Okuzeka
Automotive vocabulary · Brakes, Suspension, Steering and Tires

Brake pad

Meaning in automotive, with examples

nounCore term

In automotive, brake pad means: A steel plate with a layer of friction material that the caliper presses against the brake disc to slow the wheel. Pads wear down and must be replaced regularly.

In Turkish: fren balatası, balata

How it is used

One of the most common service jobs. Technicians measure pad thickness, replace pads in axle sets and bed in new pads. A wear indicator, either a sensor or a small metal tab, warns when the pads are low.

Example sentences

  1. The front brake pads are down to 3 mm, so I recommend replacing them now.

  2. Avoid hard braking for the first 200 km while the new pads bed in.

Common collocations

  • replace the brake pads
  • pad wear sensor
  • worn brake pads
  • bed in the pads
  • brakeA device that slows or stops a vehicle by pressing a friction material against a rotating disc or drum. Most cars have hydraulic disc brakes at the front.
  • brake discThe metal disc that turns with the wheel and is squeezed by the brake pads to slow the car. Its minimum thickness is usually stamped on the disc itself.
  • brake caliperThe housing with one or more hydraulic pistons that sits over the brake disc and squeezes the brake pads against it when the driver presses the pedal.
  • axleA shaft or beam on which a pair of wheels is mounted. A drive axle also transmits power to the wheels; a non-driven axle only carries the weight.

More terms: Brakes, Suspension, Steering and Tires

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