Corrosion in brake pads / discs

Wig

Hintza wrote: »

As others have said (assuming the cars is just 3 years old) I would make this my last trip to the main dealer.

My last trip would have been the previous service. Then MOT 1 month early, if anything serious that would come under warranty - then decide to have the last service or not.

Smiffyboy

If the discs are corroded you could always take them to a garage which can skim them. Some garages will just replace partially worn discs suffering from corrosion because it's what they have always done and it solves the problem but it's not very cost effective for the car owner.

Check out https://www.skimmydiscs.co.uk to find your nearest skimmer. It won't cost anywhere near the same price as replacing them and the end result will give you near perfect brake performance. Just make sure you have enough meat left on the discs, if the discs go below minimum thickness (the mm number stamped on the disc) then you may reduce brake performance, but every set of discs can be skimmed at least once.

Hintza

Smiffyboy wrote: »

If the discs are corroded you could always take them to a garage which can skim them. Some garages will just replace partially worn discs suffering from corrosion because it's what they have always done and it solves the problem but it's not very cost effective for the car owner.

Check out www.skimmydiscs.co.uk to find your nearest skimmer. It won't cost anywhere near the same price as replacing them and the end result will give you near perfect brake performance. Just make sure you have enough meat left on the discs, if the discs go below minimum thickness (the mm number stamped on the disc) then you may reduce brake performance, but every set of discs can be skimmed at least once.

The thing with doing discs is most of the work is done when you get them off. I found on the old Merc they wern't that expensive just over £20 a wheel so I found it not worth it. But I imagine some are much more expensive to replace.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Where is the corrosion? Light rust on the surface - don't worry. Around the edge - again, don't worry, quite normal.

Do the brakes feel at all lumpy or pulse when braking from speed?


I'd only replace if there were cracks, or small depressions (where the metal has flaked off), or if they were at minimum thickness (measured on either side from the centre of the edge of the disc)

Ginger_Nuts_2

You should ask them if the car is going to fail it's mot or if they are going to issue an advisory on them. Should put them on the spot a bit, if it's an advisory, they are safe to use but you can get them sorted with more time to yourself to get a better price, if they are going to fail it, ask them for the brake readings from their roller test, then post up the figures and there'll be a straightforward yes or no if they are right

Bean_Counter

Hintza wrote: »

As others have said (assuming the cars is just 3 years old) I would make this my last trip to the main dealer.

I think I will doing that.

I now have the bill, which reads as follows:

Labour:
Service £93.50
MOT £45.00
Replace rear pads & discs £71.50

Parts:
Oil filter £8.51
Drum in disk rr b x2 (presumably 2 rear brake discs?) £76.60
Rear pad set x1 £29.79
Engine oil £40.50
Other odds & sods £15.31

VAT £58.75

Total £439.46

Bean_Counter

Ginger_Nuts wrote: »

You should ask them if the car is going to fail it's mot or if they are going to issue an advisory on them. Should put them on the spot a bit, if it's an advisory, they are safe to use but you can get them sorted with more time to yourself to get a better price, if they are going to fail it, ask them for the brake readings from their roller test, then post up the figures and there'll be a straightforward yes or no if they are right

Thanks for the advice, and to the others posting here.

It was too late for this service, but will stand me in good stead for being more savvy in the future.