New discs and pads @ 44k normal??

[torque]

Actually if the car is an auto, pads and discs at 44000kays are not that uncommon... My Audi has 65000kays and the discs are juuuust roadworthy, but it's been driven by a grandma all it's life and it's a manual, so I just changed pads for now.

The vag cars have better brakes than the average japanese cars, but that comes with an expense.

Just change them yourself, not a big deal.

[MelbMan]

Well finally we got around to getting the wife Series 5 Golf brakes done by a Greensborough specialist. 48,000km and he reckoned the rear brakes needed doing. The fronts will last to the next service.

We talked about having the rear disks machined (they are thinner than the fronts and he couldn't guarantee that the brake pedal wouldn't pulsate). They use genuine VW pads and disks made in Germany but not branded VW.

Any to cut along story short there's a 4 week lead time for Series 5 rear disks in Victoria. "Tried every VW dealer in Melb". So we settled for machining and new pads for $270 including labour. This was from RD Young in Para Rd Greensborough. There's another VW specialist a few doors down the road called Volkswerke. I have my notes from when I talked to them back in Nov 2007. But I can't remember which specialist I talked to. Youngs were ok!

Rgds
John

[moguzhan]

Do they both do mechanical work?

looking at getting an air intake and forge dv put in.

closer than going all the way to burwood.

[nayfen]

had my rear pads done last week on my 2005 tdi dsg with 48000ks. bit less than $200 parts and labour. fronts and all 4 discs were fine vw said quote "can usually get 2, even up to 3 sets of pads to a set of discs, there pretty hard wearing" but i guess it all depends on how you drive.

[LiFers]

Above sounds dismal.

At my 90,000km service my mechanic said it's time to change front and back pads (for the first time) on my Corolla. And that's being heavier than average on the brakes.

The Camry has done ~200k and had it's changed twice from memory, similar interval - about 80-90k.

[Blitzen]

My Barina SRI did 80,000 on its first set of pads, and I drove it Friggen hard!!! And they were just the standard TWR (Lucas) pads. Mind you, i did replace the disc's at the same time...they needed it too!!!

[Jmac]

Your camrys and the likes ( i own a sportivo) will last longer that Eurpoean brakes. European brakes are better brakes but at a price as mentioned before. Having worked on Audi,VW and Porsche have seen low k changes which i know is shocking. Some better than others , The pads are hard and the discs are soft which makes for a great bite, but at a cost. I think Pads and discs all round is a bit steep at 44k but hard to say without having a Mic on the discs. From memory the discs new are at 25mm thick and min thick is 22 or 21 mm not sure which from the top of the head but as you can see not a lot to play with. Driver has a lot to do with it too.
Been around these since 1988 and has always been the case.
Jmac

[Gearman]

had my rear pads done last week on my 2005 tdi dsg with 48000ks. bit less than $200 parts and labour. fronts and all 4 discs were fine vw said quote "can usually get 2, even up to 3 sets of pads to a set of discs, there pretty hard wearing" but i guess it all depends on how you drive.

Same with my 2005 TDI. Rear pads replaced at 50,000 with ATE brand, rear discs well worn, scored, just above min thickness. The original pads had hard white bits in them that seem to have chewed the discs out. Now the hand brake doesent seem to bite so well but brakes still feel good and stop well and hopefully the rears will last better. BTW front disc pads are about 2/3 worn - plenty of meat yet, and discs look great - flat, smooth, no undercutting at edges. Dealer says 40 - 50k is "normal" for rear of these cars and quoted $248 to fit a set of pads!!!! Bad pick of disk/pads by VW I say.

[rym]

VGA cars have very very touchy brakes compared to other Euro Brands and Japanese cars.

Shows up worst in my old man's digital driving, the brakes are either on or off. No sense of modulation... all occupants gets thrusted back and forth.

But, very strange to hear that both front & rear disks needing replacement as well. So early.

[Logzy]

DBA manufacture a line of (slotted) discs that are hardened, induction hardened i think.
These have made a huge difference on my VXII Clubsport in terms of the life of the disc.
They are twice the price of their normal discs but well worth it especially when using the Ferodo 2000 pads.

I used to go through discs (std DBA discs) and pads (Bendix Ultimates) like nothing else.