Brake Pad advisory on MOT

Quagmire · Oct 25, 2023

Had an MOT recently on our 1.8 Mk5, which passed but with some advisories on steering play, front brake pads and exhaust corrosion.

Thr advisory said fronts pads are wearing thin, so I went out to check. Looking through the alloy spokes there appears to be about 8mm of material left before the metal plate, maybe about 6mm before the wear indicator clip would start to touch the disc.

Looking at the rears, they actually look more worn down, with only about 5mm of material left before the metal plate. Though the rear pads are smaller as I guess most of the braking is done on the fronts.

Haven't checked the inner pads, but assuming they are the same as outers, I'm not sure why they have been added an an advisory?

_mocool_ · Oct 25, 2023

Post a picture.
Inners normally wear more than outers due to force of piston

Quagmire · Oct 26, 2023

Difficult to capture on camera, but a few of the fronts (the the wear indicator), and one of the back.

Don't think I'll be able to see inners unless I take the wheels off.

Ant21 · Oct 26, 2023

I bet it's just a cautious MOT tester.
Keep an eye on them, they'll need changing in time but not immediately.

Quagmire · Oct 27, 2023

Could be. It is an auto so the fronts wear out quicker I guess.

Also the inner pads could be a lot thinner, can't really see without taking the wheels off, or maybe a mirror or something.

_mocool_ · Oct 28, 2023

They still have life in them, when they need replacing the wear indicator on the pad will touch the disc.. so dont worry about them.
Just the MOT tester covering his back. But check the inners just to make sure...

Quagmire · Oct 28, 2023

Do the rears have wear indicators too?

_mocool_ · Oct 28, 2023

Quagmire said:
Do the rears have wear indicators too?

No

Big Dave · Oct 28, 2023

On the Astra-J, the audible wear indicators for the front pads are on the inner pads. Are you sure the front pads are the correct way around?
Thinking about it however, maybe not, as you shouldn't be able to fit the pads incorrectly.

_mocool_ · Oct 29, 2023

Quagmire said:
I can't remember, I think it was me that changes them some years ago now.

They should be shaped to only fit in the caliper only one way, but if they came as a set of 4, then it is possible I put the ones with wear indicators on the outside instead of inside.

In hindsight, putting them on the inside would have made more sense, as those pads are hidden.

normally inner pads have clamps on them securing thme to the piston meaning you can only fit them one way

Quagmire · Oct 29, 2023

I can't remember, I think it was me that changes them some years ago now.

They should be shaped to only fit in the caliper only one way, but if they came as a set of 4, then it is possible I put the ones with wear indicators on the outside instead of inside.

In hindsight, putting them on the inside would have made more sense, as those pads are hidden.

rds60h · Oct 30, 2023

The MOT tester would have been able to see the inner pads just as well as the outer pads because he would have either been down a pit or looking up to the car on a hydraulic lift, the advisory is really to let you know things that will most likely need attention before the next MOT..........................Had it been excessive wear it would have been a Fail, the Advisory is a "Just to let you know".

Brake Pad advisory on MOT

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