Hi,

took my 2015 Octavia RS for a service today. They called me to go over a few things and get my OK, which was appreciated, before proceeding. One thing discussed was that I would need new brake pads as they were close to done and that the  warning would come on soon at which time I would have 100-200km of driving (in the mechanics opinion) before getting metal on metal. I was in principle happy to replace them but then he told me it would cost approximately AUS$1100 to replace them as he recommended replacing the 'rotors' by which I assume he meant brake discs at the same time.

This would have more than doubled the cost of the service so I said no. I know discs can need to be replace (or machined) if the brake pads  wear out and damage the rotors but he hadn't mentioned this had occurred. Truthfully I zoned out when he tried to explain the reason for replacing the disks but he said something about the different requirements between the north and south hemisphere and the different hardness of rotors/pads which in the two.

Does this sound legitimate?

Thanks

 

Sounds fishy to me. I wouldnt say let it go that far, but there's a fair way between the light being on and metal on metal. 

I agree with @StevesTruck that sounds as legit as a nine bob note.

Pictures please of discs and pads.  Just for a laugh.  Then time to get the Dealership publicity globally for their concern over customers safety and the upselling profits for the dealership owners.     

There is a measurable thickness for both pads and rotors before replacement.

I'm sure someone on here will be able to supply figures.

 

There’s the thickness values. Can measure with a set of vernier callipers pretty crudely by using a couple of nuts and zeroing it to get over the lip at the edge of the disc. 

There's some truth in the comments - having come from oz and had holdens and even Hondas in the late 80s and 90s quite often you could get pads replaced and skim the discs. 

 

This could often be done several times on pad replacement or even between, when run out required it. Had a vl commodore that always needed discs machining due to pedal pulsation. No idea why it was so susceptible, anyway I digress.. 

 

Nowadays esp on European make cars anyway, as you'll see from the specs 1mm or 1.5mm mm wear allowance on each face, generally you'll find your pretty close to that by the time the pads are gone..

 

Plus with salt on roads here they get eaten from inside out as well on vented rotors (discs) as well.  

 

Almost always replace with pad changes here for those reasons. 

 

I'm not sure if different pad comp material is used on Australasia destined vag export vehicles or not, I'd doubt it.  

 

Dealer prices are pretty steep here for pads and discs although they do usually fix price it so you can shop around. A good independent with aftermarket parts probably half the cost. Less if you can do it yourself and avoid labour.  

Thanks for all the replies and sorry for my slow response, I had taken the car away on holidays for a few weeks.

 

Since getting it serviced, I have traveled probably 600-700km on the current pads, 400km of which was on highway and 200-300km in the city. I have been very gentle on the brakes over this time but I still have not seen any alerts come up in the cars info system about the pads needing to be replaced.

 

I actually went to takes photos of the pads as per @tootsuggestions and realised the wrench supplied with the jack doesn't even fit the size of the wheel nuts for my car. It is way too small for nuts holding my 18"s on, Is that expected?

 

Anyhow, if I only remove the front wheels will it be possible to see and photograph the pads or will the calipers need to be partially removed?

 

Thanks

11 hours ago, octavipus said:

the wrench supplied with the jack doesn't even fit the size of the wheel nuts for my car. It is way too small for nuts holding my 18"s on, Is that expected

Have you checked that the nuts are not in fact plastic covers? Pop them off and the proper nut is underneath which your wheel brace should fit.

This is not the tool you are looking for.  you want the Plastic Tweezers in the tool kit.

 

 

Edited 9 January, 20233 yr by toot

The plastic nut covers on an Octavia had me scratching my head the first time I took a wheel off  

 

Once the wheel is off it should be very easy to see the condition of the disks and the remaining pad thickness,  will see then if the mechanic was taking his 'duty of care' a little too far or not. Surprised you did not get a video report sent to you of their investigations, I received one on our last service.

I was the main driver of our first mk2 Octavia and I drive economically and as I brake minimally and lightly the rears were far more worn than the front but my wife drives our mk3 and front wear is greater but still a long way from replacement at 90k km.

 

An independent mechanic recommended replacing disks (rears) at the same time as pads some years back on our mk2.

I know Subaru dealers had no hesitation machining my son's disks when his pads were replaced so I think it is fair to say the VW's have less metal.

I don't know if VW/Skoda Aus pads/disks are to a different spec but I know the alloy wheels get incredibly dirty, very quickly from all the dust they generate.

 

Edited 9 January, 20233 yr by Gerrycan

Thanks for all the assistance with this. Yes, they were caps on top of the actual wheel nuts. I finally had a chance to pull the front passenger wheel off and take some photos. Hopefully they capture the necessary detail.

 

Thanks

Well, we are only looking at 1 of 2 wheels. So ideally inspect both. Computer screens and photos are not the best for measuring things either to be honest.

 

Also, there is an inner pad and outer and I'm not sure if your 2xphotos show the same pad or an inner and outer. Anyway it is hard to measure from screen but the friction material left is not too dissimilar to the backing thickness of the pad. At a guess, and that is all it is, maybe 6mm?....  If that is so, possibly 2/3 warn (14mm-2mm=12mm new vs 6mm-2mm =4mm left. The disc does seem to show a wear lip and will likely need replacing when you replace pads.

 

Fronts do more braking than rears, so do wear quicker and depends on your braking style. But if you've had the car for a while you'll know how long it has taken to wear them 2/3rd.. Check the measurement I have guessed and check other wheel both pad sides as well.

 

You could measure the lip on both surfaces of discs as indicative of disc wear, or better use a micrometer but I would confidently say you will be replacing with the pads anyway.