Dangerous and unsafe Yeti after 9000 miles

[gumdrop]

The dealer is saying the front needs urgent replacement and rear will need replacing.

Cannot post images as this formus will not allow it.

The discs are not worn just badly scored where the rust has been pushed into the surface.

The pads are almost as new, seems that the disc metal material is not durable enough.

It seems that I am facing a large bill for not driving enough and not using the brakes hard enough!!!

Not what I expect at 9000 miles of gentle driving over a 23 month period.

The warranty exclused parts suject to wear and tear but this is not wear and tear the metal is just not up the job and is not durable enough.

I think consumer law is clear on this, an item must be fit for purpose and durable enough to withstand normal use over a period of time in relationship to price paid.

This might be the last 23K I spend with Skoda after being a loyal customer for 15 years.

I'd take it to Watchdog, the adverse publicity would surely cost Skoda Dealer more than quietly replacing the units.

[Spaldi01]

On another tack my wife was at the dealers waiting whilst they did the service to witness a very angry customer come in because his brakes were completely worn out 1000 miles after it was serviced. The price is high but it is your brakes and it is a main dealer. An independent will be cheaper but do you want to do that whilst in warranty? It appears you have had issues with your dealer and probably Skoda UK which have left you feeling unhappy. It's a shame, Skoda should be better but I suspect you will have a very hard time proving that the discs / pads were not fit for service and I'm not convinced the dealer is doing anything wrong so it's probably best to pay up, its got to be better to be safe and confident.

[MarieK]

The obvious next question is - what are you going to do to minimise this corrosion issue in future?.

I wonder if there is a form of outer wheel cover that you can buy to minimise the exposure to the elements on the outside at least.

 

How about drive it more?  :p

[Huskoda]

You can always get ceramic brakes.

I have never not had a note on the service sheet about corroded brakes. Iron/steel rusts. It's a fact.

[Breezy_Pete]

Or cover them in a thick coating of grease?

[Ootohere]

Iron / Steel rusts it is a fact, and a fact that not all Iron /Steel rusts the same way or even the same way with different mixes of Iron / Steel.

 

But everything will return to the ground eventually, dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

Just products from the Volkswagen Group more quickly than from many other manufacturers.

 

As to Subaru Disc Brakes & Calipers,

the more recent models are now getting to be as bad as some on VWG vehicles.

Its worth looking on used car lots as to just how bad.

Supposed Prestige cars from Audi are often just a mess before a private customer ever gets one that is sitting as a Demonstrator with under 3,000 miles / 3 month old.

 

My local Skoda Dealership has relocated, so a Subaru Dealership has taken the premises over.

I will be looking at the Sales cars Discs over the next few months to see if it was only their  Dealership

near the sea that had so many corroded disc brakes on cars on the lot.

[muddyboots]

For those who only look at the outside of their discs to gauge condition.....

 

These photos were taken somewhere between 40-45k miles.

I have owned the car since 29k miles, and let's just say I haven't been gentle on the brakes in that time. Quite the opposite.

 

Front brakes - didn't look too bad on the outside:

 

 

 

But on the inside face, a different story:

 

 

 

 

 

And the rears:

 

 

Again, the inside face was much worse:

 

 

Shiny shiny. A slight improvement in braking ability

 

[Urrell]

Some would never have put a vehicle in for a MOT or even driven a vehicle with pads in that state.

Anyone with knowledge of vehicle mechanics should be ashamed IMO.

I had an advisory on my Fabia last year that the pads and discs were near the end of their life even though what I could see looked OK I got a new set of Brembo discs and pads.

This is what I found when removing the old discs. Outside of discs not bad and pads about half worn but the inside is difficult to see unless on a ramp and they were terrible.

[dmi]

Just had my brakes checked by two garages, one brake specialist and specialist supplier of brake parts who has full brake diagnostic facilities.

All four reported that there is nothing to suggest that the brakes need replacing at all.

So how on earth can a dealer want to charge me nearly £600 to replace the lot?

 

This is the second time this dealerships service centre has screwed up, the first time was faillling to re-programe by computer after they fitted the westfalia tow bar an electics.

On that occasion the Service Manager refused to accept that the work should have been done and it was the first time he had heard of it.

Skoda UK sent me voucher for a free service on this occasion because of the many many phone calls and visits I made to sort this out.

 

Will I get into trouble if I name and shame the bad guy and praise the good ones?

[Ryeman]

^^^ people are constantly giving 'reviews' online so without going over the top I don't see how they could complain.

But

Only if you are not going back.

Edited 10 August, 2015 by Ryeman

[dmi]

Just had my brakes checked by two garages, one brake specialist and specialist supplier of brake parts who has full brake diagnostic facilities.

All four reported that there is nothing to suggest that the brakes need replacing at all.

So how on earth can a dealer want to charge me nearly £600 to replace the lot?

 

This is the second time this dealerships service centre has screwed up, the first time was faillling to re-programe by computer after they fitted the westfalia tow bar an electics.

On that occasion the Service Manager refused to accept that the work should have been done and it was the first time he had heard of it.

Skoda UK sent me voucher for a free service on this occasion because of the many many phone calls and visits I made to sort this out.

