Brake Pads

[gazzae]

Hi,

Can anyone answer this question? How many miles, on average, do brake pads need replacing on a small car (Renault Clio).

Thanks!

[Russ]

Which model Clio?

[Russ]

The sportier version of Clios (such as the RT and the 2L 16v etc) are recommended to have a brake pad change around 8-10,000 miles.

[Chimaera]

Dunno about brake pads, I've had to have new discs fitted to the last 3 cars i've owned!!

[paulyoung666]

i reckon you should get at least 25000 miles out of a set unless you like jamming them on , why you ask btw ??????? , how old is the car ??????? , and , are the back brakes working properly , if they are not then you are transferring all the braking force to the front and therefore wearing them out more quickly ;)

[Xaccers]

I did 42K before my Laguna needed it's changed (and they had 20%) left.
Needed the discs changed too (that was expensive)

[gazzae]

Its a Clio 1.2 16V 2 years old 25k miles.
I do 50-50 city and motorway driving.
The brakes seem fine, in that i mean no loss of braking power, its just the last couple of days when braking there has been a funny noise coming from the front brakes, not all the time - it happened 3 times today in 2 hours of driving.

[paulyoung666]

sounds like own to the metal to me , was it hard braking or just normal braking , get em looked at soonest or it will cost you discs as well ;)

[gazzae]

I'll drop it into Kwik-Fit tomorrow. How much would it cost roughtly to get the pads replaced?

[Xaccers]

If you've got discs all round, then go to halfords and see if you can do it yourself, it's so easy.
If you've got drums, then its worth going to a garage as they can be a pain

[paulyoung666]

easy way to check if your back brakes are ok is jack the back up and try and turn the wheels with someone pushing the brake pedal , pads are easy to do , 20 mins a side should be all it takes , be careful where you take it to get checked though you could end up with them telling you that you need the full monty , if in doubt take someone who knows the score , if you see what i mean ;)

[Lord Nikon]

yeah, avoid kwik fit.. use a national tyres center..


kwik fit (up) charge £25 to LOOK at your brakes...


National will do the same check for FREE

shop around.. Its worth it.

[SMHarman]

You could get an MOT - that would tell you the state of the brakes

[zoombini]

Your brake pads will proberally cost about £12.50 and can take about an hour to replace.
Get a Haynes manual for the car and then save yourself oodles of money doing your own general maintenance, also having the satisfaction that you "know" exactly what has been done to it.

[gazzae]

Originally posted by Lord Nikon
yeah, avoid kwik fit.. use a national tyres center..


kwik fit (up) charge £25 to LOOK at your brakes...


National will do the same check for FREE

shop around.. Its worth it.

There is no national tyres centres near me. I called Kwik Fit and they said they would check for free.

[zoombini]

Kwik Fit did do checks for free, however what they do is take everything off and then tell you that you need pads & disks replacing at an exhorbitant amount, while your stood there looing at the car in pieces just wishing it to be "right".

And you get home with your new pads/disks after being fleeced.
Or thats what happened to me many years ago.
I had my "old" pads & disks independantly checked as I asked for them just as they had finished and was told that there was another year in the pads at least and the disks were fine.

Needless to say I will never use them again.

Find out what the minmimum depths are for your pads & disks before you go. when they show you how bad it is, check it yourself.

[Lord Nikon]

On my nissan, I went to National Tyres and had the rear brakes checked (I had just fitted front pads and knew that wasn't the issue)

They found both rear wheel cylinders had a slight leak and the shoes were low (and showed me) they suggested I get new ones as soon as possible, and then adjusted the brakes up so they would be more effective till weekend when I am getting them done.

They then balanced the front wheels and only charged for the wheel balance - good service I think :D

[Taf]

Disc pads are a doddle to fit yourself.....

[Lord Nikon]

Originally posted by Taf
Disc pads are a doddle to fit yourself.....

agreed... although 3 pieces of advice

1) if there are 2 sets of pads available and one is a fiver more than the other... buy the more expensive set... they will last longer

2) get the brake fluid changed every 2 years.

3) Do NOT fit brake parts from scrapyards... you can never be 100% sure of their condition.

