Brake pad wear can be very dangerous to you if undetected. Your car may begin to drift to one side when braking or fail to brake at all. This can cause accidents and damage to other components of the car, such as the master cylinder. Check your brake fluid regularly so that your car's brakes are not running dry. This will reduce their efficiency and severely shorten their life. You can check your brake pads with a simple visual inspection.
Look at the wheel of your car and see if the brake pad is visible. Some wheels allow you to peek inside the wheel and see the brake pad. If the brakes are not visible, remove the wheel by jacking up the car, taking off the hubcap and loosening the nuts using a tire iron.
Inspect the brake disc for dirt along the shiny portion. The brake disc should be shiny. Look for any deep grooves or chips. The discs should be replaced if they are grooved.
Inspect the brake pad from the front of the tire area. Look at the brake pad and find the portion of the brake pad touching the disc. Replace the brake pads if there is less than 1/8 inch remaining on the pad. If there is 1/4 inch remaining, you need to replace the pad soon.
