The brake wear indicator has just come on my 2.0 TDI, but at 85k miles, I can’t have too many complaints about that. Some questions which I’d like some advice on

1. At 85k, with gentle driving, is it likely to be front or back?
   
2. Will a code reader tell me back or front, and if so, what code should I be looking for?
   
3. What’s a target price to get them replaced; (a.) front; (b.)rear; (c.) all
   

As an aside, can anyone beat 85k before pads needing replacing?

Thanks

Edited 20 March, 201214 yr by mark antony

I think mine went at about 80k of mostly 'spirited' driving. It'll be on the front pads, front nearside to be specific I think.

A visual inspection of all discs and pads is the way forward.

As for costs? I changed all of my pads and the discs myself and the genuine parts were something like £120-140 I think. A VAG independent will obviously be cheaper than the main dealer. I would avoid the national fast fit type chains as they are usually rather ****......

There is no pad wear sensor on the back so if the light is coming on it will be due to the front pads being worn. Having said that the rear pads may well be equally worn too, and as dtev2000 says a visual inspection of the pads & discs is what you need.

The previous owner of my car changed the front pads at about 20k because "you have to on these ABS cars", (complete nonsense by the way) He was a retired engineer of the old school and used to give the brakes a complete strip down once a year!