Acceptable brake disc wear.
Discussion
My wife has a Fiat 500, it has been owned from new and has covered 25000 miles in 20 months and is generally driven nice and slow (too slow!).
Over the past week it has developed rumbling from the NSF, she dropped it off at Fiat this morning and surprise surprise they are recommeding replacement discs/pads.
Now, I'm well aware that they are consumable items and such will have to be replaced eventually but after 25k? Considering we are still on the first set of tyres gives an indication of how the car has been driven.
Several things in the conversation with the service dept. irked me. First he tried to claim that he would expect them both to be replaced after 18k routinely so we have done well out of them so far. Secondly when pressed on how much of the pads were left he back-tracked and said it was only the discs that were 'heavily pitted and scored'. And third when I suggested that it was a bit strange that the discs wore out before the pads he once more changed his tune and said it was down to 'corrosion' or possibly 'a stone stuck in the pad causing the discs to become scored.
Shifty.
A quick visual inspection through the wheels revealed perfectly smooth discs with only a small lip having developed.
All thoughts and abuse welcome
Over the past week it has developed rumbling from the NSF, she dropped it off at Fiat this morning and surprise surprise they are recommeding replacement discs/pads.
Now, I'm well aware that they are consumable items and such will have to be replaced eventually but after 25k? Considering we are still on the first set of tyres gives an indication of how the car has been driven.
Several things in the conversation with the service dept. irked me. First he tried to claim that he would expect them both to be replaced after 18k routinely so we have done well out of them so far. Secondly when pressed on how much of the pads were left he back-tracked and said it was only the discs that were 'heavily pitted and scored'. And third when I suggested that it was a bit strange that the discs wore out before the pads he once more changed his tune and said it was down to 'corrosion' or possibly 'a stone stuck in the pad causing the discs to become scored.
Shifty.
A quick visual inspection through the wheels revealed perfectly smooth discs with only a small lip having developed.
All thoughts and abuse welcome
Heavy pitting?? That's normally the sort of thing that happens to cars that are used very little allowing corrosion to build up on the disc, combined with light brake use, which means that normal levels of corrosion build up aren't cleared from the disc - this then leads to pitting
However, I wouldn't say that 25k in 20 months is anything like a car that has very little use, and with that sort of mileage, I'd think the brakes are used enough to get rid of light corrosion build up
So i can only guess that Fiat make their discs from cheese, or I'd question why it needs new discs
However, I wouldn't say that 25k in 20 months is anything like a car that has very little use, and with that sort of mileage, I'd think the brakes are used enough to get rid of light corrosion build up
So i can only guess that Fiat make their discs from cheese, or I'd question why it needs new discs
Lady friend of mine has just had her front lower ball joints/lower arms replaced free on good will as they have updated items, 08 fiat 500 out of warranty,due to early failure, wouldn't cause a rumbling though, but just a thought.
if the brakes are not worn out don't have them replaced, unless she has warped them but if she doesn't drive hard ........
if the brakes are not worn out don't have them replaced, unless she has warped them but if she doesn't drive hard ........
Most manufacturers specify the acceptable wear limit of brake disks - its usually between 1 & 2mm inside whatever a new disk is - so ask for the spec & the measurements.
The only reason to change disks before they reach the wear limit is if they are close to the limit & you need pads anyway or if they are warped or cracked. Always change pads with discs.
Lips round the edge don't usually matter, scores (within reason) don't matter that much either - the pads just adapt to the shape of the disk. I change pads with anything less than about 4mm on them - but then I DIY them as & when needed. A garage is always going to want to change them if they don't think they will make it to the next service.
The only reason to change disks before they reach the wear limit is if they are close to the limit & you need pads anyway or if they are warped or cracked. Always change pads with discs.
Lips round the edge don't usually matter, scores (within reason) don't matter that much either - the pads just adapt to the shape of the disk. I change pads with anything less than about 4mm on them - but then I DIY them as & when needed. A garage is always going to want to change them if they don't think they will make it to the next service.
Wombat3 said:
Most manufacturers specify the acceptable wear limit of brake disks - its usually between 1 & 2mm inside whatever a new disk is - so ask for the spec & the measurements.
The only reason to change disks before they reach the wear limit is if they are close to the limit & you need pads anyway or if they are warped or cracked. Always change pads with discs.
Lips round the edge don't usually matter, scores (within reason) don't matter that much either - the pads just adapt to the shape of the disk. I change pads with anything less than about 4mm on them - but then I DIY them as & when needed. A garage is always going to want to change themif they don't think they will make it to the next service. if they think you dont know what you're talking about and want to make a quick £ out of you
EFA The only reason to change disks before they reach the wear limit is if they are close to the limit & you need pads anyway or if they are warped or cracked. Always change pads with discs.
Lips round the edge don't usually matter, scores (within reason) don't matter that much either - the pads just adapt to the shape of the disk. I change pads with anything less than about 4mm on them - but then I DIY them as & when needed. A garage is always going to want to change them
i've actually had a garage tell me that the rear pads were worn... 3 months after i had changed them
jimmy156 said:
Wombat3 said:
Most manufacturers specify the acceptable wear limit of brake disks - its usually between 1 & 2mm inside whatever a new disk is - so ask for the spec & the measurements.
The only reason to change disks before they reach the wear limit is if they are close to the limit & you need pads anyway or if they are warped or cracked. Always change pads with discs.
Lips round the edge don't usually matter, scores (within reason) don't matter that much either - the pads just adapt to the shape of the disk. I change pads with anything less than about 4mm on them - but then I DIY them as & when needed. A garage is always going to want to change themif they don't think they will make it to the next service. if they think you dont know what you're talking about and want to make a quick £ out of you
EFA The only reason to change disks before they reach the wear limit is if they are close to the limit & you need pads anyway or if they are warped or cracked. Always change pads with discs.
Lips round the edge don't usually matter, scores (within reason) don't matter that much either - the pads just adapt to the shape of the disk. I change pads with anything less than about 4mm on them - but then I DIY them as & when needed. A garage is always going to want to change them
i've actually had a garage tell me that the rear pads were worn... 3 months after i had changed them
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