Do Not Trust a Mechanic's Assessment of Your Brake Pads!

So in May I put my car in for a service and the mechanic told me everything is fine except I probably have about 2000kms left on my rear brake pads. I say ok no worries, then I take it to another place because I have to get a wheel alignment and that mechanic didn't do it.

The next mechanic tells me the rear brake pads are actually metal grinding on metal, there is no brake pad left. So I have to immediately get both the rotors and the brake pads replaced, setting me back hundreds of dollars.

So I ask them ok what about the front, they say that is no worries, you have about 10000km left on them. So I drive around for another couple of months, I drive a lot so I did about 5000km, I hear a little screech when I am breaking so I take it in and say look, you told me I had 10000km left on my front brake pads but I've done 5000km but I'd rather be safe than sorry so I'll get them replaced, I don't want to have to pay for new rotors again.

They take a look at it and say sorry mate, the minimum thickness is 23mm and yours are 23.1mm, it's too close to machine them, you need new rotors and brake pads again. I say hold on mate, you told me I had 10000km left! I brought it in 5000km early and you are telling me they are worn to nothing again??

He said oh, you could probably drive it another 5000km until you wear the rotors down to nothing and your brakes will fail. I said are you kidding? So if I had of listened to his 10000km estimate, I would have been driving down the freeway, my brakes would have failed, slammed into a tree and died a horrible, fiery death basically…

"It's just a guess" he said. So be aware they do not err on the side of caution, they deliberately overestimate how many kilometres you have left on your brake pads, because they want you to wear them down to nothing so then not only do you have to replace the brake pads but also the rotors setting you back another few hundred dollars.

No worries about putting your safety at risk, mechanic will tell you you are fine to drive even if you have no brake pads left.

When your mechanic tells you how long you have left on your brake pads, it's "just a guess". It's a stab in the dark and even if you have nothing left they will tell you to keep driving.

Stay woke.

closed Comments

  • +11

    Swap the break pads with the ones from the squatters car.

    • +2

      Swap

      Any need to install OP's back in the squatter's car?

    • Squatter has probably been stalking him and changing out his pads and rotors after every service.

      Would explain the unexpected wear on OP's brakes!

      Better yet, squatter probably drives OP's car while he's asleep…….

      After all, being an uneducated squatter junkie, he probably still knows how to change out a set of brake pads.

  • My pads have had about 5000km on them for the last 5 services. Think they must be regenerating themselves

    • You will be in same boat as me, they will have you wear them to nothing.

      • Keep up the hard work man, only Wednesday, roughly 30hrs of your 70hrs spent on ozbargain

  • +2

    A little bit of knowledge would go a long way.

    The rear pads probably were really thin and ready for replacement. 2000km is not much in the life of rear brakes, the first guy was probably trying to be as honest as possible and not hit you up for more $ on the spot, giving you a chance to have a think about it and replace them at your earliest convenience. If it was a dealership they would have just replaced the pads because they would have worn out before the next service is due. The second guy probably saw they were ready for replacement and so slightly exaggerated the situation and said "it's metal on metal" to make sure you didn't leave without replacing your (dangerously low) brake pads. This second guy actually seems like the more dodgy one yet you're using his assessment to throw mud at the first guy. Did you even see the rear pads or rotors yourself?? If it was actually 'metal on metal' you would definitely know about it.

    Sounds like your front brakes were nearing the end of their life but not critical. It was you who actually initiated the replacement of front pads. Now we have a different situation. For rotors 0.1mm is a lot. Generally the difference between a brand new rotor and it's 'minimum' thickness is 1mm!! You still had "10%" left in the rotor life. Do you know how much life was actually left in the front pads which was the original reason you went to the mechanic?? If the pads were good you probably would have been able to drive 5000km more so his original 10k km was maybe right on the money. Brake rotors RARELY fail, even when abused and below minimum thickness. Based on this guys previous 'scare tactics' it doesn't sound too out of character for him. You were the one who let yourself get scared by these tactics and now you're blaming everyone else.

    Also rotors DO wear out through normal wear and tear over time, you're gonna have to pay for them at some point. Generally if they're nearly worn out its more efficient to replace them at the same time as the pads otherwise you'll have to go back soon after and pay another lot of labour to pull the brakes apart again! Technically they don't need replacement until 'below minimum thickness' so would have been your call there.

