

The first thing you should know is that every time you press the brake lever or pedal of your motorcycle, the brake pads wear a little more, so there will come a time when you will have to change them, both for your safety, as to prevent the brake discs from being damaged. You can do it yourself with some light notions about basic motorcycle mechanics , or if you prefer, go to a specialized workshop.


Focusing on how often the brake pads are changed , as we have mentioned before, it will mainly depend on the driving style and the way of braking of each one. That is why it is important that from approximately 10,000 / 15,000 kilometers, you begin to be aware of the state of your brake pads.

It will not be difficult for you to check the state in which they are, since the brake pads have wear indicators, which when they are no longer visible, means that the pads must be changed urgently. From Pont Grup, due to our experience in motorcycle insurance , we recommend not waiting until the witnesses are not seen to change the brake pads, since otherwise you will run the risk that the base plate of the pads will end up damaging the brake disc. Brake.


You can also be guided by the noise, since when the brake pads wear , there is usually an unpleasant noise every time you brake, caused by the impact of the pad with the disc.


In any case, we recommend that you be alert and do not think about how many kilometers the brake pads should be changed .


When to change your car's brake pads

Knowing when to change the brake pads of the car is essential, being important to bear in mind that usually, the pads of a car wear out faster than those of a motorcycle.


But how often should we change them? We could say that this is the million dollar question, and the truth is that there is no single answer. Experts say that for proper use, they should be changed every 15,000 kilometers, but as we have already said, everything will depend on each driver, the type of car, the environment, etc. It is not possible to know exactly how many kilometers the brake pads should be changed.


Here also it is necessary to bear in mind that almost certainly, you will have to change the front brake pads before the rear ones , since they tend to wear out more quickly.


Luckily, the most modern cars include witnesses that warn us when to change the brake pads. If that warning light comes on, it is important that you go to your mechanic as soon as possible, as it will mean that the useful life of your pads is about to come to an end.


In the event that your car does not have such a witness, there are a series of symptoms that will indicate that you must renew the brake pads:


The brake pedal is harder than usual.

Vibrations appear when the brake is applied.

You need to depress the brake pedal more fully than usual.

Loud noises or squeaks when you hit the brakes.

The wheels lock during braking.


In addition, to know how often the brake pads are changed , you can also observe it with the naked eye, taking a look at your wheels, as long as the pads are visible. If so, you will verify that they have a witness that, when it is no longer seen, will mean that you will have to renew them.


Likewise, when you take the car for review, it will be the mechanic himself who will inform you of the state of the pads.


How to change the brake pads

Once we have talked about how often the brake pads are changed, now we are going to see how to change them, both on the motorcycle and in the car.


How to change motorcycle brake pads

Changing the motorcycle's brake pads is something that is not complicated, as long as you have some knowledge of mechanics, and you have the right tools for it: a set of socket wrenches, pliers, an allen key and a large screwdriver. quality.


Our first recommendation is that you disassemble the caliper completely, in order to take advantage of it to clean it inside and eliminate all the dust that adheres to the interior, since otherwise the new pads would not fit properly.


To remove the caliper, you must first remove the screws, which usually have an Allen measurement of between 8mm and 12mm.


When removing the brake pads , they are usually held by a pin, which to remove it, you will need pliers. When you have removed the pin, take the opportunity to clean it using sandpaper, and thus make it easier for the pads to move smoothly.


When you go to place the new pads, it is important that you make sure that they are identical to the old ones, otherwise they will not work for you. You will have to introduce them in the same way as the previous ones, always with great attention and care.


With the new pads in place, you will only have to insert the pistons, for which you will need a large, high-quality screwdriver, since they are usually quite hard.


If this whole process is very complicated and you think that you will not be able to carry it out yourself, as the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. We recommend that you take the motorcycle to your trustworthy workshop, and there they will change the brake pads of the motorcycle quickly and professionally, guaranteeing the best results.


How to change car brake pads

Changing the brake pads on the car will be more complicated than on the motorcycle, since in addition to removing the pads, you will also have to remove the wheels. If you still think you have the necessary knowledge, you could change them yourself. In that case, think that you could save more than 100 euros than taking your car to the workshop.


If you are definitely willing to change them yourself, you will need a series of basic tools: jack (to raise the car and remove the wheel), cross wrench (to loosen the wheel bolts), allen key (remove bolts that you cannot remove with the cross wrench) and a flat screwdriver (to pry and separate the pads from the brake discs).


Now with all the necessary tools, the first thing you should do is turn the steering wheel of the car, towards the direction of the wheel in which the pad you are going to change is located. Once this is done, loosen the screws with the cross wrench, without completely removing them.


The next step will be to lift the car using the jack, and once it is raised, finish removing the bolts with the cross wrench. Once there are no screws left, you can remove the wheel and then access the brake system.


Use the allen key to remove the screws that hold the pad, and pry with the screwdriver to remove it. When you have removed them, you will have to insert the new pads, making sure they are identical to the old ones. This will not be complicated, since the tablets enter under pressure, simply having to insert them slightly from the side.


Once you have placed the pads, compress and adjust the piston so that they fit perfectly, and screw them back in using the allen key.


To finish, mount the wheel again using the cross wrench, making sure that it is perfectly held, and lower the car by removing the jack.


You must bear in mind that you will have to renew the brake pads of the same axle at the same time, since it is normal that they wear out at the same time. If not, it will mean that your braking system is failing, so you should go to your mechanic.


We hope that this post has been of great help, and has helped you to know how often the brake pads are changed , both in the car and on the motorcycle.


 

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