[paulyoung666]

Originally posted by Taf
Disc pads are a doddle to fit yourself.....


as long as the slides or pistons arent seized ;)

[zoombini]

I fit them myself all round. Pads, disc and drum brakes.

Using a Haynes as a guide, it is usually an easy enough thing to do.
Siezed parts, worn bolts, leaky bits apart.
At least if anything is leaking, I can replace that too without having to sell a kidney to pay for it.

If your worried about it, just look into it, maybe get them done at a garage and ask that your allowed to watch etc.
Go on a college car maintenance course.
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[paulyoung666]

any advice please ask , there are plenty of people about who would willingly offer it if you ask ;)

[timewarrior2001]

I have fitted my own breakpads since getting a car.
All you need is a haynes manual and some sort of C clamp to push the piston back. Remember to remove the cap from the fluid reservoir first.
Dont worry about the asbestos stuff, brakes pads aint contained asbestos for years now. But still wear a dust mask, saftey glasses or goggles and some gloves.

[gazzae]

I dropped the car into Kwik-Fit, front pads needed replaced. £30.

[iadom]

Originally posted by paulyoung666
, are the back brakes working properly , if they are not then you are transferring all the braking force to the front and therefore wearing them out more quickly ;) [/B]
Under normal circumstances the front brakes do 75% or more of the braking. That it why on most cars the pads are different, or the rear brakes are drum brakes only. Changes in legislation led to a large reduction of asbestos in brake pad material and discs are now " sacrificial" which accounts for the reduced life of the discs themselves.

Not had any dealing with Kwick Fit, but the biggest set of crooks where Apple Clinics, exposed on TV etc. They tried to tell my wife she needed new front pads and discs only two months after the pads had been changed on a routine service, when she took it to Apple for an MOT, ( against my advice );)

[keithwalton]

I just thought i'd mention that its about 55-70% load at the front depending on weight distibution, eg engine position and such.
The noise you heard are a fine piece of metal implanted into the pad's to let you know that they are about to run out. Usually you have 100-150 miles left on them depending on how you brake and such.

You'll begin to damage your discs if you leave it to long as then it becomes metal on metal, usually you'll no about that as the noise would get alot worse and your breaking performance will be naff.

Even so i've heard (litterally) people continuing on completly oblivious till they get to there mot. I'd of thought a few of em have gone into the back of someone else because of it.

K

[gazzae]

I'm glad I got them changed before it wrecked the discs. It would have been £160 for two new discs!!!

[Taf]

... and don't forget to brake gently (unless you have an emergency) for the first couple of trips to allow the pads to bed-in properly...

[gary_580]

Originally posted by gazzae
I'm glad I got them changed before it wrecked the discs. It would have been £160 for two new discs!!!


since the removal of asbestos from brake pads the pads are now so abrasive that the discs do wear quicker than they used to which normally means that they will have to be replaced during the life of the car. In addition brakes pads do glaze due to a build up of heat and therefore make screaching noises

[Nidge]

I drive a Mondeo and do around 50,000 miles per year as a Taxi Driver, I used to use Fords own make. I used to get 8,000 miles from one set of pads, I changed to a un-named brand half the price and more mileage 15,000 miles to be exact. I can change a set of pads in 20 minutes.

[paulyoung666]

Originally posted by keithwalton
I just thought i'd mention that its about 55-70% load at the front depending on weight distibution, eg engine position and such.
The noise you heard are a fine piece of metal implanted into the pad's to let you know that they are about to run out. Usually you have 100-150 miles left on them depending on how you brake and such.

You'll begin to damage your discs if you leave it to long as then it becomes metal on metal, usually you'll no about that as the noise would get alot worse and your breaking performance will be naff.

Even so i've heard (litterally) people continuing on completly oblivious till they get to there mot. I'd of thought a few of em have gone into the back of someone else because of it.

K


dont forget about the brake force ditribution thingy , if that is not working properly then you can get full force to the rear brakes , much swopping of ends in the wet , not pleasant i assure you ;) :( :(

[keithwalton]

Indeed its not particularly desirable todo all the braking at the rear, the car will be origianly setup todo approx 60/40 load between front and rear, but with wear and such it will shift slightly more to the rear as the fronts have to travel further before they bite.

