30 point Check list for used car buying.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by badfish!

Also, if you can check how much brake pad wear is remaining (it can be done without removing the wheels) check all four, if there is a difference between the front pads or rear pads (if it has rear disc brakes), it could indicate that a caliper is starting to seize (for eg.: the front left brake pads have 5/32" wear remaining and the front right pads have 8/32" wear remaining. If the pads were installed at the same time, which since they come in sets they should have been, the wear should be the same, unless something is up with the calipers). While your checking, you could also visually inspect the calipers to see if they are leaking.

I've only ever bought brake pads in pairs. From wear almost twice as fast.