 

Will I get into trouble if I name and shame the bad guy and praise the good ones?

[Merlinman]

Do it - it's what we're here for = mutual support

[Brijo]

As long as you say 'In my opinion...', it's just your opinion .  

[Carlodiesel]

Quote by DMI  " Just had my brakes checked by two garages, one brake specialist and specialist supplier of brake parts who has full brake diagnostic facilities.

All four reported that there is nothing to suggest that the brakes need replacing at all.

So how on earth can a dealer want to charge me nearly £600 to replace the lot?"

 

Perhaps a re-vist to the dealer and show him your report from the Brake Specialist is called for.

Get his reaction, then report here his reply.

 

I aways believe in giving someone a second chance, as sometimes people get it wrong. (we are all human) well some more than others...LOL

Then hopefuly they will learn.

[gumdrop]

With my first new car came a sticker advising that the disc brakes

needed light regular use to build up a "skin" on the discs and to

avoid heavy braking in the first 100(?) miles.

[karlbar2k]

The first thing would be as already mentioned to give them a hard session to clean them up. Especially if you have four different opinions that are contrary to what the main stealer says. It is worth visiting the dealers again just to see if their advice changes based on the evidence you now have. If it doesn't then maybe inform skoda uk that you are not happy that a dealer has given you bad advice(especially if it WAS them that used the words dangerous and unsafe)

I do my own disks and pads as I had to learn early on, not being prepared to pay someone to do something I can myself (especially main dealer prices ) I know this is not possible for everyone so the best advice I can give is to do what I would in the depths of winter if mine need changing and there is snow on the ground. Buy the parts from somewhere like ECP and get a reasonable Indy to do the work as they will just be charging 30-50 an hour. That way you get the parts at the best price (for the public anyway) and the job done by a trained mechanic, they don't have to be a vag tech to do disks and pads so why pay for the privilege.

I always advise to use Pagid disks and pads though not Bemba sets. Brembo have a good name for their calipers but their box sets of disks and pads are not the best at resisting corrosion, whereas the pagoda are Orem spec and they do not corrode anywhere near as much

[Ryeman]

I never bed them in with any abnormal braking and they always feel brilliant and never squeal .

I use my brakes as little as possible simply because I'm an 'economy' biased driver.

I just can't bring myself to drive like I used to when I was much younger and take my valuable car for granted.

I'm more into mechanical sympathy.

Edited 11 October, 2015 by Ryeman

[survey]

The first thing would be as already mentioned to give them a hard session to clean them up. Especially if you have four different opinions that are contrary to what the main stealer says. It is worth visiting the dealers again just to see if their advice changes based on the evidence you now have. If it doesn't then maybe inform skoda uk that you are not happy that a dealer has given you bad advice(especially if it WAS them that used the words dangerous and unsafe)

I do my own disks and pads as I had to learn early on, not being prepared to pay someone to do something I can myself (especially main dealer prices ) I know this is not possible for everyone so the best advice I can give is to do what I would in the depths of winter if mine need changing and there is snow on the ground. Buy the parts from somewhere like ECP and get a reasonable Indy to do the work as they will just be charging 30-50 an hour. That way you get the parts at the best price (for the public anyway) and the job done by a trained mechanic, they don't have to be a vag tech to do disks and pads so why pay for the privilege.

I always advise to use Pagid disks and pads though not Bemba sets. Brembo have a good name for their calipers but their box sets of disks and pads are not the best at resisting corrosion, whereas the pagoda are Orem spec and they do not corrode anywhere near as much

 

What about Bosch pads from ECP?

[karlbar2k]

never really been a fan of bosch pads either.  I have dabled with Bosch/Brembo/greenstuff/redstuff etc  but in all honesty the best I have used so far have been the pagid

[thedinger]

Since when are DISCS called ROTORS in this country?

[Llanigraham]

Since when are DISCS called ROTORS in this country?

 

Since car valeters got called detailers!!  

[Ryeman]

Since when are DISCS called ROTORS in this country?

Own up!

Who used such inflammatory language?.

I agree, this place is going to pot......so there!

[manxskoda]

Since car valeters got called detailers!!  

Trust me Graham, there is a world of difference. Detailing a car is an art form Valeting is not.

Tony

[Ryeman]

Trust me Graham, there is a world of difference. Detailing a car is an art form Valeting is not.

Tony

It's a 'disorder'

OCD

[Defenderben]

I have a Land rover on my drive that does maybe 1500 miles a year it goes out a couple times a month if its lucky. Which is way less mileage than your 4500 mile a year yeti.

I had brand new upgraded brakes (drilled/vented discs all-round and pads and new front callipers to take the vented discs) 3years ago and all mine gets is surface corrosion which is taken off when it goes out, it has passed the last 2 MOT's with no advisories and is due again next week, which will be exactly the 3 year point from upgrading.

My point being my discs have not corroded to the point they need replacing due to lack of use.

Do you wash your car a lot then put it away? That would introduce excessive moisture to the brakes for them to corrode.

SWMBO has a 3 year old Citigo with 7000 miles and her discs are virtually new!