Rears alone is fairly stable as long as you dont overcook it and lock them (as you said quite easily done in wet / slippery conditions).
Braking on 3 wheels only however is far more interesting as the car will try and go round in a circle for you all by itself.

In reality i think skid pan work should become part of the driving test as alot of people dont know true car control. :rolleyes:

K

[Taf]

I remember using carborundum-faced pads on my Capri back in the 80's. The thin skim of abrasive helped smooth out the face of the disk without wearing it away. Gave better braking after that too....

[Escapee]

I don't know if anyone has allready mentioned this, but Brake pads and shoes are crap these days since they banned the use of asbestos in them.

The pads used now are harder than asbestos and wear the disks out a lot quicker, but it is noticable how much the price of discs have come down since the asbestos ban due to demand for discs.

I have re-sleeved master cylinders and slave cylinders for clutch and brakes, I have also made new stainless steel pistons for one of my cars that forever siezing it's hydraulic clutch.

Silicone fluid is the best for classic cars not used very often, it doesn't absorb water so they tend not to sieze!

[paulyoung666]

Originally posted by Escapee
I don't know if anyone has allready mentioned this, but Brake pads and shoes are crap these days since they banned the use of asbestos in them.

The pads used now are harder than asbestos and wear the disks out a lot quicker, but it is noticable how much the price of discs have come down since the asbestos ban due to demand for discs.

I have re-sleeved master cylinders and slave cylinders for clutch and brakes, I have also made new stainless steel pistons for one of my cars that forever siezing it's hydraulic clutch.

Silicone fluid is the best for classic cars not used very often, it doesn't absorb water so they tend not to sieze!


ah but you what most people would class as a major engineering workshop at the end of your garden dont you ;) :D :D :D

[Escapee]

paulyoung666 saidah but you what most people would class as a major engineering workshop at the end of your garden dont you

Yes I have a few machines, but I have to be honest. I wouldn't play around with brakes on modern cars that travel up and down the motorway every day.

not that I think any of my work is poor quality, but it's just not worth it when parts are so easily available off the shelf.

Try going into a motor factor and asking for a brake master cylinder for a reliant Ant, or a Berkeley T60, even a set of shoes for a 1953 Bond Minicar!

(PS: the shoes for the Bond come with the rivets like the good old days, so you fit them yourself)

Am I really that old at 36:D

[paulyoung666]

nah mate you are as old / young as you feel , nice to see people keeping the classics going though , nice one ;) :)

[rippedoff]

I'm amazed, no, astounded, at the range of 'advice' you have received on this thread! How many of you out there giving advice are qualified to do so? There are many things you can DIY on a car, but the sure things that should be left to people who know what they are doing is brakes, steering and suspension!

I think the 'classic' bit of advice you got was (paulyoung666) "easy way to check if your back brakes are ok is jack the back up and try and turn the wheels with someone pushing the brake pedal , pads are easy to do , 20 mins a side should be all it takes , be careful where you take it to get checked though you could end up with them telling you that you need the full monty , if in doubt take someone who knows the score , if you see what i mean ")

Absolute ******** - someone there with no brain!

To answer your original question... around 8-10k miles. Very dependent upon your type of driving, your style of driving, manual/automatic...... etc. etc....

Get a mechanic to check them out for you!


(Oh... by the way, I started out working life as a fully qualified motor mechanic - so I do know what I am talking about!)
:confused::wavey:

[SMHarman]

Originally posted by rippedoff
<snip>
To answer your original question... around 8-10k miles. Very dependent upon your type of driving, your style of driving, manual/automatic...... etc. etc....

Get a mechanic to check them out for you!

(Oh... by the way, I started out working life as a fully qualified motor mechanic - so I do know what I am talking about!)
:confused::wavey:

How does this interact with the fact that most modern motor cars go 12-18 months / 12-18,000 miles between services.

Are you telling me I need to take my car to get the brakes changed more often than I need to get it services. I though the manufacturers designed / specified to ensure that the brake maintainance corresponded with the rest of the vehicles maintainance.

This also leads to main dealers (who see a car once a year) giving premature recommendations. My main dealer has recommended the pads and discs on my car are replaced. A local tyre / brake etc specialist recommends I come back in about 2000 miles On your estimates my pads are 75% worn to replacement limits yet my dealer recommends replacement. It seems to me about as wasteful as throwing away 1/4 of every tank of petrol you buy.

