if i want to check to see if my brakes are worn down do i just simply remove the pads and inspect them? and if so how ?

 

just take off the wheels and look at the pads, you dont need to take them out of the calipers. why do you want to check them? just replace them when they start squeelin, oem and most other pads are made to squeel when they get thin so they wont damage your rotor.

 

if you are taking them out in inspect them, then you ming as well just replace them. No point in removing everything just to take a look. You should be able to remove the wheels and look at the pads. You need to know (or see) how big the new pads are just to give you an idea of how good/bad yours are.