Brake Pad Wear - 40% to 90% in less than 7k miles?

[andrewparker]

Hi all, I recently took my car to VW Huddersfield for it's yearly service and MOT. As I mentioned in another thread it failed on a faulty high level brake light.

I was also advised that brake pad wear was at 90% for the rear pads and 65% for the front pads. I bought the car with approximately 9000 miles (so I assume the pads have never been changed) and it now has 50000 miles on it.

I compared the break pad wear from last year and the rear pads were at 40%, so they have apparently degraded by 50%. The front pads were at 65% and are now at 50%. Does this wear seem unusual?

They had also put a completely incorrect mileage on the certificate and the tyre tread depths which I have since checked were incorrect. I do wonder if they've mixed my results up with someone's else's!

[andrewparker]

Sorry, forgot to note that since last year I've done 6900 miles, all gentle commuting. I'm never heavy on the brakes.

[PDT]

TBH, they will look through the wheel spokes with a torch and then make a guess on the percentage of pads remaining.

[rich83]

VW always say they are 80/90% worn. In reality they are probably good for another 10,000 miles.

[andrewparker]

How many miles is it feasible to get from one set of pads?

[rich83]

Depends how you drive. Anywhere between one track day and 50,000 miles

I changed my rears at 50,000 miles but they had a bit left on them. The fronts have done 35,000 and are looking ok, which is amazing because they get some stick! :-)

[andrewparker]

They've also quoted more to replace the rears than the fronts. Sound right?

Sorry for my ignorance here btw.

[Kregiel]

I've had my big break kit for 6k miles now and based on this discussion I can rest reassured that my pads will be fine for my track day in 2 weeks!

Thanks for that
Paul

[homesqueeze]

I've done 51,000 miles and never changed anything on my brakes. I've just passed my M.O.T aswell so they must still have plenty of life in them!

[Wilko]

They gave me 5000 miles on my MOT advisory when the car was at 23k last year.  Just had it done 2000 miles ago this year at 30k and they didn't even mention it on the MOT. 

Service guy did mention it and told me that I'd need discs and pads all round soon though....  I won' BT taking it to the dealer when it gets done tbh.  I still see half the pad left and the disc look fine......  Mileage is largely motorway miles!

[Geoffcarragh]

VW told me my pads were 95% worn and I had 1000miles left. I drove another 12,000 before replacing them.

The garage are being conservative, and probably fishing for work.

Keep an eye on them yourself.

[Nodz]

seems like VW dealers have a thing for doing this with the brakes, done it to me both times it went in, same with the tyres come to that. The other one they like is the CV boots

[keano]

Not so much brakes. But vw told me that my brand new tyres were worn and would need replacing. Gave me a quote of £30000000

[andrewparker]

I get the impression they prey on people who don't know any better. If they'd told my Mother it was £430 to replace a brake light she'd have reluctantly paid it. If they'd said her brake pads were 90% worn she'd have believed them and had them replaced. Same goes for the tyres.

[MC71]

VW always say they are 80/90% worn. In reality they are probably good for another 10,000 miles.

They did that to me recently, nothing wrong with them!  

Not so much brakes. But vw told me that my brand new tyres were worn and would need replacing. Gave me a quote of £30000000

This too!!!  

The quote they gave me was a "0" cheaper. I had 4 month old GD F1 2's with only 2000 miles on them and they gave me an advisory after my cars service, 4mm and 5mm, respectively, on the rears. I went to National tyres to have 2 new tyres fitted and was told they get this alot from peeps coming in after being to various main dealer garages. Oh and my tyres were fine (and still are) with 6mm each. Beggers belief.