Judge Brake Pad Thickness by Fluid Level?

spearfish25 · 06-04-2010, 11:07 PM

Given that I'm lazy and have little impetus to pull my wheels and check my brake pad thickness, is this feasible?

When I swapped my stock pads for the carbotechs, I noticed I had to remove fluid from the reservoir when I pushed the pistons back in. Along those lines, the carbotech pads have more material on them and I had the brake fluid reservoir at the FULL line when I installed them. Given that it's still on the FULL line, is it safe to assume I still have the majority of my pads left?

kenchan · 06-08-2010, 11:58 AM

not really. why not get yourself a telescoping magnet tool with mirror and a flash light? i never remove my wheels just to check pad thickness. too lazy for that.

Sharif@Forged · 06-08-2010, 03:26 PM

Using fluid level as a surrogate for checking pad level is a bad idea...as tempting as it may seem. With a flashlight and at most....a mirror, you should be quickly be able to judge pad thickness without removing the wheel.

spearfish25 · 06-08-2010, 06:24 PM

Yes! Why I didn't think of the little telescoping mirrors is beyond me. Good call. +Rep to you both.

06-04-2010, 11:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Judge Brake Pad Thickness by Fluid Level? Given that I'm lazy and have little impetus to pull my wheels and check my brake pad thickness, is this feasible? When I swapped my stock pads for the carbotechs, I noticed I had to remove fluid from the reservoir when I pushed the pistons back in. Along those lines, the carbotech pads have more material on them and I had the brake fluid reservoir at the FULL line when I installed them. Given that it's still on the FULL line, is it safe to assume I still have the majority of my pads left? __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

06-08-2010, 03:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sharif@Forged The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 840 Drives: 2009 GT-R, 2010 370Z Rep Power: 17	Using fluid level as a surrogate for checking pad level is a bad idea...as tempting as it may seem. With a flashlight and at most....a mirror, you should be quickly be able to judge pad thickness without removing the wheel. __________________ Sharif@Forgedperformance.com General Manager/Certified Tuner/NASA-PCA-BMWCAA Instructor JRZ RS1's Available NOW...PM me Cobb ProTuner, Uprev ECU Flash, FCON Vpro, Haltech, Motec Certified

06-08-2010, 06:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Yes! Why I didn't think of the little telescoping mirrors is beyond me. Good call. +Rep to you both. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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06-08-2010, 11:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	not really. why not get yourself a telescoping magnet tool with mirror and a flash light? i never remove my wheels just to check pad thickness. too lazy for that.