Brake Pad Replacement.

After 6 years and 52k miles I’d say the pads don’t owe you anything and change them. Then you can forget about them for another 50k miles.

OH said there is usually a groove on them and you would still have enough pad left if the groove is there.  OH has just done all his pads front and rear on the Landcruiser as he has  a CT( MOT) just over 4 weeks time.One his old jobs was designing MOT brake testers for Crypton at Bridgwater many years ago.

You've no idea how long John's Mondeo's brake pads have been fitted for. 🙄

.. What are the thoughts of those that know? I don't tend to be heavy on the brakes. The brakes have so far done 52,000.

There's no reason at all to replace the the pads at around 6mm thick. You need to check that all pads are wearing uniformly, car generally have sliding calipers these day & if they still/seize, you'll end up wearing the pad on one side more so than the other often wearing it till you wear the lining out completely while the pad on the other side of the disc still has loads of meat on it. (this is exactly what I'll be sorting on Emily's car tomorrow)

Your car will only fail an MOT if the pads get as thin as 1.5mm .... not that I'm suggesting you leave them that long.

Your pads are about 50% worn. I change my brake pads when they have worn down to about 3mm. 

Fair point......educated guess based on huge and obvious clues in the OP. 😏

Thanks for all your comments. It wasn't a cost issue but more about being able to get them replaced, if necessary, before our next holiday in two weeks time with an estimated mileage of 1000 miles in total. It looks as though I'll be perfectly OK until I get home again.

I can't readily see a groove in the pads but on the front pads, at least, there appears to be a small shoulder in the pad material about 3mm out from the metal, and then a further 3mm of slightly narrower pad material. I'm guessing this is in lieu of the groove and probably easier to see. 

just ensure the pads are wearing evenly ie is the 6mm mention above consistent on either side of the disc & on both sides of the car. When replacing the pads on my daughter's car yesterday I found that on one side of the car the pads had worn down to virtually metal on metal but there was still a good 5 or 6mm on both sides of the disc on the other side.

If you're not sure, isn't there a local one man band type garage locally where you can ask?