rear brake pads are wearing out quicker than front AM V8

[spatz]

Hi folks, just want to share that my wife's Aston Martin Vantage V8 is eating more rear brake pads than front.
I did replace the rear pads some time ago and they are now close to the next replacment and the front ones are still ok.
They are quite different in size maybe the reason for the front ones to survive the rear ones. The rear ones were original
AM brake pads so not an aftermarket product. This time I will use Brembo pads not labelled AM and see if there is a difference.

[V8V Pete]

My understanding is that this is because the DSC works (at least in part) by applying the rear brakes and therefore your wife is to be congratulated for driving her car in the way it is enjoyed best - on the limit

[mikey k]

spatz said:

Hi folks, just want to share that my wife's Aston Martin Vantage V8 is eating more rear brake pads than front.
I did replace the rear pads some time ago and they are now close to the next replacment and the front ones are still ok.
They are quite different in size maybe the reason for the front ones to survive the rear ones. The rear ones were original
AM brake pads so not an aftermarket product. This time I will use Brembo pads not labelled AM and see if there is a difference.

As Pete says DSC uses the rear brakes (I've killed a rear set in less than a year on mine )
OEM pads are Pagid (sometimes branded Brembo) for Aston Martin

[spatz]

many thanks i was pretty amazed since this is the first car wearing rear pads out quicker than fronts, and thanks for the compliment
my wife can drive a guy to st his pants (-: I am sure she likes your compliments !!!

[yeti]

IIRC correctly, cruise control also uses the rear brakes to modify the speed. A combo of traction control and cruise would kill them.

Interesting to read the 'compliments' on activating traction control all the time... to me, that suggests control of the car has been lost and the driver is being reined in by electronic systems. In a TVR/Marcos/Lotus/classic etc it'd be in the hedge.

[mikey k]

Not sure on the cruise, never used it on mine
I like the DSC on mine it lets me understand the limit (without relying on it)
Once Johnnys back I'll be switching it to track mode each time I get in

[Omaruk]

I find the DSC too intrusive in the dry , is there a way to still show the digital speedo whilst having it turned off?

[mikey k]

press the read button?

[MichaelV8V]

Switch off the DSC then when you've read the warning message, press 'read'

[Pentoman]

yeti said:

Interesting to read the 'compliments' on activating traction control all the time... to me, that suggests control of the car has been lost and the driver is being reined in by electronic systems. In a TVR/Marcos/Lotus/classic etc it'd be in the hedge.

That's what I used to think. Then I actually did some tests with my V8.

Try pulling away quickly, with some steering lock applied, with DSC on. Then try the same thing again with DSC off.

With DSC off, one wheel spins and it seems that there is no way for the car to move the power to the other wheel (except for the LSD, which only goes so far). I didn't get anywhere quickly.

With DSC on, the car does a far better job of getting power to the wheel with the traction. In short, in my testing, it's a far quicker off the line with DSC on.

I am sure this is down to the fact the DSC can brake a spinning wheel, thus directing power to the wheel with traction. Thus, scientifically, it's going to get better traction with DSC on. But it wears the rear brakes .

I came to the conclusion that when it comes to acceleration the DSC is doing more than just limiting the car. It is actually helping out to improve traction.

[Omaruk]

its going round corners in the dry that I have the issue with the DSC early intervention, not standing starts which I wouldn't do anyway because of the stress on the clutch

[yeti]

Pentoman said:

Thus, scientifically, it's going to get better traction with DSC on. But it wears the rear brakes .

Umm. Was that ever in doubt..? The clue is in the name and the affectionate name of 'traction control'.

So DSC helps you do better standing starts? Who cares?? You're worrying about some rear pad wear while you flog your clutch to death doing standing starts?

You can't make this stuff up

[roughrider]

Omaruk said:

its going round corners in the dry that I have the issue with the DSC early intervention, not standing starts which I wouldn't do anyway because of the stress on the clutch

I would speculate that you are possibly entering corners too quickly, or too soon, or you might be too heavy on the throttle too early??? Its more commonly understeer that causes the DSC intervention. You could do a Performance Driving Course, and all this would be explained. See the Aston Martin website under events/experiences. Hope this helps.

[V12woollie]

The PDC at Millbrook was superb. The DSC is explained in a lot of detail and the benefits demonstrated in the wetted skid patch. Well worth the money.

[AMDBSNick]

Or get your own personal instructor

[Gdc]

When I watch those blokes on TV they just wind the brake balance to the front, won't that fix it?
been looking for that switch everywhere....
Maybe another upgrade opportunity for BR?

[Pentoman]

yeti said:

Pentoman said:

Thus, scientifically, it's going to get better traction with DSC on. But it wears the rear brakes .

Umm. Was that ever in doubt..? The clue is in the name and the affectionate name of 'traction control'.

So DSC helps you do better standing starts? Who cares?? You're worrying about some rear pad wear while you flog your clutch to death doing standing starts?

You can't make this stuff up

Hi yeti,

Apologies if I have somehow caused offence and deserved that post. Do let me know if I have misinterpreted you.

My greatest experience of traction control/DSC/ESP was using the earlier Renault and Mercedes systems on track, which did not improve traction one bit. They merely cut power whenever slip was detected (and often before). They did not effectively redirect power to the wheel with most grip, so they did not improve traction. This is the difference many people are not exactly aware of, and which I hoped to highlight. The Vantage system, and plenty of others now, can actually improve traction in addition to the basic premise of preventing wheel spin.

Again, apologies for whatever it was that upset you there. Probably just a misunderstanding somewhere .

[Omaruk]

roughrider said:

I would speculate that you are possibly entering corners too quickly, or too soon, or you might be too heavy on the throttle too early??? Its more commonly understeer that causes the DSC intervention. You could do a Performance Driving Course, and all this would be explained. See the Aston Martin website under events/experiences. Hope this helps.

Good call, as driver training is the best performance mod you can have IMO. I have done performance courses with Andy Walsh and Don Palmer

No its just that the Aston DSC is a bit to nannyish, I like to have the car move under me a little when pushing on, you can do this with other systems that have varying degrees of DSC eg Ferrari 458 and Lotus Exige ones, well these are 2 I have driven. I do keep it on when its wet though

Anyway I am a happy boy as I can now turn it off and still display the digital speedo by pressing read.