cjallaway83 Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Well im wondering if its time I changed my pads on my mk5.... Whats everyone had from the standard pads on the R? When i went to vw in april (car being 1 year old) the pads were 55% worn. They said I should replace the pads soon... Well booked it in today to get them done. And asked if they could look first, they said they could check them out and then do the work if needed, but £55 charge if they didnt need doing....what a rip off... 65% used in a year and its 3 months since then... Bit unsure on whether just to get them changed or hold out for a bit.... Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 (edited) Dealers are notorious for telling you to change pads far too early. I guess it's because they don't see the cars s often these days and it could be another year before your in again and assuming the same wear rate you would only have 10% left. They have wear indicators on them which I'm sure ill play it safe and let you know when your getting near metal. I would leave it until they are around 75% worn. Did they give you any idea how much it would cost to change them. I heard somewhere the pads are in teh region of £150 and that's before the labour charge for fitting. Edited July 9, 2008 by Cuprabob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjallaway83 Posted July 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 I think the only way to tell for myself is to take off my wheels and have a look myself? I dont wanna pay £55 from vw if they still have 40% left or something. They said front pads were £70ish and £100 labour. Spoke to APS and they were a bit cheaper, but couldnt do it this friday and bit of a trek for me.... Dealers are notorious for telling you to change pads far too early. I would leave it until they are around 75% worn.Did they give you any idea how much it would cost to change them. I heard somewhere the pads are in teh region of £150 and that's before the labour charge for fitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Other option is to pop into your local kwik-fit, natioal, budget or ats and ask them to do a free brake inspection and part of that will be pad thickness. At least you got a percentage out of your dealer, mine just said I had 9mm left which was useless as I don't know how much they are new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlhj83 Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 (edited) I say leave it till the electronic indicator comes on, unless you plan to do some long distance touring or a track day soon. I chewed my previous set up in just over a month , they worked fine all the way down to the electronic indicator stem on the brake pad. I would still have been able to use them for everyday road use until the brake pad wear indicator came up on the instrument display. VW have advised you to change them on safety grounds as the some people tend to forget and keep on using them until there's absolutely no pad material left. Also, possibly because they want more money off you! Edited July 9, 2008 by mlhj83 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjallaway83 Posted July 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Ah yeah could do that... but isnt it free only when u get tyres? And its 9.1mm new.... ha j/k Other option is to pop into your local kwik-fit, natioal, budget or ats and ask them to do a free brake inspection and part of that will be pad thickness.At least you got a percentage out of your dealer, mine just said I had 9mm left which was useless as I don't know how much they are new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjallaway83 Posted July 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Ah they have an electronic indicator? I didnt know they did..... I was just worried about grinding them down and then ripping into the discs... if they tell me they low then thats cool I say leave it till the electronic indicator comes on, unless you plan to do some long distance touring or a track day soon. I chewed my previous set up in just over a month , they worked fine all the way down to the electronic indicator stem on the brake pad. I would still have been able to use them for everyday road use until the brake pad wear indicator came up on the instrument display. VW have advised you to change them on safety grounds as the some people tend to forget and keep on using them until there's absolutely no pad material left. Also, possibly because they want more money off you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Most of them offer free brake inspection in the hope they find something and persuade you o get it fixed there and then. As has been said there is an electronic warning activated when they get near the minimum service level so I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm at over 34K miles and not had to change them yet. On my Leon Cupra R, I had to change them every 20K miles without fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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