Hi Everyone 

I put my three year old VRS Octavia low mileage 15000 miles into Dealer for first MOT last week.

 

It failed due to back brakes which I had to get them to change £250 to pass the MOT..  They had a advisory on the front   (occilation) which say will need to be done shortly at £450. Due to my job I have to be hard sometimes on the company car and having had three company cars changed every 5 years,     none have ever needed brakes replaced,    so it seems unusual to say the least.

 

Now the Octavia  is not run that often as I have a work car to do my job so its really only for pleasure that I have the VRS.

 

I have never been hard on brakes even in my older cars that I have had,    so this came as quite a surprise!

Several friends think   the Dealer was taking the ++++   !       As its a three year old car very low mileage. I know its hard to give an opinion the car was bought almost new it was a demonstrator for 6 months from the same garage that did the MOT

 

What do you think?

 

Thank you

 

Biggles

My car is at the same mileage and the rear brakes are fine, hardly worn. Seems fishy to me, did they say they failed them due to lack of effectiveness or were the pads worn?

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by V6Jules

There is another thread running regarding Octavia rear brakes.

 

Basically the rear brakes on my car were heavily scored at 9K miles when I bought the car (then 15 months old) and are the same now at 38k miles and 3 years later.  Local Skoda dealer insists the car needs new discs and pads at approx. £250.  However, car has passed two MOTs (NOT at Skoda dealer).  In a conversation with the MOT tester he said just fit new pads and discs when pads need changing.  Pads still have plenty of meat.

 

Search for the other thread for more info and views.

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by philbes

I would have asked for the parts which they replaced as 15k miles seems very low to me.

Were they "worn out" or defective through corrosion, heavy scratches etc ?

 

What parts did they change - pads or discs ? (I'm guessing for 250€ it was just the pads?)

 

As philbes says there is another thread  about vRS discs falling apart when "lightly used"

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/366196-rear-discs-falling-apart/

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by Gabbo

Thank you for the info and Gabbo I found the other thread very interesting.

The car failed the MOT due to near side and offside rear brake fluctuation excessive. MOT fail...

Now the car has been serviced as per schedule since purchased from that dealer and surprise surprise no problems in previous years then suddenly on this MOT year', brake problems. Funny it's when it's out of three year warranty that's convenient... Also an advisory of slight fluctuation front brakes MOT advisory...

I was not aware of a worn. fluctuation on thus 19052 mileage VRS

I smell a dealer rat in Aberdeen Skoda.

I spoke to the garage this afternoon and they said they don't make brake hubs the quality they used to... On which I answered well. if the Skoda parts are so poor and need regular replacement then surely supply and demand they would cost pennies. Is this the quality VRS drivers are to expect. And since its me paying for this I am pretty annoyed.

Sadly I took the dealer on trust as was busy at work. Thus was not thinking. So should have pulled it to another garage. but they won't get a penny more out of me they appear to be below standard

Biggles thanks everyone

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by Biggles33

My car (22,500 miles) just went through it's third service and brake wear was noted at 5%.

 

Either you're a very bad driver or you've been had.

Its worth getting your front brakes a clean and re-grease and check that none of pistons are seized. Mine failed on excessive fluctuation on the front and turned to be seized caliper. Guess they don't really dismantle the brakes anymore during servicing and could just be a simple strip and clean, and giving the pistons a little work out.

Maybe if your car had covered a lot more mileage yes fair wear and tear could apply. But seriously, 15k first MOT and it's a MOT fail.

Are you being 'taken for a ride' or do parts really wear so quickly on these cars?

My VRS is just short of 15k and its rears are like new - has your handbrake been sticking on or something? suspect if they have changed the brakes now anyway you wouldn't know but might be worth jacking up the back and and checking the wheels spin freely so you don't burn through another set.

Thank you every one, Skoda 1963. I think you hit the nail on the head. I have been dealt a poor deal by a dealer. I have no history of brake wear on even my work cars I have had to drive them hard sometimes as need to get to location as quick as possible.

No history in any of the previous services of anything needing to be done...But Hey ! . Now that I am paying. A bill..

But I won't get stung like that again. I won't put the car to them again nor wil I buy from them... I will put my car into a garage I trust.. But in Aberdeen the oil bubble has burst they ain't selling cars anymore... The dealer should waken up to the fact that they may be doing me and skoda a big disservice

I have no doubt that there may have been some wear but I don't think they needed to do it yet..

Well aberdeen Skoda. I was thinking of buying a new Skoda from you. You just lost a sale!

What you guys need is the Northern Ireland testing stations. Independent government run, it either passes or doesn't, and new car test after 4 yrs. I assume that your garage testing stations have big glass doors? 

 

Vehicle class Full test £ Retest £

Class I Motor Bicycle 22.00 14.00

Class II Motor Bicycle 22.00 14.00

Class III Light Motor Vehicle 30.50 18.50

Class IV Motor Car and Heavy Motor Car 30.50 18.50

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by the rooster

We already have them.

