How do I know if my brake pads need changing?

[Dark Andrew]

This might be a silly question but how do I know if my brake pads should be changed? I'm coming up to 60,000 miles and am still on my original pads and would expect them to be on their way out by now. I would rather change them at 90% worn than let them wear out fully and get stuck somewhere (I have a long 1000+ mile drive coming up shortly).

 

[Flobadob]

I had a 50k service last year at a SEAT stealers and they warned me that the rears required replacing and wanted £110 to replace them. I decided to do it myself but put it off until the MOT and service 10k later. The MOT was a pass with an advisory that the pads needed changing. 3kmiles later I replaced them myself for about £20 and 90mins of my own labor and they had over 3mm (8mm new) left on them so prob good for another 10kmiles or so

No idea if these were the 1st set of pads or 2nd as I purchased the car at 40k

 

[Flobadob]

You could always take it to Halfrauds for a free brake check if your worried

 

[Dark Andrew]

You could always take it to Halfrauds for a free brake check if your worried

I'm not sure I'd trust their judgement to be honest. I've measured the outside pads through the wheels and the front ones still have about 10mm with the pad and backing plate while the rears are about 9mm. Haynes say you should change them at 7mm so the rears will probably need doing at the next the next service.