Rusty brake discs and VW garage
Discussion
My wife has managed to offload her 18month old Focus estate company car and swap it for a similar age and spec Golf estate from the car pool.
Its loads better, faster, more solid, handles better etc, so no issues there.
She booked it into the VW garage today as we both felt the brakes were a little spongy. I think this feeling wasn't helped by the fact both rear discs have a 10mm band of rust around the outer part of the swept area and is clearly not being touched by the brake pad. The garage say it's all ok and haven't replaced the rear discs.
Who is right here?
Its loads better, faster, more solid, handles better etc, so no issues there.
She booked it into the VW garage today as we both felt the brakes were a little spongy. I think this feeling wasn't helped by the fact both rear discs have a 10mm band of rust around the outer part of the swept area and is clearly not being touched by the brake pad. The garage say it's all ok and haven't replaced the rear discs.
Who is right here?
It doesn't look normal to me.
I understand the rear brakes are far less stressed than the front ones and I can also clearly see on the Clio that the rear discs are nowhere as shiny as the front ones, but at least it is regular on the whole surface of the disc.
As you describe it, it seems that the pads (or the discs) are unevenly worn, therefore I would change them (pads and/or dics).
I understand the rear brakes are far less stressed than the front ones and I can also clearly see on the Clio that the rear discs are nowhere as shiny as the front ones, but at least it is regular on the whole surface of the disc.
As you describe it, it seems that the pads (or the discs) are unevenly worn, therefore I would change them (pads and/or dics).
Interesting to see how you get on with this, I've got a 12 plate leon That the wife uses, it's done 9k miles and the left rear has always had a band around the edge, other side is fine, been to Seat and they said the efficiency is fine and sometimes they come from the factory like this and not to worry, it's going for its 3 year service next month, I'm going to mention it again as now the disc is quite rusty, to be fair it doesn't feel bad, just looks crap, I though they would just change the pads under warranty as I'd had it since new, no such luck.
I've found that if my company car has any issues like this the garage just do them to keep the peace with the lease company, you may find yours will just get done.
I've found that if my company car has any issues like this the garage just do them to keep the peace with the lease company, you may find yours will just get done.
Interesting to see how you get on with this, I've got a 12 plate leon That the wife uses, it's done 9k miles and the left rear has always had a band around the edge, other side is fine, been to Seat and they said the efficiency is fine and sometimes they come from the factory like this and not to worry, it's going for its 3 year service next month, I'm going to mention it again as now the disc is quite rusty, to be fair it doesn't feel bad, just looks crap, I though they would just change the pads under warranty as I'd had it since new, no such luck.
I've found that if my company car has any issues like this the garage just do them to keep the peace with the lease company, you may find yours will just get done.
I've found that if my company car has any issues like this the garage just do them to keep the peace with the lease company, you may find yours will just get done.
The car is 20,000 miles from new. No idea of the previous history, other than it's been fully serviced by VW. In real terms that means it had its first service at 18,000 miles in October.
Its not just a bit of surface rust that you would get if the car has been standing, but rather a ridge of corrosion that stands proud of the swept area and runs around the whole circumference of the disc in a band 10mm deep. Cast iron when it corrodes seems to bubble up, and looks a bit like like a scab.
It looks a little like this, although the rest of the swept area has no corrosion, unlike the photo
Its not just a bit of surface rust that you would get if the car has been standing, but rather a ridge of corrosion that stands proud of the swept area and runs around the whole circumference of the disc in a band 10mm deep. Cast iron when it corrodes seems to bubble up, and looks a bit like like a scab.
It looks a little like this, although the rest of the swept area has no corrosion, unlike the photo
Edited by andygo on Monday 9th February 18:04
It's normal. Pads are shaped as such to cause this effect. The outer line will get smaller as the a pads wear.
If you like at a pad side-on the pad material will be shaped like this.
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Ref: Corrosion on the "bell housing" is caused by strong wheel acid eroding the zinc coating. It is purely cosmetic.
If you like at a pad side-on the pad material will be shaped like this.
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Ref: Corrosion on the "bell housing" is caused by strong wheel acid eroding the zinc coating. It is purely cosmetic.
Jonwm said:
Mine is worse than that picture, if I new how to put a pic up I would ha ha
Save the photo to your computer (desktops easiest) then if you look at the 4 list of options underneath the row of smiles as you compose a reply, there is an option to 'upload an image (beta)' click on that and follow the very simple instructions.andygo said:
Save the photo to your computer (desktops easiest) then if you look at the 4 list of options underneath the row of smiles as you compose a reply, there is an option to 'upload an image (beta)' click on that and follow the very simple instructions.
Thanks, just added it 2 posts above, quite simple! Not needed to add one before :-)NelsonM3 said:
It's normal. Pads are shaped as such to cause this effect. The outer line will get smaller as the a pads wear.
For the bitin bold -Err, no pads are shaped like that to prevent brake squeal, and the chamfer is at the top and bottom of the bad face so the pad would still have full contact with the disc from outer edge to normally approx 7/8mm from the hub. For the other bit - err, no it won't.
Please tell me you have other people looking after the brakes on your car...
Are the pads seized in the hangers? - I get this a lot where by people seem to think all that is needed when changing pads is a smear of grease on the backs of the pad - Personally, I clean up all the contact points where the pads sit in the hanger and will need to slide along that surface and apply a small film of copper slip to these sliding points.
Worse I've seen recently was a garage charging a customer £250 for rear pads and disc as the car was pulling on braking. She got it back and it was still doing it. When I took them apart again two weeks later a caliper was seized and the the pads were seized solid both sides in the rusty, un-prepared hangers.
Worse I've seen recently was a garage charging a customer £250 for rear pads and disc as the car was pulling on braking. She got it back and it was still doing it. When I took them apart again two weeks later a caliper was seized and the the pads were seized solid both sides in the rusty, un-prepared hangers.
andygo said:
My wife has managed to offload her 18month old Focus estate company car and swap it for a similar age and spec Golf estate from the car pool.
Its loads better, faster, more solid, handles better etc, so no issues there.
Non no no no no!!!Its loads better, faster, more solid, handles better etc, so no issues there.
Have you not been reading Pistonheads? The masses have decided that the only difference with a premium car is the dash plastic.
You're a mug and just paying for the badge mate! (etc)
PS. Yes, loads better aren't they?
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