    The 'machining the rotors' is a common scam they all try on when doing any brake work. There is absolutely NO NEED to machine a brake rotor.

    kms estimate is a complete stab in the dark. How can anyone estimate 'kms' left in a brake pad when they have no idea what type of driving you do. Next time base your assessments on thicknesses of material left and actual condition of parts.

    • I saw the rear metal on metal, they showed me at the second place. The rear isn't used as much, it made no sound, nothing.

  • +1

    The thing I've noticed riding bikes is no. 1
    Is you can watch the pads when they get close
    On a car I'd be pulling the wheel off if you were going to try to get the max out of a set of pads
    No. 2 MOST IMPORTANT
    brake pads and rotors vary in aggressiveness therefore ware rate so the owner of the vehicle has too watch this if you're jumping from mech to mech.
    no. 3
    Don't trust anybody with your life
    I always check others work
    You sit in a new house during a cyclone your probably going to die too
    The world is not perfect
    Take your share of responsibility for your own safety

  • +5

    The anger is strong in this one……

    • Can't blame him. I service my own car coz I'm sick of dealing with mechanics. It's an headache.

  • Which mechanic did you go to?

    • Kmart tyre and auto. "Trust me mate, I've been doing this for 30 years'

      • +1

        There's your problem.

  • And here i am thinking getting 800,000km out of a set of liners was bad running.

    • 80,000?

      • 800,000

        • a lot of people don't even travel that in a lifetime sounds like a record

        • @carlb: note picture of truck as avatar?

        • @carlb:

          Most trucks use a brake shoe which should last longer.

  • +1

    Once again an ignorant person who can't be bothered leaning how to check basic maintenance items on a car like brakes rotors and pads.

    It's not rocket science and you get what you deserve. Sometimes it takes a blunt reply to get your lazy, unmotivated, 'I'm to good' for mechanic work attitude to change.

    Get a repair manual for your car and find out the minimum wear level of rotors. Buy a micrometer from eBay. Pads is a visual thing, so easy to check.

    endthread

    • Yeah you right man, if you don't do everything yourself you must be lazy. Never mind I work 70 hours a week and am actually competent at my job. I'm due for a dentist appointment soon but I'll just YouTube it and do it myself, its what any non lazy person would do.

      • Your reply was useless and with the time taken to reply to my comment you could have ordered your micrometer from ebay.

        If you do honestly work 70 hours a week, then I feel sorry for you but I think you are over-exaggerating. Your work/life balance must be appalling.

        I hope your employer knows about all the time you spend on Ozbargain… https://www.ozbargain.com.au/user/127574/comments

        • -2

          Myself? Yeah I know.

    • Reminds me of a FORMER friend…. Punctured tyre. I got it repaired for him (was perfectly safe place for the repair)… Still not satisfied as his professional opinion told him it was just not the same.

      $550 later for one tyre, he just replaced it anyway. It really does serve them right.

      I laugh when tradies actually have the upper hand for once, because people laugh at them thinking they're worthless, uneducated fools. Then said tradie slaps said customer with the bill and they're shocked.

      Poor, uneducated tradies. I think not!

  • There are so many factors. Even the weather can affect the rate at which brake pads wear out.

    The only way to be sure is to monitor the wear on a regular basis. I'd say don't take it out on the mechanic, perhaps consider the manufacturer of the brake pads, if you feel like you are not getting a decent run out of them.

  • Me on the phone: hey I need my brakes pads done. Mechanic: yeah nah your suspension is rooted.

    • +1

      Did the mechanic insult your family or something? It seems like you have a serious grudge that hasn't dropped after 24hrs…

      • -1

        I don't like people pissing on my leg and telling me its raining.

        • +2

          I don't like people pissing on my leg full stop, let alone giving me bad news about the weather. Tell me it's sunny / golden shower.

        • @Daabido:

          I lol'd. Thank you!

  • +1

    Get the junkie scumbag squatting at your place to replace your brakes as part payment towards rent.

    Ok, seriously can you change the pads yourself? it's not that hard on most cars and plenty of youtube vids to help.
    Cheap but good pads from Bursons are about $40 for 2 wheels.
    And, don't worry about your rotors until they get really rough :-)

    • I have tried to do it before so rather than buying all the tools, all the parts, lying on the wet ground trying to do it myself and buggering it up, then taking it to the mechanic, I take it straight there. I just went and saw the rotor, it just has like circular scratches on it, it doesn't look that bad. Its always a major issue though. Must be replaced.

  • The word "woke" has got to be my new pet hate

  • +1

    You probably need to chill out a bit OP. You get some good and bad estimates, fact of life.

