Minimum Brake Pad Depth

[u664541]

Hi, the brake sensor warning light appeared on my wifes' 53 reg 1.9tdi so took it to Kwik-Fit who diagnosed all pads required replacing. The Galaxy has covered 38k and this was the 1st pad change.

 

They also recommended replacing all the discs too (lipped) plus the front 2 tyres - perfectly legal with ~5mm of depth but the walls were slightly perished (passed its' MOT with these and the tyres were an advisory).

 

I told them only to change the pads but to keep the old ones. Upon inspection the rear ones show the sensor and are about 4mm of meat left on them - but the front ones are still ~7mm all round with no sensor visible.

 

Just wondering whether the front ones were due a replacement or still had a few 000 left in them. Is it worth a complaint to Kwik-Fit??

 

BTW was quoted

[Ivor_E_Tower]

All the pads on mine wore out at around that mileage. Not sure but it sounds like you are quoting thicknesses including the backing material, in which case it appears that they all did need changing ..... with most vehicles only getting an annual service, it's not worth the risk of trying to last another 12 months with marginal pads. Lipping of the discs is allowed up to a point... I was told when the pads on mine were changed that the front discs would probably need changing next time that the pads were changed; with modern asbestos-free pads, that's not too bad; I've given up on trying to get over 100,000 miles from a set of discs.

The rear discs should not need changing for a long while either.

I think your only gripe is with the charges; a quote is a quote, whether it was given in person or over the phone. If the person on the phone did not know what he was talking about, he should have made it clear that it was an estimate or approximate cost.

Discs and pads are a safety-critical item, IMHO always best to get any work on them done ASAP.

 

Don't forget to drive gently for a couple of hundred miles now, to bed the new pads in

[u664541]

Cheers Ivor E.

For info, the measurement I took didn't include the backing.

 

I guess the moral of this story is to do the work myself next time.

[searcher]

To be honest i wouldnt go to Kwik thick if they were giving it away.

The last time i went for a quote and that was a long time ago the ape behind the counter was still struggling with standing up.

This was due to the fact he was still p****d from the night before.

A fact he had great delight in bragging to the other apes who were all scratching thier arses at the time.

So needless to say i didnt have much confidence in the young mans ability to work on my vehicle so i made for the door before the jungle VIP arrived

[tiny]

Theres nowt as thick as a kwik-fit fitter (except perhaps some of their customers (members of this forum excluded!))

 

Go back for a refund of the difference between the quote and the invoice, tell them a quotes a quote NOT an estimate and that your uncles, cousins, nephews, inbred daughter probably knows more about brakes than they do if they believe your pads needed to be replaced at such thicknesses!

 

Then, say to yourself, "lesson learned, I wont go back to kwik-con-fit again!"

Edited April 5, 2008 by tiny

[RADIOTWO]

Cheers Ivor E.

For info, the measurement I took didn't include the backing.

 

I guess the moral of this story is to do the work myself next time.

 

I agree with Adrain on this one, I am supprised they did not try and sell you some shoc's as well !

 

I would never ask there advice, poss if they have a tyre deal (ie free) !!

 

Radiotwo

[stevie m]

I don't trust Thick-Fit. The last time i went a couple of weeks ago i went in to them was to have wheel balancing they told me that my vibration problems were due to the fact that my tyres were just over the legal limit :wacko: . B*****ks ! Tyres would cost me

[gregers]

it aint just them,when i owned the zaffy i had a graunching noise coming from the rear wheels,MY MISSUS took the car into an independent tyre place,and lo and behold they said i needed new disks and pads alround.THEY GOT BLOODY STROPPY with my missus when she told them not to do the work,i went out and bought the parts,ready to be fitted by my m8,but decided to get a 2nd opinion from another tyre place GUESS WOT sod all wrong with them just needed a blow out because of the brake dust,THERE ALL ROBBING BAR*TA*DS.

[Mary]

I went to the "little darlings" to (I have always been a sarky basket) for a quote for 2 new tyres on the front of my pugget last year and they took it in and told me that the whole lot needed replaced plus I needed new discs and pads :lol: (as if)

 

I said no bloody way they could stick it up their none return valve

 

Went inpast a local garage and they said nothing wrong with discs or pads or 2 rear tyres. Which I knew as just because I am a female I ain't flippin stupid. Got 2 new front tyres fitted for

[MadBaz]

I wouldn't trust Kwik - fit as far as I can throw the Galaxy, went for some new tyres a while back and they tried to flog me non reinforced with wrong load rating, for such a safety critical part, they should know their stuff.

 

BTW I believe the minimum thickness for pads is 7mm inc backing.

 

I've now built a rep with local Motosave, the guys are quite good (not offended if I suggest contrary to their recommendation) and will, for a price, fit parts sourced by myself.