Rear Brake pads longevity

bobnitro · Post by **bobnitro** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:28 pm

Hi Folks,

My sports racer has done 9000 miles and have been informed that the rear pads needed replacing. I do loads of motorway miles and am not heavy on the brakes......

this seems strange to me that the fronts have plenty left, but the rears needed done....

any thoughts?

Cheers

Bob

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:31 pm

My inner rear pads were much more worn than any of the other pads.

Is it in for a servcie? and the garage are being on the safe side. There is a minimum recommended thickness for the pads of about 2.5 mm (maybe more) and maybe one of the inside ones is near that.

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:10 pm

Pagids.... 42's you know it makes sense..

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:33 pm

Ask them how much material is left on each pad if you are in doubt - the rears start life with just 6.5 mm of pad and are supposed to be changed at 2.5 mm. If it's just one pad that's worn down I would be looking at the handbrake mechanism to make sure that both sides are releasing freely and also the caliper slides to make sure it actually slides!

Cheers,
Robin

Post by ed » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:56 pm

I would doubt that they need changing already. Have you killed a front set yet? My first front set needed changed at 7000 miles and the rears had tons of life left in them. Despite that i still changed them for pagid 42s as they are fantastic!

bobnitro · Post by **bobnitro** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:00 pm

thanks for the replies guys.

The story goes that when the car was in for it's 9000 mile service last week, they noticed that the handbrake ratchet mechanism was faulty, so they ordered a new one. The car was back in today for this warranty work and they informed my wife that the rear pads were down to 2mm on both sides and so they replaced them (not informed that they required changing).

The fronts have not been renewed yet.

Wife collected car, so i did not see old pads or have a proper chance to query it.

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:36 pm

^^^^
That may be a fair reason why the rears have gone quicker than the fronts then. Did they charge you for them? I got 40k out of a set of front pads on my MGZT, which should be heavier on the pads due to the weight they need to pull up... (just enthusiastic road use mind)

Post by ed » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:38 pm

If the car is faulty and that caused them to wear excessively then they should atleast, if not all, pay for half of them i would say. Ive not met one person whos rears have died before the fronts unless there was a fault. HTH cheers Ed

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:04 am

Err, if the handbrake is faulty, that's why the pads are knackered in all probability and they should be replaced under warranty.

If they want you to pay and you didn't ask them to change them in the first place, get them to put the old ones back on (because actually you would almost certainly not choose to replace them with the OEM pads if you're paying; RS42s are available at more-or-less the same price and are much better).

Cheers,
Robin