As tires, brake pads are also worn parts. According to the Toyota driver brochure, the brake pad of a Toyota car should be replaced 300000-60000 km. But in fact, the time to replace your brake pads is not the same to each Toyota vehicle, not matter it is a Toyota Corolla or Toyota Camry.
Why the time of Toyota brake pad replacement is different?
1. The driving habits are different
some Toyota car drivers like driving fast with heavy brakes, while some drivers drive gently, with light brakes.
2. The material of brake pad types
There are Low-material brake pads, Semi-metallic brake pad, and Ceramic brake pads for Toyota cars, but the friction effectis are different.
3. The conditions of driving
It is a different driving on city street with Mountain Road.
As the structure of brake system，many Toyota drivers may ignore the wearless of brake pad. Many drivers should not know the time to replace the brake pad.
How to find to time to make your brake pads replacement ?
There is 4 ways to help you found it out:
1. Observe the thickness of the brake pads:
The thickness of the brake pads can be measured by observing the brake pad thickness gauges on both sides of the brake caliper or by using a micrometer. Generally speaking, when the friction material thickness of brake pads is about 1/4 inch thick, it needs to be replaced. If the thickness of the brake pads is lower than this value, the braking effect may be affected, resulting in longer braking distances or unstable braking.
1. Use your mobile phone take picture
1. It is very easy for you use your mobile phone take a picture of your brake pad. Then you can check the thickness with the photo. This way just for reference.
2. Use a depth gauge to measure the thickness of brake pads
There is a depth gauge at the end of the vernier caliper, so you can push it out.
Insert the depth gauge into the gap between the brake pads and brake discs, so that the thin part of the ruler touches the brake discs, and then push it in so that the thick part of the ruler touches the black brake pads. It should be noted here that what we need to measure is the thickness of the brake pads. The ruler should not be pressed against the external brake caliper, but must be pressed against the black brake pads. The measurement data needs to be subtracted from the brake pad base thickness
Then you can see the measurement data given on the ruler. For example, we measured your Toyota corolla brake pads here to be 15 millimeters because the structure of the brake pad has a base about 5 mm thick in addition to friction plates. Then we have to subtract 5 millimeters. What we need to get is the friction plate data.
Then the thickness of the friction material of a new brake pads toyota camry is generally 12 mm. If the data you measure does not reach 4 mm, this is a bit dangerous. The brake pads are worn to the limit and need to be replaced in time.
If you don’t have a vernier caliper, you can also use an ordinary ruler or a straw or something. Just make the mark and calculate the thickness.
3. Listen to the sound:
If you hear a harsh metal friction form your toyota rav4 rear brake pad while gently braking, it may be caused by serious wear of the brake pads. In this case, your toyota rav4 rear brake pads should be replaced immediately to avoid causing greater damage to the brake system.
4. Brake pad warning light:
For some Toyota models such as the Toyota Camry or Toyota Colla, their brake pad is installed with sensor when the brake pads are worn to the point where they need to be replaced, the brake pad warning light on the instrument panel will flash.
5. Feel the braking strength:
During driving, if you feel your Toyota yaris brake pads braking strength is significantly weakened and the braking effect is not good, it may also be a signal that your Toyota yaris brake pads need to be replaced.
6. Engineer professional Check
You can also go to the auto repair shop or Toyota car agency to ask a professional engineer to help you take a look.
How much to replace brake pads on a Toyota?
1. By formula
Brake pads for a Toyota can cost anywhere between $150 per axle and $450 per axle depending on the type of brake pad desired.
As for different formulas, Popular brake pad types in the market usually is semi-metallic brake pads, low metallic brake pads, and ceramic brake pads.
As material price is not same. With the same brand, the price of Ceramic brake pads is the highest, semi-metallic brake pads are second, and low metallic brake pads are the cheapest.
2. By brand
There many brand on market, famous brand as following is more popular.
Akebono Brake Corporation
Brembo
Bosch
TRW Automotive
3. OE or aftermarket Toyota brake pad?
Choose OE for guaranteed fit and reliability; opt for aftermarket for cost savings or specific performance needs.
It consider your personal situation, we have other article to talk about this topic.
Where to make your Toyota Brake pad ? Can I make the replacement by myself ?
Absolutely, as a person with strong hands-on ability you can make the replacement by your self, it will be with lot of fun. Before you make replacement ,please make sure you have enough tools and make sure is it is safe.
If you are so busy with your work, you can also have service with car repair shop or Toyota dealer agent.
I think now you should know When should Toyota brake pads be replaced.
