Brake Discs and Pad life

Django x2 · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:40

Is it just me?

This car (E60), owned now for 45300 miles, shows 10k miles of life left in the pads.

The car is on 52000 and has only ever had the fluid replaced. Now, I know sensors are not always a great guide for pad life, but a visual inspection suggests this could well be the case.

I'm sure on previous cars I would have been changing at least the pads by now.

I know a lot of my driving is motorway, but what kind of mileage do other peoeple get out of their discs / pads?

GinG · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:46

47k miles on the clock on my Grande Punto Sporting, still on original disk & pads...

The disks have a fair lip on them so will no doubt be replacing them ready for the winter. Will do the pads at the same time.

ubersonic · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:47

My car (Supra twin turbo) has had the same discs/pads/fluid for 21 years, still breaks fine /shrug

Django x2 · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:49

ubersonic said:
My car (Supra twin turbo) has had the same discs/pads/fluid for 21 years, still breaks fine /shrug

ooooo k

NathWraith · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:50

ubersonic said:
My car (Supra twin turbo) has had the same discs/pads/fluid for 21 years, still breaks fine /shrug

DRZ · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:53

ubersonic said:
My car (Supra twin turbo) has had the same discs/pads/fluid for 21 years, still breaks fine /shrug

It is crazy that your car has gone 21 years without the most basic of maintenance.

At the very least, that brake fluid is going to be completely and utterly ruined even if the car hasn't been driven a single mile.

InvaderGIR · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:54

ubersonic said:
My car (Supra twin turbo) has had the same discs/pads/fluid for 21 years, still breaks fine /shrug

Bet it does break, bet it doesn't brake properly though.

PMKeates · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:56

ubersonic said:
My car (Supra twin turbo) has had the same discs/pads/fluid for 21 years, still breaks fine /shrug

Has it only done 400 miles? The same fluid for 21 years is unbelievable!

Matt82 · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:11

id bet that fluid comes out black from all the corrosion in the system

rather you than me tbh

Django x2 · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:12

I'm totally confused by his statement. Has he owned the car for 21 years and can therefore fully vouch for it's brake life?

Brake fluid is ascorbic. It must be totally wrecked by now!

burns · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:15

Unless you've had that Supra from new there is no way I believe neither you or any previous owner has replaced either discs pads or fluid.

merlin · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:17

My 325D needed a new set of front discs and pads and rear pads at 29k miles.

My driving style is not entirely sympathetic though.

PMKeates · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:17

On an interesting point related to the OP, when I picked up my 535d I had an indicated 26k left on the front pads and I think 23k on the rear pads. 10k of driving later and the fronts are indicating 26k and the rears 8k. Is someone shaving my rear pads down at night and are my front brakes not working?

ubersonic · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:34

Well the brake discs/pads have never been changed as the car has only covered just under 30k. Admittedly I cannot confirm the brake fluid has never been changed but I can confirm it has not been touched since 1998, it is on the list for the next major service but atm it stops perfectly so not going to go out of my way to fix what's fully working.

OP if a visual inspection backs up what the car is telling you I would be inclined to agree with it.

DRZ · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:38

ubersonic said:
Well the brake discs/pads have never been changed as the car has only covered just under 30k. Admittedly I cannot confirm the brake fluid has never been changed but I can confirm it has not been touched since 1998, it is on the list for the next major service but atm it stops perfectly so not going to go out of my way to fix what isn't broken.

OP if a visual inspection backs up what the car is telling you I would be inclined to agree with it.

You rarely drive it for it to have only done that mileage, so you probably haven't noticed your brake fluid absorbing moisture from the atmosphere and greatly reducing braking performance.

Go and drive it hard and within a couple of stops you'll have boiled your fluid, guaranteed.

Vince · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:48

No idea on life of pads on my porsche but my corsa (oh yes) has done almost 50k and is still on its first set of pads and disks, although I am replacing both the rears on the porsche and the front ones on the corsa in a few weekends time as the corsa discs are at the edge and the rears on the porsche are pitted.

Whats funny is that I can pick up both front discs and pads for half the price of just one rear disc in the porsche.

booyaka · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:51

Front Pads or rear?

Rear pads on my E60 are about 40k according to idrive, front pads approx 30k.

I've done 80k in my E60 (53k since I got it) and i've only changed the pads once when advised by i drive.

Vince · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:54

Is there anything that iDrive doesn't know?

bledd · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:55

ubersonic

If a car has been parked up for a long time, the first thing you should do is replace all fluids (and oil filter)

NathWraith · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:55

I plan on giving my Supra a full service every year: oil, oil filter, air filter, coolant, plugs, brake fluid and then pads/discs when needed. As with an older car it is probably best to keep its servicing up to scratch!