T5 Crewvan 17' wheels Brakes

[Zaskar]

My T5 2012 Crewvan needs new brake pads & rotors, both front and rear after only 42000k
VW of course insist that the pads & rotors are designed to wear at the same rate to ensure good brake performance and they definitely do not machine the rotors as both get replaced.

Firstly, does anyone know what size the brakes required are being diameter & width.

Secondly, what are your experiences with DIY aftermarket brake work?
are aftermarket rotors and/ or pads better?
Do aftermarket rotors last longer?

[Sunny43.5]

There are aftermarket brake kits available one of this Forum's supporters, they are in Qld and sell them online they are very good pricing and also good knowledge GSL Rallysport - The Motor Sport Revolution! We have shod three of our vans with new rotors and disc's over the last few years , purchased from them .

[Transporter]

Bendix brake pads and DBA discs for me. The Bendix pads have much less dust and just last longer.
Give them a call, maybe they have the pads for 2012 T5 (not listed in their catalog), chances are that the p/n is the same as for 2010 and earlier models.

[greymad]

My T5 2012 Crewvan needs new brake pads & rotors, both front and rear after only 42000k
VW of course insist that the pads & rotors are designed to wear at the same rate to ensure good brake performance and they definitely do not machine the rotors as both get replaced.

Firstly, does anyone know what size the brakes required are being diameter & width.

Secondly, what are your experiences with DIY aftermarket brake work?
are aftermarket rotors and/ or pads better?
Do aftermarket rotors last longer?

I'm almost speechless: 42,000kms...?
Is there some race series for T5's going on that I'm unaware of?
I've done 45,000 and the pads are good for another 15 to 20k.
New rubber all 'round at the 45k mark also - what do you get from your tyres?
I'm not trying to be smart - I'm simply at a loss to understand what could cause such a truly abysmal and IMO unsatisfactory wear rate.

[IN2VWS]

My van just hit 82,000 km, and the rear brakes are being replaced next week.

[Antiplastix]

Sounds like upselling from the VW service department. Things must be slow or the service advisers short for his bonus payment. I d be asking an independent.

[Transporter]

I'm almost speechless: 42,000kms...?
Is there some race series for T5's going on that I'm unaware of?
I've done 45,000 and the pads are good for another 15 to 20k.
New rubber all 'round at the 45k mark also - what do you get from your tyres?
I'm not trying to be smart - I'm simply at a loss to understand what could cause such a truly abysmal and IMO unsatisfactory wear rate.

The driving style, traffic conditions, location and how much load you carry every day.

[Antiplastix]

I sold my T5 with 80K kms on it ,I reckon it could have gone 20K more with the original pads. But as Transporter says, I only carried surfboards, dogs and a bed in it. My current Skoda vRS has +50K kms and still not half worn.

[IN2VWS]

Question: Did the brake warning light come on , on the dash? Or are VW just telling you it is time?

[Transporter]

There may be warning light on the dash when your pads are down. I can see that when the light comes on there is still enough friction material and in my T5 I did another 20,000km on the rear pads after the brake pads warning light came on.

But, I also saw some late T5's without the indicator, so you better check if you have the indicators fitted.

[IN2VWS]

I thought all T5's had the indicator fitted. Mine is a T5.2, and the light is on the dash now.

[Sunny43.5]

A couple of years ago one of my front pads let go of the last layer of material without any warning and VW supplied a brand new set of genuine pads with no damn indicator wire attached very strange considering the warning is standard right down to my lowly 2.0 petrol manual T5 . All the pads I have since replaced through GSL Rallysport have the indicator .

[Zaskar]

there is no warning light, not sure if it has one. It's going in for a service tomorrow. I'll verify then. Last service they said I'd get about 5000km, that was at 32000km. Its been 11000km since and well we'll see tomorrow.

[IN2VWS]

My rears were done today.
$353.30
Machined rear rotors instead of replacing them. I questioned them on why the rotors were not replaced, as I thought it was automatic that they had to be replaced. I was told that they inspect the rotors, and if there is plenty of meat still on them, they just get them machined.

I also asked about the sensors. Not all vans have sensors on all wheels. Some of the T5's have 1 sensor on the rear, and 1 diagonally opposite on the front.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes offset sensors is correct it can then be used to calculate wear back and front .