Brake discs, replacements needed?

[jimmy156]

How close are these pads (both rears) from being shot? What could have caused the random patch where the pad clearly isn’t making contact with the disc? A stone in the pad or something?

[Olivergt]

I've seen worse. But does look like it is time to change discs and pads, especially looking at the second picture.

I can't comment on the odd looking wear pattern on the second picture, almost looks like the pad is in 2 pieces?

It shouldn't be too difficult to do yourself, what car is it? I'm sure there are some others on here who can advise on any potential gotchas.

[Krikkit]

They look to have a bit of life in them yet - what are the pad thicknesses like? I'd be tempted to take the disk off and give it a clean up with a wire brush around the outside. The inner hat has been painted before use so it's still in pretty good nick.

The BINI hardly uses the rear brakes anyway, might be worth running around with some weight in the boot once in a while if you usually use it empty.

[jimmy156]

Thanks both, yes it does look almost as if the of has broken in two doesn’t it!

With regards diy’ing, I am the most hopeless wrench so don’t even want to attempt it

Car is a mk6 golf gti 210 (the mini was replaced by the 320i, which was written of 4 days into ownership and replaced with the golf about Christmas time, so I probably should have picked up about the pads then!)

[GreenV8S]

jimmy156 said:

With regards diy’ing, I am the most hopeless wrench so don’t even want to attempt it

The pad and disc life is usually defined in terms of a minimum thickness. So you could measure both and compare against the manual if you wanted to be certain. But they don't look terrible in those pictures and will probably be fine leaving until the next scheduled service.

[HustleRussell]

What happens with rears is they get underworked in normal driving so they don't get the exercise they need. Also by virtue of their reduced workload compared to the fronts they are also generally of a single piston sliding caliper design. These factors conspire to make them very prone to seizing up, which means they are doing less of the work etc etc. I'd say that is causing the groove.

If it was my car I'd whip the calipers off, check if they are seized and clean and lubricate the sliding pins. Then I'd go and give them some exercise and see if the groove reduces over the following days and weeks.

I would replace the pads and discs together when the pads wear out.