How long should the brakes last?

[NickTyler]

Hi

My car just had it's first service at 18,000 miles and the dealer said the front brakes are 75% worn. They say I should have a few 1000 miles left and it will probably need discs and pads in a few month at £1,000 .

The brakes have always been a bit grindy and squeak like hell at walking speed in reverse which the dealer has claimed on many occasions to be normal...

How long ahve your brakes lasted and are they taking the ****... Again?

Cheers

[Rob69]

I've got a mate with a Q7 and his eats tyres and brakes, probably less mileage than yours for new discs and pads. I priced up parts for him and it came to several hundred £ parts alone. He'll run it until they're down to metal though and tyres are bald.

[zollaf]

massive cars, huge brakes and wide tyres doing a lot of work to keep it all together, needs big pocket to look after one. wouldn't want the responsibility of one myself. an s4 was bad enough even owning a garage.

[nevo]

Take a wheels off and make an assessment of the wear on the pads,you should be able to see the lip on the discs through the alloys anyway it will give you an idea how long you've got.

[Crasher]

£1k for front discs and pads is spot on for those heavy beasts using genuine parts, a lot less if you get an indy to fit Pagid, probaly half and no loss in quality. Yes modern brakes are noisy because the pad material is getting progressively more difficult to make as many of the compounds once used are now illegal, such as Asbestos, lot of fuss over nothing....

[srbsq7]

Is there a sensor that will warn you when the pads need changing?

I don't trust dealers when they tell you something needs replacing! Definite conflict of interest.

[nbedford]

I'm hoping so, my Touareg had break wear sensors

[zollaf]

Audi Q7 3.0 TDi Front & Rear Brake Pads Discs Kit 350mm 358mm 242 03/06- 1Lf | eBay

cheap.

[Crasher]

Is there a sensor that will warn you when the pads need changing?

Yes there is on all Q7's I have worked on. That conflict of interested is potentially there in any garage such as one that does MOT's and in most walks of life, like the new phone system BT have sold us which is ****!

cheap

but potentially nasty. After doing a bit of homework they COULD be Delphi which is fine but would you order brakes not knowing what they are? The same parts from ECP for Pagid are £303!

[zollaf]

but potentially nasty. After doing a bit of homework they COULD be Delphi which is fine but would you order brakes not knowing what they are? The same parts from ECP for Pagid are £303!

for those on a tight budget.. like chinese tyres. yes, they might ruin the car and make it dangerous, but they are cheap so its ok. just drive slower to compensate.