This may be a stupid question, but when should your replace or check up on your brake pads. I have about 22K miles on my A4 with the stock brakes and pads. They squeak now and then, but then, don't all A4 brakes. :)<p>I figure the dealer has been checking them when I take my car in, but now I am wondering if they did. Aside from taking my brakes apart to see the pads, is there another way to check?<p>Also, how difficult is the brake pad install explained in the FAQ?<p>Thanks,<br>Howard Kim<br>98 A4 1.8tms(neu)

I ususally check them, or have checked when I rotate the tires. SHort of measuring the actual pad and backing thickness, there is no other way I know of to check them. Wear varies with how hard you use the brakes. I f you are running alot of autocrosses or track events, I would worry at 22K, but otherwise, I would expect them to last longer than that.

I too assume that the dealer checks them (actually I've gotten in the bad habit of relying on the dealer to check everything) and have been frustrated by the fact that they haven't given me any indication of how much life is left in the pads. I am going in for my 45K service this week and am on the original pads. However, my driving is about 80% highway. I recall at least one post where the owner had to have new pads at 22.5K.<p>Kyle<p>PS. If they don't replace them at 45K, I may be looking for a couple of autocrosses.

I tend to check them myself every few weeks/2 months. When I go in for regular service I specifically ask them to note on the R.O. to advise of brake pad remaining.<br>Since I have 4200 on my A4 I can't say what to expect on these pads. My other cars (Saab, MB C280) tend to get about 20-30,000 on fronts, twice or 3 times that on rears.