Brakes - rotors and pads need replacement!

[richdave]

So my car is in getting a major motor rebuild so I asked they do the 90K service while they had it.

I get a call to say it will be ready for collection soon but they need approval to replace the pads and rotors on both axles.

Has anyone else had their brakes serviced? Is this "normal" procedure to replace rotors and pads?

[Woogler]

My Passat is only a pup still, but it seems to be a European thing. Last ride chewed rotors along with the pads. Stealership explained it gave the European feel to the brakes.... all I know is it gave the European repair bill to me.

[Diesel_vert]

So my car is in getting a major motor rebuild so I asked they do the 90K service while they had it.

I get a call to say it will be ready for collection soon but they need approval to replace the pads and rotors on both axles.

Has anyone else had their brakes serviced? Is this "normal" procedure to replace rotors and pads?

Assuming your Passat has 312 mm front discs, the thickness is 25 mm and the wear limit is 22 mm.

The pad material thickness for a brand new set of front brake pads is 14 mm, with the wear limit being defined at 2 mm (excluding backplate).

The Passat should have a brake pad wear sensor (only for the fronts) which alerts the driver when there is approximately 4 mm remaining.

Did you see the warning light in the dash prior to having the engine rebuilt? They might be changing it a bit early. Ask how much material is left on the pads and the discs.


It is preferable, but not essential to replace the discs and pads together. If the pads haven't worn out yet, I would wait until they do before replacing the discs.


EDIT - For the rears: 286 mm discs (thickness = 12 mm, wear limit = 10 mm); pads (thickness = 11 mm, wear limit = 2 mm).

[passatpout]

Yup.. Ask them for the measurements.. When (if) they give them to you, it's fairly easy to work out roughly how much life they have left based on the condemnation limits for both pads and rotors.

And yes, they do wear together. Both my pads and rotors (all 4 wheels) are roughly half worn, which means they'll be up for replacement at about 240,000km...

[richdave]

I didn't think to ask what the measurements were however I have not had any warnings on the car to indicate the brakes require service. IIRC the estimated life left was 3K on the front and 10K on the rear pads... or was it the other way round?

[Transporter]

I didn't think to ask what the measurements were however I have not had any warnings on the car to indicate the brakes require service. IIRC the estimated life left was 3K on the front and 10K on the rear pads... or was it the other way round?

The indicators aren't on every brake pad, so you don't have to get the warning. I've done front and rear brakes on R36 where the customer had the noise from the back and the pad that had the indicator in, still had 1mm to go to set the warning. The brake disc was badly scored on 1 side.

[Diesel_vert]

Reading your other thread, you should have just left the brakes as they were if you were planning to trade it in that soon.

[richdave]

Reading your other thread, you should have just left the brakes as they were if you were planning to trade it in that soon.

And that is exactly what I have done.

[55ASI GTI]

In regards to this, im at mechanics now re brakes... Mine have had a grinding since I got it (06 GTI) the mech said the edge of the pad is grinding on the edge of the rotor (edge of the pads are rough & worn unevenly) & starting to destroy the rotor, & to get new rotors within a month.

[Buller_Scott]

yep, pads and rotors are a common thing with later model VW's, at least.

my first set of rotors lasted 60,000km's (stock rotors) before they were badly worn and warped.

current set is RDA slotted, which are on the way out soon after almost 50,000km's.