These are the pictures a family member sent me of their car. They don't do any maintenance because they have a 2013 Toyota rav4. They just add gas and drive and it's been okay for 12 years this way. Sometimes they go to Walmart for an oil change. Anyway, I asked them to take some pictures of the brakes for me as it's been years since I've seen them and changed the brakes for them. I don't even remember what or when. I think it may have been 2018 with Power stop pads. Anyway, how do these pads look? Looks like the bottom picture has some meat left. The top picture, of the rear pads, looks low. They don't report and squeaking or squealing. And what about the rotors? They live a few hours away but if it's an urgent issue I'll try to visit and replace the pads (and rotors). Is that rust a concern? I don't have that sort of rotor rust on my rav4.
How do these brake pads and rotors look?
- Thread starter Deontologist
- Start date
These are the pictures a family member sent me of their car. They don't do any maintenance because they have a 2013 Toyota rav4. They just add gas and drive and it's been okay for 12 years this way. Sometimes they go to Walmart for an oil change. Anyway, I asked them to take some pictures of the brakes for me as it's been years since I've seen them and changed the brakes for them. I don't even remember what or when. I think it may have been 2018 with Power stop pads. Anyway, how do these pads look? Looks like the bottom picture has some meat left. The top picture, of the rear pads, looks low. They don't report and squeaking or squealing. And what about the rotors? They live a few hours away but if it's an urgent issue I'll try to visit and replace the pads (and rotors). Is that rust a concern? I don't have that sort of rotor rust on my rav4.
I see you are in FL but where is the car located? Seems like not FL for that level of surface rust. But the braking surface looks good, so I'm guessing not anywhere where salt is used.
How much do you want to get involved? Might want to stay out of it, and if anything happens, it's not your fault. But nothing sticks out at me, although it's only 2 pictures, showing only one pad, on perhaps just one wheel. Hard to say much with this level of detail.
How much do you want to get involved? Might want to stay out of it, and if anything happens, it's not your fault. But nothing sticks out at me, although it's only 2 pictures, showing only one pad, on perhaps just one wheel. Hard to say much with this level of detail.
They look low but not an emergency to replace them this weekend. Do you have a big hammer to take them off? 
And if you do replace them, get coated rotors.
And if you do replace them, get coated rotors.
My rule of thumb when I have no specs is if the friction material is less than the backing, replace the pads.
Doesn't look like they'd need urgent care. How much do they drive a year? They can put it off till spring-summer if they don't drive much. Also, it'd cost quite a bit in gas for you to drive few hours back and forth, if you are paying you may as well just send them money and to a good shop where they live, unless you want to visit them.
They look good for another year. That mirror finish is great. Being an un-vented rotor I assume it's for the rear, which sees lighter use, which is harder to keep clean. I give it all a well-passing grade.
The lighting/photography is so good so it enhances texture. That surface rust is present but not bad.
The lighting/photography is so good so it enhances texture. That surface rust is present but not bad.
This. As a data point, BMW FSM says 3.7mm minimum thickness for pads, which is about the same as the backing plates
