Brake Wear Indicator

[patomlin76]

Hi,

Just had my car in for some work under warranty, however garage have come back saying the car is a danger to drive given the state of the brakes.

They are claiming there is nothing left on the rear discs and 95% worn pads on the front.

I thought there was a brake wear indicator that would come on if they ever got dangerously low?

I'm naturally taking the car to another garage for a second opinion, just out of habit than doubts over being ripped off...

Thanks!

[Doctle Odd]

Front pads for sure have a wear indicator light. Can you check them yourself?

[Quatrelle]

Nothing left on the rear discs! What sort of mileage have you done to do that? Sounds dodgy to me.

There's only one wear indicator on the front discs, but I can't remember which wheel it's on.

Definitely worth a second opinion.

[patomlin76]

Exactly what I was thinking Quatrelle.

However I'm not assuming they are taking me for a ride, simply want a trusted second opinion from my trusted VW specialist.

The wear indicator is on the front left pad, however I'm sure it would have come on before 95% had been worn?

Apparently they are stating the rears are metal on metal, though there are no audible signs this is the case (would have thought I would have had clear screeching)

The car has done nearly 64,000 miles. I have owned it since 61,000 miles and it passed an MOT test 3 months prior to that in September 2012.

[Quatrelle]

Approx. 25% remaining I believe.

It's possible the previous owner bypassed the wear indicator by just cutting and connecting the wires. I was going to suggest taking the wheel off and having a look at the wiring and the pads, but if you can rely on the guy you're taking it to that's fine.

Don't want to be a "Job's comforter", but are you sure the mileage when you bought it was genuine? To wear the rears out, if that is the case, means something has been binding the brakes on I would have thought. I still wonder how it passed its MoT.

[zollaf]

it is quite difficult to fail pads during an mot test, believe it or not. they need to be visible and down to 1.5mm, so wafer thin. so if they had 2mm at test, they can't be failed. this is why an mot isn't a good sign of a cars health.

[patomlin76]

Mileage genuine, no worries about that, and service history to prove it too.

With regards to the front brakes, I've been thinking he may have been referring to the brake disc as being 95% worn. That would make more sense as there may be more than 25% left on the pads.

I have no idea about the rears, is the 'metal on metal' claim there to scare me to have the work done there and then? i will let the indy look at it and give his own opinion.

On the brighter side, the £500 quoted by the Toyota main dealer was cut to £419 at the Indy.

[-M-]

Percentages mean nothing unless you have a brand new pad to compare it to. You need to ask for the thickness of the disc in mm and what the VW minimum spec is and same with the pads. If the disc thickness is above minimum and there is no scoring or lip then it is serviceable and can have new pads fitted to it.

[Quatrelle]

Percentages mean nothing unless you have a brand new pad to compare it to. You need to ask for the thickness of the disc in mm and what the VW minimum spec is and same with the pads. If the disc thickness is above minimum and there is no scoring or lip then it is serviceable and can have new pads fitted to it.

I was simply quoting the book, and assuming the wires are working ok that is what you've got left when the light comes on. If it's 25% then your pads are 75% worn - that would mean something to most normal people. The warning light is what it says, a warning light.

Read my post again and the post I was replying to.

[Teflon]

Get the jack out, whip off a wheel and take a look for yourself. It's worth spending 20 minutes if it's going to stop you ending up in a ditch.

However, here's a little story I like to tell. My daughter has a 54 plate Polo, that was originally my wife's. Just before 3 years old, I went with her to the dealer for an MOT, the logic being that if they found anything worth fixing under warranty we'd get it done. They failed it, needing new front discs and pads at less than 20k miles. I took it to an independant I use and said book it in for new pads tommorrow, maybe discs. Took it in, picked it up and he said there was nothing wrong, but he put new pads in anyway 'cos he had them in. Took it back for free retest - failed again for warped discs and needed new pads.

Long story short .......... after putting a dial gauge on the discs, speaking to VOSA, having a re-test elsewhere (with a prior briefing that it had potential brake problems), it passed. Strong words were exchanged with dealer and we got a cheque for 2 re-tests, the work at the indy and £50 compo. Five years later it's still passing tests with the same discs and pads but triple the mileage. By the way, I've had three lots of money from that dealer since 2004 and the Polo episode was the smallest amount.

I now drive to a dealer an hour away that I can trust.

Now I'm sure your dealer is a lot more honest and/or competent than my local outfit. But........... maybe not.

[RichardSEL]

Name and shame?

[patomlin76]

Garage was Benfield Toyota in Leeds who made the initial diagnosis, the trusted independent is Roger Holmes of York.

Car is booked in tomorrow.


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