Independent examination of brake discs

liviboy

Deneb wrote: »

Are you saying that you are considering spending £150 to try and get £170 back?


I used to carry out forensic mechanical examinations before I retired. I only received a salary from my employer, but if a third party requested a copy of my report a ball park figure would be anything from £1500 upwards, usually at least twice that.


I was once involved in a case where a report had been commissioned from an independent analyst before I became involved, which had cost £14,000 and basically said nothing.

Well if I get proof that I have been misled/lied to by VW (both the dealership and VW HQ) I would expect not only to be refunded for the faulty parts but also the costs of proving they gave false information and attempted to gain money/business as a result.

I equally challenge the catch-all attitude that as brakes are "wear and tear" there is ZERO warranty on them. If they were worn I would accept this statement but they aren't.

Overall I'm angry at VW's attitude towards this. They sell an inferior/faulty product and then claim "tough luck", it's wear and tear!

VW did also confirm on the phone that if my report proved me to be right and them to be wrong they would refund the cost of the engineer's report. I might do a SAR sooner than later to get a recording of the call.

Deneb

liviboy wrote: »

I'm inclined to agree but point is, I have it on the service report that the discs REQUIRE replacement due to corrosion.

If they are causing vibration under braking due to their condition, then they do need replacing. That doesn't mean that the discs were faulty or sub standard when originally fitted.

liviboy

Deneb wrote: »

If they are causing vibration under braking due to their condition, then they do need replacing. That doesn't mean that the discs were faulty or sub standard when originally fitted.

For a car that isn't "left standing" for prolonged periods of time, and, given, the first set of discs and pads lasted 36 months, other than sub-standard or faulty parts, what else would explain the replacements not even lasting 12 months?

That's the question!

foxy-stoat

liviboy wrote: »

So if faulty pads, surely that falls under consumer rights...not of satisfactory quality?

Or are we just to accept being ripped off? VW stated it was the DISCS that were faulty, not the caliper or pads...so at the least I have a claim against misdiagnosis (and ultimately trying to sell me a product to fix a non-existent fault??).

This is why I' keen to have them independently checked...

For the costs involved I would forget about it, small amount to pay in car ownership and there is too many parts to independently check.

The discs are probably not faulty, they just needed to be skimmed and they would of been good to go again - but a dealer wouldn't recommend doing that they would just replace.

The cause may of been a stone in one of the pads or calipers not clamping equally, you are not going to find out if the cause was either by getting the discs checked...checked for what, thickness or if they are warped?

I would 100% get the calipers checked, maybe replace the sliders if corroded or seized - I wouldnt waste effort any further.