I had my wife's CR-V in for an oil change. The shop reported front brake pads have 6mm remaining and recommended replacement. That seems rather aggressive. On the other hand, I obviously don't want to wait until the caliper damages the rotor. What's the appropriate thickness to replace front pads?

 

Take a look at them yourself, and see. If it looks there isn't much material left then change them, if it does look like a little over half the material is still on then keep them on and check again in a few months.

 

i go by the wear indicator.

i have no idea what the actual thickness is when i change them. i just change it when it says to change.

 

6mm seems like it still has useful life left. If your wife is anything like mine, she smokes through brakes. If your pad doesn’t have a squeal tab on it, or any wear indication take a peek for yourself. I’m not too familiar with the newer Honda stuff, but I’d say at 4mm I’d go ahead and get new pads and machine the rotors assuming your thickness is fine.

 

They use something like this at the dealership. Get yourself one and check. Its easy and straight forward to use.