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Disc cuss
I own a 2-year-old SAAB 9-3, 1.9TDI Sportwagon. The car has done 16,000 miles and is still under SAAB warranty. When I took the car for its 2nd year service I pointed out that the rear brake discs were badly worn, visually like a mountain range. The garage said that the brakes were functioning normally, and were within specification. They had spoken to SAAB Warranty who declined to accept any liability. Subsequently I have spoken directly to SAAB and they will not help, stating that the discs are wear items. I have had the brakes independently checked and both discs are about 1.5mm above the minimum safe thickness. I consider that there must be a material defect for the disks to wear so badly and quickly. Can you suggest a course of action?
Asked on 6 February 2010 by M.M., Bracknell
Answered by
Honest John
That's normal for rear discs on a car that is often left for long periods
and is not braked very hard. Discs are bare metal and corrode all the time. Corrosion is cleaned off by braking. But front brakes do 95% of the work and in a car driven short runs and not braked hard the rear pads will rarely touch the discs so won’t remove the corrosion. This is nothing new at. I had the same problem with cars with rear disc brakes in the 1980s.
and is not braked very hard. Discs are bare metal and corrode all the time. Corrosion is cleaned off by braking. But front brakes do 95% of the work and in a car driven short runs and not braked hard the rear pads will rarely touch the discs so won’t remove the corrosion. This is nothing new at. I had the same problem with cars with rear disc brakes in the 1980s.
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