truckerhat

Can you check the amount remaining on your front brake pads without removing the wheels? Or do you really need to remove the wheels to get a good look?

Here's what mine look like:

phuzduq

If you want to get an accurate measurement, the wheels and calipers will need to come off to remove the pads and measure them with a caliper or micrometer. You can get a cheap one at harbor freight that is good enough for brake pad measurements.

Crazy Canuk

This is true. You can get a good visual on them from through the hole in the outside of the caliper and would only really 'need' to do this if they are close but then why not just replace them anyway when the calipers are off. Wheels do need to be off to see that though.

What you have posted OP doesn't tell very much,

UNBROKEN

iTrader: (1)

You’re measuring the caliper mounting bracket. That tells you absolutely nothing.
Looking at the actual brake pad in the top pic....it looks fine.

Livoniabob

I agree,, wonder how many miles are on that pad. I’m close to 50,000 on mine and was wondering the same thing the other day as noticed my LF disk looks like it’s not wearing correctly. Think I’ll try to get my camera in there.

truckerhat

I have 40k miles on my truck. I have been hearing some muffled grating noises when pressing the brakes, so I guess I'll have to take out the pads to take a better look.

Thanks everyone!

truckerhat

Also, I'll share my rears if anyone is curious. I was able to get a much better picture of my rears without taking off the wheel:

Wicked ace

My quick check when rotating the tires is to look down from the top or outside of the back of the caliper into the pads. Most pads these days are bonded to the backing plate with a gas relief slot through the middle of the pad. Use the slot as a thickness gauge. If close, time to change. Also if the pads seem to be wearing more quickly on one side than the other, time to change. More importantly take the caliper off and lube the friction surfaces and slide pins. You may run across riveted pads too. The minimum thickness before wearing the rivet is 3/32".

Flamingtaco

Get a mechanic's mirror, they are cheap and you'll use it over and over. Centering the mirror over the rotor to get a view of the pads on both sides is how you want to visually check your pads. Uneven wear will be apparent. Replace by 3/16" pad remaining, and check the rotor thickness each time you replace pads.

JSmith21

Don't forget there is another pad on the other side of the rotor too.