40k miles, new discs and pads?

Scania

Scania

Scania

Caporegime
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My other half has just had the front discs and pads replaced on her 12plate Focus diesel, I was quite surprised to hear it needed discs as well as pads though.

She's had it since 6months old when it had done ~5k miles and to her knowledge (she's pretty clued up on motors) it's not had pads in its life with her, I was expecting a set of pads but the garage (a local Ford dealer who she's used for years) advised the discs were worn and needed replacing.

Purely academic as the jobs now done but am I alone in expecting at least two sets of pads to a set of discs?

She's not heavy on the car and there was no sign of scoring on the discs when I last looked at them.

Just curious really. :)
 
Dealers often exaggerate what "worn" means.

I bet they didn't actually say they "needed" replacing. They probably "advised" or something along those lines. I've always noticed the very careful use of language to protect themselves (and I guess to not openly lie).
 
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Apparently (just checked) they did say they needed replacing, she dropped the car off and they said they'd check and let her know if it was just pads or discs as well.

They called later to say the discs were worn and it needed new ones.
 
If they are insisting then other than checking, you'll have to take their word for it.

Discs should last more than 40k miles though if the pads have been made to last that long (couldn't have been treated that badly).
 
Go get some calipers out and check. Most places will do it by eye and if they see even a hint of lipping they will say they need doing.
 
I had a MK1 1999 Focus that took out a set of front discs and pads at 25K and 50K. Checked and replaced by myself so no dealer influence.

I then fitted a pair of EBC discs (with new EBC pads) that I'd been gifted after they been briefly been used for REG 90 approval testing. These managed to last about 45K.

The Ford OEM pads are very aggressive from a wear point of view. I was told by people who should know that it's a way of avoiding brake shudder as the brakes age.

On the upside the discs (even OEM direct from Ford) were far cheaper than an equivalent pair of vented discs from an earlier generation Ford would have been.
 
When my missus took her Fiat 500 in for a service they said it needed new front pads and discs. I told her to ask for their definition of "need". Turns out the discs were 75% work after 49k miles and they classed that as "needing" to be changed straight away. So what about the other 25% or 16k miles left? (At least another 12 months of use as she only does 7k a year)

I ended up changing the pads myself and then the discs as they didn't get on with brand new pads. Think it only cost £80 for discs and pads to do it myself.
 
Y last 3 series needed new discs at 30k. Confirmed with an independent when I didn't believe the main dealer.
 
Modern discs do seem to wear a bit quicker, don't know if it's the material or because modern cars are usually quite a bit heavier.

The 'Minimum' thickness does also seem to be becoming a much narrower margin, have measured some with only a slight lip and found them to be on the thickness that the (disc) manufacturer describes as the minimum safe thickness.

Brake pads on BMW's and Mercs are a massive con, the sensor wire is mounted only half way down the pad so you have a warning light come on when there is probably still 20k of good braking still to go, and you can't just cut or shunt the wire as it's resistance monitored and then needs to be reset via diagnostics after replacement.
 
Fair enough, I'm pretty sure the dealer has been fair, they've looked after her well over the years, as an example she thought it needed new shock absorbers, took it into them and it came back with a new suspension bush fitted for under £60, had they wanted to they could have taken her for a lot more.

Hill & Swift, Stone, Staffordshire, credit where it's due.

It'll be interesting to see how her Focus stops now, I'd always previously been very impressed with its braking performance.
 
I've always changed my pads and discs as one. I prefer new braking surfaces at a brake change.

Just done them on my L/R disco at 19k miles, new brakes all round. It is a heavy car mind you and I drive it quite hard.
 
It's a judgement call. How far have they worn? Are they starting to groove?

I'd have no hesitation on fitting new pads only if the discs were still in decent state.

It largely depends on who and how much you're paying for the labour. It's one of the jobs I usually still make the effort to do myself.
 
Ignore your dealer and actually check. My BMW Mottard dealer said I had 1,000 miles left on my pads at most.

Another Euro trip and 5,000 miles later they are still not at the BMW recommended minimum level. Con artists.
 
Any guess about remaining miles is just that, a guess.

If the average punter has an annual service and then steel hits steel before the next service it's the dealership that'll get the blame.
 
Part of the problem is "So Called" extended services.

If you have an 18,000 mile service interval, at what point (As a garage) do you advise a pad/disk change?

Also, worn disks disks int just about bedding in.

Worn disks are thinner, Worn disks plus Pads worn to the limit=Brake calliper pistons running out of room and falling out of the calliper resulting in total brake failure (I have seen this happen several times over the years)

Even before this, worn pads+worn disks can result in the pad backings being pushed so far towards the disk that they end up falling out and jamming against the disk (This can be exiting too!)

I have seen this happen too!

Minimum thickness recommendations are there for a reason! Do not ignore them!

So yes, if there is a noticeable lip, I will advise a change!
 
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