Skoda Fabia - Skoda Fabia frequent brake discs and pads problems

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Thu 28 Mar 2013 11:57
Skoda Fabia - Skoda Fabia frequent brake discs and pads problems - vikkirg

Please excuse my lack of knowledge about cars! I'm just wondering if this is a known problem someone can help with.

I hve a 55 plate Skoda Fabia classic 1.2 petrol. Over the past 3-4 years it has repeatedly needed the brake pads and discs replacing. It starts with a grinding noise on the brakes when you first set off - especially after rain (my car is kept on the road) and once of twice it has felt like they have locked and car lurches before moving. I take it into a garage (various ones tried! But not a Skoda dealer) who invariably look at the breaks and declare the pads are either worn of have "come loose" and this has exposed the discs and cause them to become damaged. They then replace them at great expense.

When I say several times I mean probably 5 times in the last three years. The last time was 6 months ago and now it has started doing it again.

I'm not sure if it is related but a couple of weeks ago whilst driving down a dual carriageway the car started making a creaking noise (I don't know where from - somewhere underneath!) that was very loud. I called out the RAC but when they came 2 hours later... no noise at all. Very odd. And about 18 months ago when driving down the M5 I went to brake because of queing traffic. Nothing happened - the pedal went down to the floor and I had to stop the car using the gears. Again, called the RAC but 2 hours later there was no problem at all. I took it into a garage the next week and once again they declared the brake pads and discs needed replacing.

The definition of stupidity must be to keep doing the same thing despite getting the same result! I'm loathe to take it in to get them replaced yet again only for it to happen again in another 6 months.

Edit: also worth noting that my work car park is nicknamed "the gravel pit" because the surface is - I assume - an old gravel pit and covered in chalky stones and dust. I am wondering if it could be causing small stones to get lodged in the brake discs?

Has anyone got any ideas what is going on and what I can do about it?

Edited by vikkirg on 28/03/2013 at 12:03

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Thu 28 Mar 2013 12:35
Skoda Fabia - Skoda Fabia frequent brake discs and pads problems - bathtub tom

First of all these 'garages' are having you over (unless you're clocking up hundreds of thousands of miles a year).

It's normal for brakes to 'stick' overnight during damp periods. The discs lightly corrode causing the pads to stick to them. The result is you feel and hear a bang as they release.

More worrying is the pedal dropping to the floor. Have you ever checked your brake fluid level? Has the brake fluid ever been changed? I would check to see if the callipers are sliding freely. You may have a sticky one that's holding the pad against the disc, causing sufficient heat build up to boil the brake fluid. It will cool after a time and the brakes will appear fine. It could also cause premature pad wear.

Time to find yourself a decent garage and get it sorted, promptly. Imagine what could happen if you need to brake for an emergency and the pedal hits the floor...............................

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Thu 28 Mar 2013 16:27
Skoda Fabia - Skoda Fabia frequent brake discs and pads problems - gordonbennet

Agree with Tom, this car needs someone competent to fully service and lube the braking system properly.

Squirting brake cleaner at the caliper is not servicing the brakes correctly.

Has anyone inspected and serviced the rear brakes at all, they might have so little effort that the fronts are doing everything.

Edited by gordonbennet on 28/03/2013 at 16:29

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Thu 28 Mar 2013 17:55
Skoda Fabia - Skoda Fabia frequent brake discs and pads problems - geordielad47

This pee's me off time and time again when innocent people get caught out by dodgy garages .... for the sake of an extra 10 - 15 minuites per set of brakes .. fronts and rears .. to free floaters off and inspect pistons etc .. make sure adjusters are free ... just because the customer can't see it .. some garages think its ok not to do it .. i agree with the above .. you have been suffering brake fade/ boiling brake fluid etc .. switch your garage .. ASAP

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