I find that my rear brake pads are almost down to the limit whereas my front pads are only 10% worn. I am a gentle driver and usually expect to get over 50,000 from a set of pads but as I have only done 24,000 I am surprised to find the rears to be so low.

I wondered if the electronic parking brake might be to blame and if anyone else has had this issue. My discs look fine so I only need pads but I expect a large bill even so.

Pads dragging possibly?

My reardiscs and pads need replacing just now at 68k, but the car had done 52k when I bought it and I have no idea if they have been changed before. Skoda garage quoted over £300 to replace them. I got a set of discs and pads from a motor factors for £71, not changed them yet as I need a computer to tell the car they are changed because of the electronic parking brake. 

Edited 3 February, 20251 yr by daviemck2006

Crazy - why didn't I link the two???????????????????????????????

 

I believe you can do the job without a computer - You can take off the parking brake motor and wind it back manually.

I would do it myself but I have two knee replacements and just can't get down that low anymore without pain.

Thanks guys

A good independent would not charge £300 and they will have the right gear to do the job, its not rocket science!

It comes hard paying people when I have repaired my cars myself all my life. I dont think there are many jobs I havent done.

My local independant has quoted £110 inc parts, labour and vat to do the rear pads as my discs look like new ( no ridge no scoring ) so its much better than main dealer.

 

Maybe it is some of the other "life saver/convenience" features that are causing this accelerated wear on the rear pads, my older daughter bought a SEAT Leon Cupra new back in mid/late 2019, it's total mileage is roughly 24,000 miles, I felt the need to replace the rear pads maybe 2 years ago, it looks like the next set of genuine VW Group pads are getting "well down", she drives it mainly in town commuting to work - the rear discs looked nasty  when I changed the pads the first time, now they are just looking horrible, but no issues at MOT time, it is Pagid I'll be suggesting that it used the next time along with new discs. I only used genuine VW Group pads while it was still under warranty.

 

Edit:- on the topic of paying people to work on "your" car, my 2011 Audi S4 gifted me with an ABS sensor failure as I drove it out of my garage to take it for its MOT a couple of weeks ago!  As I grow older I am becoming more risk averse and I've taken a distinct dislike to the aluminium uprights/knuckles on that S4, so I've ended up walking away from replacing the front RHS ABS sensor for fear of having trouble getting all of it out of the aluminium hub area of that upright/knuckle, without touching the inner face of the wheel bearing which is where the magnetic strip is, so, today it was been handed in for an ABS wheel speed sensor followed by an MOT test! Some months later I will need to man up and attack the lower and upper pinch bolts (steel bolts passing through aluminium) - I never considered this when I bought it almost 12 years ago!!

Edited 4 February, 20251 yr by rum4mo
added "new"

All my motoring life I have always used Mintex pads and discs and have always had at least 50,000 miles out of them. I much prefer them to manufacturer parts as they last longer and I have never had a Mintex disc which scored and pitted like the originals.

Rear pads so worn that they need replacing after 24,000 miles is unusual and before the fronts even more so. Is this a manual or auto, as you might expect a shorter pad life with an auto. Having said that my previous car (VW Touran DSG ) had done 108,000 miles when I sold it, still on the original rear pads, fronts changed at 72,000. 

Hi

 

Yes Auto, but I would still expect fronts to wear 1st as they take more of the load. I have seen numerous posts with similar issue though. I still think after market pads are superior to originals as the manufacturers want them to wear out quick to give dealerships the work.

I’ve just read your mpg post. I think you’re right that there is an issue with electronic handbrake. You mention in the other post that a 250 mile journey seems to resolve the mpg issue. Just wondering if the combination of  Electric handbrake and auto hold with many shorter journeys with frequent stops resulting in many  rear brake  applications if the rear brakes  are slow to release that would increase wear and reduce mpg- compared to a 250 mile trip with very few rear brake applications due to auto hold.

Obviously  my daughter's SEAT Leon Cupra is also  auto (DSG) so maybe this is as good as it gets with modern DSG cars with Hill Hold / Hill Assist etc when used mainly in stop/go town traffic a lot.

My rear brakes are being done next Monday. The garage says should be less than an hour labour, and it does need electronics applied to the calipers. I'm like the op here, I hate paying a garage to do stuff I could do by myself, but can't do now due to fibromyalgia and constant sciatica giving pain 24/7. Hence the reason I have a karoq dog, it's super easy to drive.

I've booked it in to be done  - I will see what they find and report back.

On 04/02/2025 at 13:53, Rockinghorse said:

Hi

 

Yes Auto, but I would still expect fronts to wear 1st as they take more of the load. I have seen numerous posts with similar issue though. I still think after market pads are superior to originals as the manufacturers want them to wear out quick to give dealerships the work.

Before my current Skoda I had a 2017 Tiguan which I had from new, the rear brake pads lasted until 85k, the fronts lasted to 130k before replacement, seems quite normal these days for the rears to need replacing before the fronts.

You did really well, I've never managed that sort of mileage but at least 60k.

Did your Tuguan have electronic parking brakeby any chance?

1 hour ago, Rockinghorse said:

You did really well, I've never managed that sort of mileage but at least 60k.

Did your Tuguan have electronic parking brakeby any chance?

Yes it had the electronic parking brake, I cover lots of motorway miles so the brakes don't get used as much as an average car (if there is such a thing as average), I also use the ACC extensively. My current Superb is now 27 months old with 80k on the clock, still on the original pads all round.