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Brake even point

My wife purchased a Toyota Yaris T Sport in May 2002 and since then we seem to have had nothing but trouble with the front and rear discs and pads. We have always used the Toyota main agent and when we took the car for its first service we were surprised that the front and rear discs were replaced under warranty due to corrosion and scarring. This was in May 2003. In May 2005 we were again advised that both front and rear discs needed replacing and we queried this, but were advised that it was not unusual and that discs did not last very long these days, due to the materials now being used. In May 2007 we again took the Yaris to the same main dealer in Blackpool (Harry Feeney) and, once again, we were told both front and rear discs and pads needed replacing and the work cost £460. Last month we took the car for a free safety check and report and, guess what was reported, under the amber report it stated front discs corroded and scared and rear discs slightly scored. We queried this yet again and were advised that the work would need to be done before the car could pass its MOT in May. The car has only done 34,500 miles in almost 7 years and such frequent renewal of the discs seems to be unreasonable to me. Two of my wife’s friends each has a Yaris of similar age, but not the T Sport and neither has had to renew their discs. Is there a particular problem with this model and, if so, can you give us any advise to remedy the difficulties we are facing yet again?

Asked on 28 March 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Probably a mix of the composition of the discs, the metallic element of the pads and the salt air. Discs are bare metal, so are subject to constant surface corrosion. You can clear off overnight oxidation on the fronts by (checking the road surface and your mirrors) then braking sharply a couple of times first time out. This is less successful with the rears as they only actually work under very hard braking, which is why rears always rust badly first. That said I have never before heard of a car needing four sets of discs in 7 years.
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