When I px'd my last vRS it had 55k miles on it and was still on the original discs and pads all round....

My 17 month old vRS has just reached 15,000 miles and the brakes are like new - you have definitely been had 

I've just replaced the discs and pads all round on my 2.5yr / 40K mile VRS. In truth only needed to replace the front pads, but when doing it myself it was considerably cheaper than the main dealer.

Whilst replacing the rear pads they were seized in place. The pads were approx 50% worn, but the discs were heavily corroded. This has been a common trait across all of the VAG cars that I have owned (Golfs, Leons, Octavias). Unfortunately if the pads seize they become a lot less effective, and thus corrosion on the rear disc surface is a lot more prevalent. This problem is amplified if using a jet wash / alloy wheel cleaner which strips the lubrication away in this area, and/or you then leave the car parked up for several days at a time or do not brake hard enough to activate the rear brakes. I note that your dealer is in Aberdeen - assuming that due to the climate the roads are heavily salted in winter / live near to the coast this will also have an environmental impact in corroding discs.

In terms of have you been done, the brakes were not working as effectively as they should - whilst a strip and clean would probably have sufficed to pass the MOT test, you now have the peace of mind that should you need them, the brakes will function as they should. The ESP / post collision braking systems require all wheels to have sound braking efficiency to function properly.

Edited 9 August, 20169 yr by Black_Sheep

What you guys need is the Northern Ireland testing stations. Independent government run, it either passes or doesn't, and new car test after 4 yrs.

 

Its the same here in Switzerland. Government run & no affiliation with any garage or incentives to fail the car to earn a few extra quid.

If it fails, you have to take it get it repaired elsewhere before retesting.

There are lots of people criticising the dealer but without seeing the parts we can't say. It's very easy/common for lightly used cars to get corrosion on the discs.  As said by black sheep this is a vag trait, but not only a vag trait (had it with a ford).  After market discs like brembo tend to be better.  Using aggressive wheel cleaners will make it more prone, ungaraged cars are more prone, road salt adds to it.  As the manual says, some occasional heavy braking to clear the corrosion before it gets deep will help.  If you must replace discs I'd look into some aftermarket ones.   Also as black sheep says, one pot callipers are a poor design, often the slide gunks up and then seizes so one side of the disc isn't braked at all.  If we had the time a yearly inspection, strip, clean and thin smear of copper slip on the slide will do wonders..... Although 2 pot callipers would be better.  S3 rears are 2 pot and I've seen a octy 3 project thread with these going on....  If my callipers ever seize I'd be looking at a change, particularly the backs as they do so little braking and hence are so prone to this.

Thank you for all your valuable information.. It just seems poor that after say four years of limited use you have to be looking at 750 pounds worth of replacement brakes if it is as Nerin/Blacksheep suggest it could be a lack of use/ power washer issue.

 

Perhaps its me but I really do find it strange the car is serviced and checked these last two years with no problem...The day I have to pay for it suddenly we have a problem.. I don't remember anybody saying last year watch our rear brakes they are looking like you may have to change  them next year..    

Thanks

everyone again

Biggles. 

just re read this "brake fluctuation excessive" does that not mean warped discs? so they are neither worn nor corroded.

 

​i wonder if it has been your handbrake binding causing them to get excessively hot?

It could be warping or bad corrosion leading to chunks flaking off (that's what I had on my last mondeo rear discs)

When I px'd my last vRS it had 55k miles on it and was still on the original discs and pads all round....

 

Mine went off lease at 95k miles still with OE discs and pads

Mine went off lease at 95k miles still with OE discs and pads

 

As with everything it very much depends on how the car is used/driven and is compounded by environment factors - from an engineering perspective you could rightfully assume that those that have to change their tyres more frequently will also have to change their brake pads more frequently too.  For example, I drove from Somerset to County Durham overnight without touching the brake pedal once! - if only all journeys were as pleasurable as this I would probably never have to change the pads.

Just got these to replace my 2 year 9 month rear discs! Skoda wanted £275 to replace. These from EBC cost £99 free next day delivery. I'll have a go to fit them myself. Hopefully the hubs won't go rusty and the discs will last longer.

https://ebcbrakesdirect.com/automotive/skoda/octavia-5e/2.0-Turbo-vRS-2013-/55143#

Edited 23 August, 20169 yr by banksie

I'm in a similar situation environment-wise to Biggles. I serviced my Octavia for the first time just last week and because of where I live, I took the brakes apart and gave them a little clean up and a smear of ceramic grease on the pad contact points. The rears had started to stick after just a year. My back discs look a bit scored but are fine. I've only done 7800 miles.

Also one thing I note on the VRS when driving spiritedly (yes, on the track also...) is that those massive 340mm brakes really offset the balance of the car to the front under heavy braking.

I was thinking the rears are under engineered for this car and it needs something a bit more efficient.

Interesting to see the mention of the S3 rear setup with the 2-pot calipers.

Anyone knows more about this or have some links?