Brake pads E46 Coupe rear and front

On the average, the parts last for 30,000–50,000 kilometres on cars equipped with a manual transmission and 25,000–30,000 kilometres on those with an automatic transmission. The working lifespan depends on a few factors:

• Individual driving style. If you often use brakes at high speeds, the parts can wear out as early as after 5,000 kilometres of use.
• Vehicle type. Heavy cars require more frequent replacement of the components.
• Degree of brake disc wear. Uneven surface of a damaged part has a negative effect on the pads.
• Jamming of the brake caliper pistons, which leads to uneven wear of the parts.
• Composition of the friction material. Working lifespan of ceramic parts is longer than that of organic ones.

Typically, a kit contains 4 parts – 2 for each wheel on an axle. Some kits contain 8 parts for one axle. This depends on the car design.

Modern parts are equipped with electronic or mechanical wear sensors. They indicate the necessity to replace the parts by the instrument panel warning light, which goes on, or by a squealing noise during braking. Also you can measure the friction lining thickness with a caliper gauge and compare it with the value specified by the car manufacturer as the minimum allowable. In addition, you can detect wear by the following signs:

• increased braking path;
• lowering of the working fluid level;
• metal dust on the wheel rim;
• unusual sounds and knocking when you stop the car abruptly.

For this job you will need:

• a flat screwdriver;
• a set of open and ring spanners;
• a lifting jack.

See your vehicle’s repair guide for a detailed instruction. Generally, this procedure involves the following steps:

1. Make sure that the mechanisms cooled down.
2. Open the bonnet and remove the brake fluid tank cap.
3. Block the wheels with chocks.
4. Loosen the wheel bolts.
5. Raise the car.
6. Remove the wheel bolts and the wheel itself.
7. Remove the brake caliper fasteners.
8. Remove the retaining clips and disconnect the wear indicator (if installed).
9. Press in the brake caliper pistons.
10. Remove the worn parts.

Remember that after finishing the work you may need to top up brake fluid and bleed the system. Press the brake pedal for a few times before starting to use the car.

Foreign sounds when braking can be caused by the following reasons:

1. Poor quality of the pads.
2. The parts are bedding in, and their factory coating hasn’t yet been rubbed off.
3. Incorrect installation of the parts.
4. Incompatibility of components of the assembly.
5. Overheating of the system or driving in the rain.
6. Foreign particles getting in the mechanism.
7. The brake caliper piston gets stuck.