I must say I agree with you about letting those with the knowledge and equipment do these jobs though. Its also one of the dirtyist places on a car and getting alloys that have oxidised onto the steel hubs off the car is also something that requires a jack a lot stronger than the one in the boot.

[paulyoung666]

Originally posted by rippedoff
I'm amazed, no, astounded, at the range of 'advice' you have received on this thread! How many of you out there giving advice are qualified to do so? There are many things you can DIY on a car, but the sure things that should be left to people who know what they are doing is brakes, steering and suspension!

I think the 'classic' bit of advice you got was (paulyoung666) "easy way to check if your back brakes are ok is jack the back up and try and turn the wheels with someone pushing the brake pedal , pads are easy to do , 20 mins a side should be all it takes , be careful where you take it to get checked though you could end up with them telling you that you need the full monty , if in doubt take someone who knows the score , if you see what i mean ")

Absolute ******** - someone there with no brain!

To answer your original question... around 8-10k miles. Very dependent upon your type of driving, your style of driving, manual/automatic...... etc. etc....

Get a mechanic to check them out for you!


(Oh... by the way, I started out working life as a fully qualified motor mechanic - so I do know what I am talking about!)
:confused::wavey:



so im trying real hard to keep my temper at the moment , appease me or im going to get really annoyed with your tone in your post ;)

[Martin]

Originally posted by rippedoff
Absolute ******** - someone there with no brain!

To answer your original question... around 8-10k miles. Very dependent upon your type of driving, your style of driving, manual/automatic...... etc. etc....

Get a mechanic to check them out for you!

Firstly everyone is entitled to there opinion! Paul did say if someone didn't know what they where doing to get a proffesional to do it. Shame you couldn't answer the thread without insulting someone.:( I mean its up to each individual to take the advice on here as gospel or not.

Chill matey :D

[paulyoung666]

we await his reply with bated breath , an apology will do ;)

[Russ]

People!! Settle down! All advice given in this thread should be seen as general and above all helpful! This is what makes this site what it is - we HELP each other!

[paulyoung666]

russ i am settled , i just take exception to the way he posted , and for saying 8-10000 miles for a set of pads :confused: , i really like to use my brakes heavy and i would be well ****ed off if they only lasted that long ;)

[Stephen Robb]

Originally posted by Russ D
People!! Settle down! All advice given in this thread should be seen as general and above all helpful! This is what makes this site what it is - we HELP each other!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! Tut Tut :spin:

[zoombini]

Why is it that people in the"trade" always seem to think that people that are not are unable to do simple things like change brake shoes?

AND YES IT IS SIMPLE! although there will undoubtably be some cars that it is very hard and complicated on, in general its a simple task that a reasonably competent person can do with the aid of an easily available instruction manual.


Too many "fully qualified motor mechanic" types rip people off these days, telling them that they MUST be changed when they do not need to. Not that I am saying that "he" does, but many garages do (garage policy maybe, not the mechanics preference). We often need to be able to confirm that brake changes actually need doing ourselves AS WELL as getting them checked by a garage.

[orangebird]

Originally posted by zoombini
Why is it that people in the"trade" always seem to think that people that are not are unable to do simple things like change brake shoes?

<snip>

Because, if us mere mortals know how to do these kind of things ourselves, they miss out on the priviledge of charging us £40 an hour labour.....for something that probably didn't need doing in the first place...:rolleyes:

[zoombini]

Or would only cost us £12.50 for 20 mins work.

[Moox]

20,000 miles & my brake pads are fine, and they have been checked.

[paulyoung666]

Originally posted by Goldie
20,000 miles & my brake pads are fine, and they have been checked.

there you go then , i notice rippedoff hasnt posted back , i wonder if he has gone away ;)

[th'engineer]

It depends on your driving style,if you use the Motorways quite a lot you get more miles out of them.

If your in town you use them more common sense

[SMHarman]

Originally posted by th'engineer
It depends on your driving style,if you use the Motorways quite a lot you get more miles out of them.

If your in town you use them more common sense

But again that depends on the motorway. Surely you wear them faster regularly braking from 80 - 40 (M25 style) than crawling along at 10 mph (London style)?