Brake disc replacement

[Mervyn and Trish]

At a recent service and MOT my car apparently needed new brake pads and discs. That's after less than 24,000 miles of gentle use. I'm not one for screaming up to hazards or other cars and slamming the anchors on and have always experienced below average wear. I would add that the tyres are still the originals and have plenty of wear left, confirming my driving style. So I was horrified.

I'm prepared to concede the pads on the basis they might need replacement before my next service in another year or around 6,000 miles. But I've never ever previously needed new discs at less than 50,000 - 60,000 miles.

I've emailed the manufacturers and politely suggested they might meet half the cost of the shoddy discs. They declined and seemingly have no problem with such premature wear.

Am I being unreasonable? What is other members' experience of brake wear.

[Whynd1]

Merv

You are the third person who I know of in the last two weeks who has been told they either need new brake pads,discs or brake fluid.
This was following service and MOT on cars under four years old with low mileage.

Perhaps the guidelines on all cars are becoming more stringent.

[oldbluefox]

I think it's a sign of the times I'm afraid. I was talking to my tyre supplier and telling him I used to be able to get 30,000 miles out of my tyres with no problem at all. He told me it was highly unlikely nowadays you could expect anything like that and I presume the same would apply to brake pads, although 24,000 miles is not a lot.
I presume they work on the basis that the fewer miles you can get out of tyres and brake pads the better it is for business. Inbuilt obsolescence or are they just making everything a tad thinner?

[Stephen]

Merv, as you may or may not know I use to be a mechanic. I could shoe a horse in less than twenty minutes

Seriously, did you have the car from new. If yes then i would either take my car to a main dealer for a second opinion or contact the ministry of transport explaining your views.

If you purchased the car second hand then you don't know how it was treated and could very well be in need of new brakes.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Merv, as you may or may not know I use to be a mechanic. I could shoe a horse in less than twenty minutes

Seriously, did you have the car from new. If yes then i would either take my car to a main dealer for a second opinion or contact the ministry of transport explaining your views.

If you purchased the car second hand then you don't know how it was treated and could very well be in need of new brakes.

I knew that! That nice young man told me in Madeira!

Sadly the garage that said they needed replacement is a main dealer! And I had a look and can't disagree about the pads. It's the discs that annoy me. Must be made of balsa wood!

Although I've not had it from new it had only done 7,000 miles in its first year when I bought it and that was at the hands of a retired Ford senior manager so unlikely to be a boy racer. But you're right. That is likely to be their excuse. But it's still a mystery that the tyres are only lightly worn. Hard to cane the brakes without the tyres too.

[Stephen]

I'm afraid it sounds like your going to have to bite the bullet and pay up. You will buy these noddy cars.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I may not buy another one! I told them that. Shame because apart from this niggle it's a lovely car. What price customer satisfaction eh? Not worth £62 to them apparently.

Now if Cubie was still around I could ask for a copy of his cut and paste compo claim!

[Stephen]

Try getting a quote from a local chappie rather than a main dealer and save yourself a few bob.

[Manoverboard]

Mobietta was told the same by a Toyota Main Dealer so I took it to a reputable local garage. They advised that the pads could be replaced but that it was not urgent, the discs were fine but in any event they could be skimmed rather than being replaced if a problem were to develop at a later date.

We have a chum who is retired now but used to be a Principal at a Ford Main Dealership, he advises that it is not unknown for mechanics to report problems because they need the parts for their own cars … just saying.

[Whynd1]

Ford parts used to be made of British steel, now its Chinese and the quality is not as good.

[Stephen]

Mobietta was told the same by a Toyota Main Dealer so I took it to a reputable local garage. They advised that the pads could be replaced but that it was not urgent, the discs were fine but in any event they could be skimmed rather than being replaced if a problem were to develop at a later date.

We have a chum who is retired now but used to be a Principal at a Ford Main Dealership, he advises that it is not unknown for mechanics to report problems because they need the parts for their own cars … just saying.

A very risky practice. Don't know if it is still carried out these days but when I was in the workshop garages would be randomly spot checked without warning by a ministry of transport bod who randomly picked a car that had been serviced that day and check that it had been carried out correctly as per service schedule. But more importantly ALL parts were fitted according to the service schedule. If they weren't, and it did happen once (not by me) that person who carried the work was in deep trouble and had to explain why, and ultimately was sacked.

[Kendhni]

Try sticking your reg into this site and it should give you an idea of what various local garages would charge
https://www.repairanycar.com/#nbb
But always check the price directly with the garage as well

I had a Renault and every service (9000) miles they said the pads needed changed (because they would not reach the next service). They said it was down to removing asbestos making the pads softer. I asked them not to but the best I got was about 15K. I then took it to KwikFit and to be fair, I never had to pay for brake pads again on that car (when they wore they just replaced them).

As far as tyres are concerned, do you have low profile or ultra low profile tyres. Apparently these low profile rims wear the tyres much faster - although again, due to newer regulation the tyres are softer ... apparently it relates to fuel economy, road noise and environmental.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Thanks for the various comments. A number of points. I've already paid. I needed the car back and was too busy to take it to other garages for other quotes. I'd hoped Ford might refund part of the cost as the life was ridiculous. No question of mechanic taking worn parts home because I insisted I did! And tyres are fine. They'll outlast the brakes by 100%.

[Ranchi]

I think you need to be a little less gentle on the brakes! As I understand it, corrosion sets in on the disc and if not scraped of (hard braking) will continue to eat away into the disc causing pitting. Tends to happen on the rear discs more than the front.

[Mervyn and Trish]

These were the front. And they're not corroded or pitted. They're worn thin. From further correspondence with Ford they appear to consider this to be a normal life for brake discs.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And after much evasion and dodging the question Ford have still not conceded the discs were poor quality but have lobbed a £50 voucher towards the next service.

[Stephen]

Better than nothing. Mind you, they'll probably get the fifty quid back by adding it onto the next service price.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I was hoping for a free cruise.

[Whynd1]

Is that Cunard or P and O Merv ?

[oldbluefox]

£50 jaunt down the Manchester Ship Canal I reckon!!

[Mervyn and Trish]

£50 jaunt down the Manchester Ship Canal I reckon!!

I'd expect change! A lot of it.

[Quizzical Bob]

Typically brake discs will last for two sets of brake pads, from 50,000 to 70,000 miles. If you are getting through your pads quicker than that I suggest you reconsider your driving style

[Mervyn and Trish]

Typically brake discs will last for two sets of brake pads, from 50,000 to 70,000 miles. If you are getting through your pads quicker than that I suggest you reconsider your driving style

I agree entirely QB. And that has been my past experience. If you bothered to read the whole thread QB you will see that I already referred to my driving style and it is considerate and sensible. That is why I have been a member of the IAM for 50 years.

That is why I was so horrified with the need to replace them at 23,000. And why I have been in conversation with Ford about the inferior quality of those fitted. By their grudging agreement to now send me £50 it appears they agree I have a point.

[barney]

Know what !
I don't think I've ever had brake discs replaced in any car I've ever owned.
Lots of brake pads and shoes back in the day, but I can't remember having discs done.

I once owned a CLK for 12 years and put about 75K on it, bit don't think the discs were ever changed.

I chopped that in for a CLS and put about 40K on that that but again, no brake discs.

I wonder if this VW 4x4 tractor will be as good.

[Manoverboard]

Our high mileage tractor ' nearly ' had replacement discs but they weren't actually required …. so still using the originals