Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but I did several searches on here and elsewhere and found nothing (and I don't have a Haynes manual which might contain the info).

My late '04 Fabia vRS is due for its 60,000 service. I thought I'd check the front brake pads to see how worn they are prior to it going in - though there's no problem with them; they're operating normally. I've owned the car from new and I know that the front pads definitely haven't been replaced to date, and 60,000 miles is a lot for a high-powered FWD car's front pads...

The problem is I couldn't find anything on this forum or elsewhere advising what the brake pad wear limit is - and I was even more surprised when I took the wheels off to find the residual pad thickness to be approx 7mm!!! See attached pictures

Now my previous car's limit was 3mm (Freelander) and previously I've worked to 1mm on other cars.

So can someone please advise:

a) what the wear limit is?

why my pads still seem to be so thick after 60,000 miles...

they dont have sensors but on bmw's its 3mm the light comes on. so i would change when the pads are around 3mm they do seem to last a long time i have found with vag cars ive owned

My car was still on it's original discs and pads at similar mileage and I'd driven it quite hard for the last 10k. I'm sure that level of wear is normal if you don't go around a lot of roundabouts, or slow down well ahead of where you need to.

I'd wait until the friction material is the same as the metal backing plate, then check the disc thickness just in case both the pads and disc need replaced.

Have you checked the inner pads to see if they are evenly warn and you do not have a seized sliders. You could remove the pads and inspect them, it's only one bolt, (lower guide pin bolt) then lever/push the piston back a bit. Put a bit of thread-lock on this bolt afterwords.

The mechanic who does my servicing does this at a service, he found on my mothers 53 Fabia last year that one of the pads the material coming away from the backing plate. I replaced my pads this year on my 04 vRS at 55K, however looking at those pics they have plenty of "meat" on them so leave for another year. You must not use your brakes very much!

You must be a very careful driver with all that pad thickness after all those miles, keep it up. I guess they are Skoda OE pads, must be a good batch.

My Octavia disks/pads are still going strong at 81K miles, slightly less pad left but still bucket loads.

my mechanic says the limit is 3mm before they need changing as mine were 6mm when i had a service

Have you checked the inner pads to see if they are evenly warn and you do not have a seized sliders. You could remove the pads and inspect them, it's only one bolt, (lower guide pin bolt) then lever/push the piston back a bit. Put a bit of thread-lock on this bolt afterwords.

Thanks - I haven't swivelled the caliper out but I looked down the "back" carefully on both sides and the inners look about the same - but they're not so easy to photograph...

The standard pads are junk I'd change them anyway.

The standard pads are junk I'd change them anyway.

What a stupid comment ! the guys done 60K and still got 7mm left, so how can they be Junk ?

Radiotwo

The standard pads feel wooden and don't work very well. They must be made from granite if they are lasting 60k. After market pads are far better.

The standard pads feel wooden and don't work very well. They must be made from granite if they are lasting 60k. After market pads are far better.

Depends on their usage? And what aftermarket pads?

Greenstuff, for example, are sheeeeite

The standard pads are junk I'd change them anyway.

Really??? My vRS did 68k on the original pads, it was only when I started a few track days that I upgraded. IMHO the OEM discs and pads are excellent for street use!

The OEM pads are good.

I run redstuff ceramic on an octy with 312mm brakes, but the OEM pads on the same set up are just fine.

As above some aftermarket pads are utter sh*te.

The standard pads are junk I'd change them anyway.

The standard pads feel wooden and don't work very well. They must be made from granite if they are lasting 60k. After market pads are far better.

For someone like me, who has passed six various driving tests at first attempt, and thus has learned to drive well and anticipate, I find them more than adequate thank you.

The Skoda's only my "runabout" anyway - I have other vehicles for the sorts of activities you might get up to!

So can anyone advise on which pads and disc's to to get and if possible places to buy at the best price, the choice is overwhelming and i need to get them bought this week....

What happened during the last six months? :think:

So can anyone advise on which pads and disc's to to get and if possible places to buy at the best price, the choice is overwhelming and i need to get them bought this week....

I got these!! Payed a little less mind.

Pads are great.

Mintex

There are plenty of threads about brakes if you do a search. There was one started in the last week.

I always say, don't buy cheap no-name pads, always stick to Mintex or Ferodo, or buy OEM Skoda pads.