New discs and pad made my BMW drive heavier

[Benari74]

Hi there,

I serviced my BMW (2015) active tourer, and also changed all discs and pads at the same time.
Now, since then the car drives much heavier, which means I must accelerate almost all the time. When I am driving in town (less then 30 m/h), if I remove my foot from accelerator, the car will slow down very quickly. Then when I press the accelerator, I can feel that the car is struggling. Especially on ECO PRO mode.
As a result, the car is consuming more fuel then usual.

I have a believe that the discs and pads must have been fitted very close to each other, hence making it more difficult for the car to drive.
I went back to the garage and they insist that the breaks are fitted properly, but I am convinced that it is not normal for the car to drive that heavy. I am really worried and don't know what to do.
I really need some advice here.
Has anyone had this experience?
Is there anything else that could have caused this, but the breaks?

Thanks a in advance to all of you.

[Olivergt]

Next time you take it for a drive, firstly, try to be gentle on the brakes so they don't get too hot.

Stop somewhere safe and get out and check all the wheels/discs to see how hot they are? BE CAREFUL! They can get quite hot if binding.

If any of the pads are binding you will be able to feel the heat, even on the wheel if they are binding quite badly.

If one of them is binding it will be quite obvious as the disc will be red hot compared to the other discs.

If you have driven the car gently and been easy on the brakes, you should be able to touch the discs without burning your finger, but as I said before BE CAREFUL, they can get very hot, especially if binding.

Also, I know this sounds stupid, but make sure you have taken the hand brake off.

[boombang]

Front pads usually self adjust within a set of parameters / measurements so should only bind if:
- pads are too thick
- discs are too thick
- calipers are fked

Rear pads on some cars need winding in and from then self adjust (usually where handbrake works through same caliper). Again items above can cause issue.

Find a flat piece of ground, park the car, see if you can push by hand both cold and after a drive. Get someone to sit in car to press brake in case it rolls away though (when ground turns out not to be as flat as you think). Should be moveable with some effort.

[Ranger 6]

boombang said:

.....Rear pads on some cars need winding in.....

This, and on some BMWs the winding in is not just physical and done through the cars diagnostic system. They may be fitted properly, but if the system hasn't been 'told' it's got new pads, it will have problems.

[8Tech]

Sounds like brake bind. If the rear discs were replaced, then it could be the handbrake shoes binding unless it has electric handbrake, in which case, the calipers may not have been properly initialised.

Easiest check is to go to an MOT station, bung them £20 and ask them to simply do a brake check. This will show any binding and identify exactly which wheel(s) are affected.