Bend the brake hose to check for damage
Using a caliper, measure the thickness of the front brake pad along with the metal base. It must be at least 7 mm
The thickness of the pad and the rear brake together with the metal base must be at least 7 mm
Warning: Dust from worn pads and accumulating on brake components may contain hazardous asbestos. Do not blow this dust out with compressed air or inhale it! Do not use gasoline-based solvents to remove dust. Dust should be washed off with a special brake system cleaner or methyl alcohol in a drain container. After wiping brake system components with a damp cloth, keep the cloth and the contents of the drain container in a closed and labeled container. In the future, if possible, try to use asbestos-free components.
Warning: In addition to checks at regular intervals, the condition of the brake mechanisms should be carried out each time the wheels are removed or if there are signs of a malfunction in the system. To ensure driving safety, the brake check procedures described below are the most important of all vehicle maintenance procedures you perform.
Signs of problems in the brake system
1. Disc brakes may have built-in lining wear indicators that indicate when lining wear has reached a critical level. In this case, the pads should be changed immediately, otherwise the brake discs will be damaged and they will require costly repairs.
2. Any of the following symptoms may indicate a potential defect in the brake system:
- a) When depressing the brake pedal, the car "leads away" one way
- b) Brakes make screeching or squealing noises when braking
- c) Brake pedal has excessive travel
- d) Brake pedal pulsing (this is normal only when the ABS system is working)
- e) Brake fluid leaks (usually on the inside of a tire or wheel).
3. If at least one of these signs is found, inspect the brake system immediately.
Brake lines and hoses
Warning: The brake system mainly uses steel brake pipes, with the exception of flexible reinforced hoses at the front wheels and as connections at the rear axle. Regular inspection of all these lines is very important.
4. Park the vehicle on level ground and turn off the engine. Remove wheel covers. Loosen but do not remove all four wheel bolts.
5. Jack up the vehicle and place it securely on jack stands.
6. Remove wheels.
7. Check all brake lines and hoses for cracks or chafing in their outer covering, leaks, bulges or deformations. Check the brake hoses at the front and rear of the vehicle for signs of softening, cracking, deformation, or wear due to rubbing against other components. Check all fittings for signs of leaks and make sure all bolts and brake hose clamps are secure.
8. Bend the brake hose back and forth with your hands to check for damage. Hoses should not be twisted. Pay attention to the direction of the colored line marked on the hose!
9. Turn the steering wheel right and left as far as it will go. The hoses must not touch the structural elements of the vehicle.
10. If fluid leaks or damage is found, they must be repaired immediately.
Checking the thickness of the brake pads
Warning: The thickness of the outer brake pads can be checked through the opening in the wheel rim using a flashlight. The inner shoe can be checked with a flashlight and a mirror. If you need to more accurately estimate the thickness of the pad, you should remove the wheel and measure the pad with a caliper.
Front wheel disc brake
Warning: Experience has shown that brake pad wear on the front passenger side is greater than on the driver's side. Therefore, to check the thickness of the brake pad, it is recommended to remove the wheel from the front passenger side.
11. Mark with paint the position of the front wheel in relation to the hub. This will set the balanced wheel to its working position. Loosen the wheel bolts. In this case, the car must be on the ground. Raise the front of the car and place on stands. Remove the front wheel.
12. Use a vernier caliper to measure the pad thickness a with the metal backing on the inner and outer brake pads.
13. The wear limit of the front pad is considered to be a thickness of 7 mm (with carrier plate). In this case, the brake pad must be replaced, refer to subsection Replacing the front brake pads.
14. Install the front wheel so that the markings made during removal match. Wheel bolts are not lubricated. Install the wheel bolts. Lower the vehicle onto the wheels and tighten the bolts crosswise to 120 Nm.
Warning: From experience, 1 mm of brake pad wear corresponds to at least 1,000 km of a car's run. This rule corresponds to adverse operating conditions of the vehicle. Under normal conditions, pad wear is significantly less. With a pad thickness of 10.0 mm, the pad can still be used for at least 3000 km.
Rear wheel disc brake
15. Check the thickness of the outer brake pad through the opening in the wheel rim, using a flashlight if necessary. The wheel disc does not need to be removed. If there is a wheel cover, it must be removed.
16. Check the inner block with a lamp and a mirror.
17. The brake pad wear limit for the rear and front wheels is considered to be 7 mm thick, including the base plate.
Parking brake
18. The simplest, and perhaps most obvious, way to test the parking brake is to park the vehicle on a steep hill with the brakes engaged and the transmission in neutral (You must be in the car during the check). If the parking brake does not keep the vehicle from rolling, it should be adjusted.
Visitor comments