Well actually four.  My 2015 Mk3 Superb DSG has done 93,000.  I changed the rear pads a while ago and was surprised that the front pads had loads of meat left on them.  I changed my front pads (and discs) today and was surprised that they still had loads of meat on them, probably enough for 9 months (20,000 miles).  I changed them because I had time on my hands, the weather was good and I got the parts at trade price because I work at a garage.  The life of the front pads amazes me.

 

The job wasn't too difficult (I am not a technician).  It took a hell of a whack to free the discs from the hubs and getting the pads in place in the carrier was a bit fiddly because of the little catches on each end.  Other than that it was fairly straight forward.  When retracting the piston I open the bleed nipple to prevent the fluid forcing against the control unit.  Also, there is a possibility that the fluid from the caliper might be contaminated. 

 

Hopefully the front pads will last another 100,000 miles.  The new discs look a lot better that the rusted Skoda ones.

100000 miles, nice perf'!  

The original TRW pads really last a long time. On my first Audi A3 Mk2, after 119000 km (~73960 miles, i.e. when I sold it) There were still all 1st mount pads and they hould probably last more than another 119000 km. On my previous Superb Mk3, after 117000 km (~72720 miles), same conclusions. 👏

 

On my current Superb MK3, if I face rusts on rear discs, I'll change the complete braking set (4 discs + 8 pads) for ATE ceramics. I've read they offer same braking performance and avoid brown/black pad dust... Wheels remain cleaner.   

Edited 25 June, 20196 yr by Bap33

45 minutes ago, Bap33 said:

 

On my current Superb MK3, if I face rusts on rear discs, I'll change the complete braking set (4 discs + 8 pads) for ATE ceramics. I've read they offer same braking performance and avoid brown/black pad dust... Wheels remain cleaner.   

 

ATE ceramic pads are supposed to be much kinder to discs too, much less wear. The pads contain copper (only for heat distribution) whereas standard pads contain steel as a major friction component.

 

However I noticed ATE have discontinued many ceramic pads from their catalogue, they no longer list a ceramic pad for the fabia for instance and ECP have discontinued offering any ATE ceramic, EPads etc

 

They are still listed by ATE for some Superb variants but are very expensive compared with a standard pad.

 

I'm putting a set of ATE ceramic pads (bought over a year ago) and ATE discs on one of our workhorse fabias 1.2tsi on Thursday, will see how they perform and report after a few thousand miles.

 

A very belated reply on my promised update.

 

I did eventually replace the crap OE disks and pads on the 1.2tsi for ATE ceramic and ATE disks. Initial running in period was very quick and easy, the braking feel was much more progressive than the grabby and over sensitive feel of the OE brakes. Very quiet, smooth though a somewhat different feel to standard pads

 

Unfortunately the car was written off 2 months later courtesy of dozy taxi ramming it, after about 3k miles. In that time minimal if any disk wear and much less dust was noticed. No rusting on disc surfaces observed at any time despite the monsoon type weather of the time.

 

Not really a great deal on which to base a conclusion.

 

I changed another set of discs/pads on one of our other fabias a little earlier, this time using ATE disks but much cheaper Bosch pads. Took a fair while longer to run in. Still IMO a much better combination than OE. Quieter and smoother than OE. Dust seems noticeably lower than OE, but more than the ATE ceramic and darker in colour. Disc condition after 6/7 months, 10k still excellent, little (and even) wear, disc edges and hubs are not rusting as OE discs do. ATE coatings seem more effective than OE. Rust on faces after being stood up when wet is just light staining at most. The OE discs were terrible at rusting in similar conditions, I suspect carbon content/crystalline structure (due to the casting process used) has something to do with that.

 

Debatable as to whether the ATE ceramic pads are worth the upgrade over Bosch which are over twice as cheap.

 

But if you are keeping your car for a long time and high mileage and hate cleaning alloys then I would 

recommend the ceramic pads, if you can source them.

 

Also had excellent results with ATE discs and ATE standard pads on my old Alhambra. That car had ATE parts fitted at the factory and the front discs and pads lasted 140k miles with really good disc condition maintained throughout, very even wear. Not the ugly Skoda experience with our Fabias and Octavias. Too early to comment on my Superb MK3.

 

ATE discs seem the best to me, those I've fitted were all made in Italy, Bosch pads also in Italy. Can't remember where the ceramic pads were made

 

A set of Bosch discs which I recently returned (not needed) were made in China. Lots of brake pads/discs are made in places like China and India, draw your own conclusions.