Hi,

I'm hoping someone can help me on this, I have asked some mechanic and they don't think it exist.

6 month ago, I serviced (oil, fliter, inspection which include brakes) my F150 at quicklane. after 3000km the front wheel came loose and start wobbling on the road (very dangerous)

My question is that is there a device that a person can check and measure the brake pad thickness without removing the wheel? If yes, then disregard anything I have to say underneath. I googled that and I didn't find anything

rant:
upon my own inspection, all the nuts came loose expect 2 (total of 7). And those were the ones that didn't get me killed on the road. All other wheels are coming loose as well. So I called up quicklane because to my knowledge that you need to take off the wheel to inspect the brake pad and measure the brake pad. (they included my brake pad thickness on my inspection page too)

I called the shop up. The first time I asked if they take wheels off for brake inspection, and they admit they do but refuse to take blame. So it's passed onto a manager, he didn't want to deal with so it was passed to a general manager (wtf?). But the general manager was magically not available so they said they call me back. Guess what, never did.

Upon the second phone call, I asked for the general manager. He told me the following (in-order): "we don't need to take wheels off to check and measure the brake pads, service was 6 month ago, somebody might tried to steal your wheels.

The problem with this is that the shop people says yes, and the general manger says no to the remove of wheels problem. Which only tells me that someone in this is not telling the truth, or one of them don't know what they are doing. Which is scary either way...

Edit: My wheels are custom, and yes, people might try to steal it. However the nuts are special nuts that a lot of shops don't even have the wrench for it. Even if someone tried to steal it, it makes no sense because if you can't take one wheel, why would you try the other 3 that you know you can't get it off?

 

The only way you will be able to determine pad thickness -w/o- taking off the wheels is at some point applying the brakes and hear the awful metal on metal sound my friend. That's it plain and simple. Forget about that shop and go somewhere else for your routine maintenance, I'm sure there are many shops available that will check your pads for next to nothing if not free if your in there for an oil change / tire rotation.

 

That is not the truth. If your truck has spoked wheels, there is plenty of opening to go in with a go/no-go gage which is very commonly used in the auto industry. Just because you are not aware of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Here is a link to what I'm talking about.

 

6 months have passed since they touched the wheels, I think your pretty much SOL trying to blame them, you do know your supposed to check wheel lug torque every so often right? That little paper back booklet included with your after market wheels state the procedure and time frame.

 

My bad chief, never heard about one of those gadgets. Most folks check the thickness of the pads while they are rotating the tires. I prefer that way, never failed me yet....appreciate you for making me a little smarter and more aware

 

No problem.