Brake Discs Replacing with Pads Each Time?

[WaveyDavey]

Hi all,

 

Couldn't find anything relating to this so thought I'd ask..... Our 2019 Colour Edition had it's first MOT and got an advisory for brake pads wearing low all round. The car has currently done 26,000 miles.... Anyway I asked for a quote and he gave me a price for pads AND discs all round when I quickly asked about whether it needed discs too he said they recommend replacing them with pads. It's not something I've done on such a low mileage car previously and have only had discs and pads done together on a vehicle I've owned when they have been much higher mileage and the discs had done more miles so my question is whether this sounds right or if I should really be looking at just the pads this time around? This is from my usual VAG specialist who I've never had reason to question before but this seemed strange to me on a car with this many miles?

 

I've attached a couple of pics of the front and rear discs in case they provide any extra benefit in responses.

Edited 5 March, 2023 by WaveyDavey

[Warrior193]

Hi, the usual stealer BS I'm afraid. Provided the discs are not excessively lipped or have too much run-out, they are ok to reuse.

[ApertureS]

I mean, no pads dont always need to be replaced with discs.

 

But, there are a huge amount of factors that determine if 1. the discs need replacing now, 2. will the discs last for the next set of pads or near enough. 

 

Many factors come into it including thickness, lips, grooves, heat marks, corrosion, contamination, damage.

All of these need to come into account. 

 

The first picture its hard to tell but looks like the surface is grooved in lots of places, the second looks like it has a bit of wear on the thickness but cant tell without measuring.

 

You need to ask whoever is doing the work to prove the discs are required by measuring and comparing to the specification and also a qualified visual inspection. 

[WaveyDavey]

36 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Hi, the usual stealer BS I'm afraid. Provided the discs are not excessively lipped or have too much run-out, they are ok to reuse.

 

As i said though it's not a dealer.   It's my usual VAG specialist who i've not had reason to question previously but this was something i've not had before so wasn't sure.

[Ootohere]

Was that the actual technician / mechanic you spoke to so the person that had inspected your brakes? 

[StevesTruck]

No so sure about "always" replacing discs with pads, as others have said, it depends on condition, but they look quite lipped and scored, so personally, I'd replace them. 

[KenONeill]

2 hours ago, WaveyDavey said:

I quickly asked about whether it needed discs too he said they recommend replacing them with pads.

I wouldn't be replacing those discs based on your photos.

[rum4mo]

I agree with the above, also, my wife's August 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS has done 42K miles and its pads have got a long way to go before they need replacing, though the rear discs on her car are a bit nastier looking than your rear ones.

 

So, if your friendly VAG Indie is saying that about the discs, it is a pity that you are not in a position to measure the outer pads friction material thickness. Being a scatter-cash when it comes to tools, I treated myself to a tool from Laser Tools that lets you measure the friction material depth/thickness while the (alloy) wheels are still on the car - okay I can measure them easily enough using other means once I've removed them to clean thing up - but that tool is handy for making a quick check on our daughter's cars and any other friends that are too shy to work on their cars or take them to garages!

As I sort of implied, that sort of tool is handy for filling in spare spaces in tool cabinets, and checking brake pads through the spokes in alloy wheeled car - and even checking pads that I have removed from the car, now that I have bought it!

Edited 5 March, 2023 by rum4mo

[SuperbTWM]

If I had to pay the dealer to change the discs and pads it might make me think twice but I have tried skimping out before only for corrosion to set in soon after or have problems with uneven wear or juddering, especially where the front is concerned, needless to say I replace discs with pads every time to save myself potential problems.

 

I'm sure you could just put pads on and you will probably be fine but I don't like the look of the first photo, looks like the disc has worn unevenly across the surface.

 

[KenONeill]

3 hours ago, SuperbTWM said:

I don't like the look of the first photo, looks like the disc has worn unevenly across the surface.

Where and why?

[SuperbTWM]

4 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Where and why?

 The rings of colour around the disc, a mint disc will look uniform like it just came out of the box. 
 

obviously it’s a photo and I can’t feel the disc so it might just look worse than it is. 

[SC03OTT]

26K out of a set of pads also seems questionable to me. Based on my own experience. 

[NeilMH]

In terms of wear on the disc, can you feel a significant lip on the outside edge? Difficult to tell from photos.

[cheezemonkhai]

Ask for disc thickness measurements in writing as well as the manufacturer stated replacement thickness.

 

then get your own tools, measure and if they have spoken incorrectly report them if a skoda dealer/large chain.

 

How much meat is left on the pads as the shadow on the photo doesn’t suggest they’re worn in the second picture (but you can’t tell from a picture so they might be worn)?

 

 

 

Edited 6 March, 2023 by cheezemonkhai

[SuperbTWM]

You know what the Dealers are like, there will be 6mm left and they will try and sell you new ones
 

 

[Ootohere]

But the OP was not a a Dealers, they were at their trusted VAG Specialist. (VW Group Specialist).

 

Trusted being the point really, because if you have to start questioning their advice then surely they have lost your trust, which is why many no longer go to Main Dealers. 

 

People get peed off if their regular mechanics or staff at the place start treating you like a Golden Goose.

[ApertureS]

So many people here giving their opinion based on a photo of the outside face of a disc.

You cant see thickness, the inside face, any leaks in the caliper contaminating the disc/pad, cracks/splits.

Saying to someone a safety critical component is okay from a single picture is not the best thing to do in my opinion when you cant physically see it and inspect it. 

 

And in all fairness it makes you no better than the person on the service desk in a main dealer who says yes that needs changing without all the facts or information in front of them.

 

The chances of any of the above being wrong are slim, but I still wouldnt be saying yes they are okay from a photo. 

[KenONeill]

4 hours ago, SuperbTWM said:

The rings of colour around the disc, a mint disc will look uniform like it just came out of the box.

I presume you mean a "new disc"; I'm quite used to a thin ring or rust colour, maybe 1mm, around the outer edge of a disc that's maybe 3 or 4 months old.

[KenONeill]

13 minutes ago, ApertureS said:

You cant see thickness, the inside face,

Correct. Not that you can see that anyway unless you remove the discs because disc shields in both photos.

[SuperbTWM]

4 hours ago, ApertureS said:

So many people here giving their opinion based on a photo of the outside face of a disc.

You cant see thickness, the inside face, any leaks in the caliper contaminating the disc/pad, cracks/splits.

Saying to someone a safety critical component is okay from a single picture is not the best thing to do in my opinion when you cant physically see it and inspect it. 

 

And in all fairness it makes you no better than the person on the service desk in a main dealer who says yes that needs changing without all the facts or information in front of them.

 

The chances of any of the above being wrong are slim, but I still wouldnt be saying yes they are okay from a photo. 

 That’s why the answer is to change them!

[cheezemonkhai]

9 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

….. (but you can’t tell from a picture so they might be worn)?

 

 

 

 😋