Are my brakes knackered!

[davidmiller]

Hello, The check brake pads light came up on the dashboard. I was surprised as its' just passed the MOT. So I took some wheels off and the pads are quite thick but the back ones are touching slightly and the front ones are close. So I connected the scanner and it came up with.

replace brake pads
retraction brake pump
release brake pump

Im trying to remember when the fluid was last changed and Im a bit worried about this to say the least.

 

[Burnerman]

So long as the brakes actually work properly, the pad thickness is irrelevant regarding the MOT.
You say that the pads are quite thick but they are touching slightly......can you explain further?
If your car has an electric handbrake, rear pad replacement could be a problem.
John

 

[davidmiller]

Hello thanks for your reply.
I mean they aren't retracting much. The back ones are retracting less and slightly rubbing a bit more than the front ones it seems.
Yes electric hand brake. I wouldnt recommend them either. One jammed a few years ago and cost a lot to repair.

 

[Mottie]

So long as the brakes actually work properly, the pad thickness is irrelevant regarding the MOT.

Not quite John. 1.5mm is the limit before a failure is issued.

OP. What car do you have?

 

[davidmiller]

hello, its a vw Passat about 12 years old

 

[Burnerman]

Happily thats one of the more basic electronic systems.....you need to make sure the handbrake is off before starting work.
I think this is right.....ignition on. Press the brake pedal. Press the switch to the right of the light switch.
Turn the ignition off.
Check the handbrake is now off. If it is, its a simple enough job to remove the caliper ( two bolts) to access the pads.
I’m surprised a tester could actually see these pads, never mind measure them!
John

 

[davidmiller]

Thanks for that. Am I right in thinking you think its just the pads?
I was assuming its something to do with them not retracting. Which is why im thinking it will be a lot of money.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Not quite John. 1.5mm is the limit before a failure is issued.

OP. What car do you have?

A Vectra!



Andy

 

[Burnerman]

Thanks for that. Am I right in thinking you think its just the pads?
I was assuming its something to do with them not retracting. Which is why im thinking it will be a lot of money.

If the brakes don’t release fully it's either due to the pads being stuck into the caliper with road crap or the caliper itself that’s sticking....maybe due to corrosion or whatever. In this case it’s an exchange caliper you need.
John

 

[Burnerman]

A Vectra!



Andy

AAAARGH I submit
John

 

[davidmiller]

Is there something that controls all 4 brakes being retracted? As the back 2 are both touching slightly when I spin it with the wheel off against what I think is called a rotor. And the front ones haven't much more of a gap.
or is that gap normally very close.
The callipers are only 5 years old and the pads about 3. Doing bout 8,000 miles a year..

 

[Burnerman]

The pads should lightly kiss the rotors (discs) as there would be too much pedal travel if they didn't - but not so much as they should cause drag on the wheel.
John

 

[johnny2007]

Brake pad sensors nowadays are half way in the pad life.
So when the light comes on you're half way through the pads.
Remove the pads and check that the sliders on the calipers are greased up and move nicely.
When installing new pads, make sure you clean the sliding bracket properly and lube it with copper grease.
For rear epb, if you don't have vcds, you need to take the motor off the caliper by removing the 2 bolts, then manually wind back (clockwise) the centre hex nut, then you can compress the caliper piston.
Once finished, before starting the car, pump the brakes and then start the car and use the epb.
Done it on mine a few weeks ago.

 

[davidmiller]

Thought id do an update.
I took it to a tyre/exhaust place for a quote as I needed to get it over with. After and hour and twenty walking around they called and said the locking wheel key wont work on one of the wheels. So I took it to another big tyre place. After an hour and fifty mins walking round I called them and discovered they had written my number down wrong and they'd been calling for a while and they couldnt get three wheels off. So I went in to the VW franchise next door as advised and they dont keep the particular locking key so want £125 to get wheels off and replace locking nuts or £75 for normal ones. So I got home about half past 3.
Ive had a ring around and it looks like £75 is as cheap as it gets to get wheels off. Then ive still got to get the brakes fixed.

Maybe I tightened the nuts too tight but it seems to have got worse at the first garage.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Starting to sound like a 'rightboy' thread.

Andy