My Almera was in the garage today for a quick checkup on its steering. Rainy night , ambulance wailing behind, I pulled into a bus layby, except it turned out not to be a bus lay, but some bizarre set of markings for a cycle lane which I had mistaken for a bus layby's markings ... and I mounted the invisible kerb at about 15 mph. Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough, and wipe out your town's daft cycle lane graffiti. grrr!
Anyway, tracking slightly out, tyrewall badly damaged, but since both front tyres needed replacing anyway, I reckon I got off lightly. And next time the ambulance will have to wait until I have time to slow to crawl speed before turning in.
However, the bad news is that the Nissan dealer tells me that my front and rear brake disks are badly corroded and worn, and need replacing: the bill (with pads and labour) looks likely to top £400. Ouch!
If they need replacing, then it has to be done, But why have they worn out at only 23,000 miles? I can understand brake pads at that age, but disks too? The service manager tells me that's not a bad mileage, which is where I start to get suspicious. What do others think should be expected life of brake discs?
I know that automatic cars are harder on brakes than manuals, but even I so I always try to drive gently, slowing gradually rather than braking shaply, and generally anticipating the road. So I don't honestly believe that my driving is any harsher on the brakes than an average driver, and probably less so. (The brakes have always felt fine too me: powerful and progressive, no snatching or other vices).
The only thing I can think of is that this might be a legacy of the previous owner. I bought the car at 14,000 miles, and it was an ex-motbility vehicle, so I guess that it may perhaps have lain unused for a while (I have never left it idle for more than two days since I bought it). However, 8 months after purchase, I don't see any chance of persuading anyone that there was a fault when I bought the car.
Any suggestions what I should do? Pay up? Get a second opinion? Complain that the prob must have been there at time of purchase?
{Subject header edited to include car details - DD}
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I would definitely get a 2nd opinion, and would get the work done elsewhere than the main dealer - it should be lots cheaper than £400. If the car has only been used occasionally, or regularly washed without being driven afterwards to dry the discs out, it's possible they've corroded in a relatively short time. Impossible to tell without seeing them.
For reference though, my Xantia is still on its original rear discs at 100k, and the fronts were replaced at about 70k - and TD Xantias are renowned for being hard on brakes.
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Thanks, Richard, I thought that 23K as usual lifespan sounded a bit odd. I guess that there may be a bit of the garge-tries-it-on-with-a-woman lark :( (though it could just be that they did corrode in previous use)
A friend's husbnad has a garage and only does Japanese cars, so I'll see if his lads can have a look and do any necessary work. But if they can't slot me in, can anyone suggest how I might go about finding a good independent garage in Bradford? I know there are cowboys around, and as a woman alone I fear that I would be a prime target for any chancers
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The rear disks on the C3 were in a right state at 30K miles causing me to bleat about it here www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=32138&...e
Richard's right though, get a second opinion.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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How old is the car, little use can reduce brake life because corrosion of the disc surface is not cleaned off by regular use of the brakes.
That being said wife's Clio is on 43k miles and 8 years old and still on original pads and discs, my 4 year old Mondeo had new front discs at approx 60k and 109k miles however the rear discs are still original at now 111k miles and the original rear pads were only changed at 105k miles.
Get a second opinion.
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Brake life, discs or pads, is extremely variable and dependent on the type of driving as well as type of driver.
The effect on an automatic transmission on brake life is over-stated - yes, the brakes are used to hold the car against the engine when stationary but that causes virtually no wear.
I have found that main dealers estimate remaining life against the worst possible wear conditions. Some years ago, at the 20k service my Cavalier was advised as needing new front pads as "they won't last to the next service at 30k". If it were true, that would have been good advice, but I smelt a rat, declined to have the work done and changed the pads at 50k when they wore down to the recommended change thickness.
Get your brakes re-checked at a GOOD independent. They'll give a more honest opinion than a franchise dealer and will use quality or OE parts.
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Hi
I do not know how 'spanner happy' you are, but have a look at your motor.
Is the disc grooved?, is there a lip on the discs?
How thick are the pads?, there is a minimum specified by the maker.
Is it at at that?
I am afraid owners believe all sorts of stuff without the technical reason being given.
Never accept anything told to you by a dealers, they are sharks mainly - but err on the side of caution and profit.
23K seems barmey - 33K possible.
Did the first owner do many track days?
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I do not know how 'spanner happy' you are, but have a look at your motor. Is the disc grooved?, is there a lip on the discs? How thick are the pads?, there is a minimum specified by the maker. Is it at at that?
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I would either
1. Get a second opinion from an independant.
or
2. DIY
If you are comfortable and safe taking the wheels off then investigate things yourself.
Outer pads and disk surface will be easy to see.
If the wheels are on full lock when you jack it up, with the aid of mirror, not head in the wheel arch, you should be able to roughly gauge what is the thickness of the pad material remaining and the disk surface of the inside bits.
You can compare the pad thickness with a new set in Halfords or a friendly parts supplier.
You should be able to obtain the minimum thickness value for your vehicle's disks.
Consider borrowing or even buying a cheap micrometer to measure the disks. £11
www.abcmodelsport.net/?option=cart&deliveryTarget=...m
You will have more difficulty inspecting the inner pads and disk surface of the rears.
The most difficult part is assessing the pitting( if any ) of the disks.
Over to you..
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