    I'd hate to be the doctor that tells you that you've got 10 years to go and then something changes doing the way that brings it down to 5.

    I'd hazard a guess at high blood pressure

    • -1

      Oh you like to guess, you should be a mechanic.

      • Who knows. Maybe I am. Take a guess :)

    • +1

      was thinking along the same lines
      OP would be one of these people who would be bothering to post if the mechanic told him to change his brake pads they only have 5000kms to go… he didn't and ran 10000kms before not being able to brake and dying a horrible death…

      subject - mechanic ripping me off by telling me to change my brake pads early.

      • No I specifically told him, I do not want to change the rotors when I come in, when should I come in? You'll get 10000 more, no worries.

        So I drive 5000 and it costs me 320 dollars. Even when he rang me he started with 'about your suspension…' Before I cut him off and said no mate your doing the brakes.

  • https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/249663#comment-3733820

    Get a small car like an Astra, you only need a little putt putt mobile and a small car is cheap to run and repair. I've got an 2001 Astra I paid 2800 for and I drive it heaps, about 1000km a week and haven't had to do any repairs, only maintainance. Got new battery, brake pads. Just make sure the timing belt has been done.

    Yeah… I think the mechanic didn't know what sort of driving you do. Are you a courier or what?

    • haha

    • It's an Astra? You paid $2800? You're complaining about stuff being worn out?

      • I guess the brake pads never wear out on your Mercedes FMD…

  • +1

    Do not trust any mechanic full stop, my one said I need to change my headlight oil and wiper fuel even though I just got them change with the previous mob. Just shop around

    • Wiper fuel? What is that, water? Headlight oil? Never heard of such things.

      Even the blood today ripped me off, oh sorry I ran out of stock, only had 'premium' parts left so I put those in…

  • +1

    This doesn't really sound that unreasonable.

    There's plenty of things that are just an educated guess. This sounds like one of them. When I tell my boss at work I think a certain piece of work will take 3 days to finish, but it takes 2 weeks for a number of reasons, am I scamming them as well and should be fired? It was just a bad guess, similar to your mechanic, although it sounds like they weren't really that far off.

  • generally to have a good look at the wear on brake pads you have to take them out.. if your doing that you might as well change them. they are cheap

  • Do the RAC still offer advice to members? Might be a good option for a second opinion if you are in doubt of a mechanics recommendations.

  • If I understand, you are upset because if you had been told sooner you could have only replaced the pads and machined the rotors?

    But have you considered machining isn't free, probably cost half the price of new rotors. And you won't have to go back to mechanics again so soon.

    You have saved time and money in the long run.

    • No I had enough left when he told me that estimate that the rotors were fine.

  • +1

    Get a new mechanic. If you have the same problem, get yet another mechanic. If you have the same problem, well… probably proof that you're the problem, not the mechanics.

    Driving kilometers doesn't wear out your breaks. It's not the driving that wears out breaks… it's the breaking. It's just that on average, there's a rough correlation between how many ks you drive and how much breaking you do.

    If you're using your breaks twice as much as another person, then your 5000ks is going to be their 10000ks.

    • Really braking wears out the brakes, I didn't know that. I just won't listen or ask for a mechanics advice again because its just shit.

    • +1

      legit.
      upvoted

      OP needs a snickers

    • It's BRAKES.

      If you push the pedal and there is breaking you're brakes have failed.

      • lolol… sorry :P Spelling's not my strong suite.

  • Wow. Just wow. Life's too short to get this aggravated over maintaining a car. You don't like the mechanic's estimate and you don't want to use that mechanic again, no worries, find a new one, and move on!

  • I used to take my car to a mechanic who changed my brake pads every 6 months. Overly cautious IMHO.

  • Its ironic that most of you are here to save a dollar on baked beans but I complain about dodgy advice that costs me over 300 dollars and I'm being petty, life is too short, get over it. Its pretty rich lol.

    • +3

      Haven't found your chill pills yet have you?

    • +1

      That's because real ozbargainers actually know how to check and change brakes….. have you clocked of work yet? Or are you still 'working'.

      • Working.

  • +1

    If it makes you feel any better OP, some modern OEM disc rotors appear to be made out of cheese; I don't drive fast or hard, but I've had them wear out at 30-35k & even significantly before the first set of pads!!!

    The mechanic explained the (plausible) reason why…but logic doesn't take away the sting of the more expensive part wearing first.

  • Thread going way off-topic. Closed.

Login or Join to leave a comment