A6 3.0TDi - Urgent advice please, pads & discs

[Dilligaf10]

The A6 is in for service today, done 36k, I know it needed a new set of pads but they have just phoned to say the front discs also need replacing. In theory this means that every time a new set of pads is required a new set of discs will also be needed!!! The car is just two years old, surely this can't be right? Puts the bill for a straightforward service up to about £900.00.
Am I being scammed by the main stealer???
HELP

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Unless it is a quattro specific issue, there is no need to replace the pads and discs at the same time (unless the discs are also worn).

At my last main dealer service for my 147 GTA the pads were replaced but the dealer said the discs were fine.

[Dilligaf10]

They say the discs are worn but I cannot believe that this should be the case on a 2 yr old car. It has the occasional abuse but 95% of the time it is ferrying clients around at a very sedate speed. I cannot justify (believe) the £350.00 cost every time the brake pads need replacing.

[UpTheIron]

Even if you need discs and pads, you are going to pay handsomely for the dealer doing it. Tell them to leave it alone and take it to a local indie.

36k for a set of discs doesn't sound too good either...I got 10k out of my fronts AFTER the pad warning light came on.

[Dilligaf10]

Have had no option but to tell them to go ahead with it, need the car for a chauffeur job this afternoon. Have asked for the old discs so that I can take this up with Audi, will not rest on this one until I am satisfied.
Thanks for your input guys.
(Can't decide which smiley is most appropriate at the moment!)

[morebeanz]

I had a similar issue at similar miles - front disks replaced on my 3.0TDi quattro...

I'm guessing that to get the barge to stop with that 3.0ltr lump is proving troublesome.

[Steve_T]

Assuming the discs haven't warped, then there's a minimum thickness for a disc at which point it needs replacing. The dealer should be able to tell you what this is and what your discs measured, even measure them with you there if needed. Some pads are hard on discs, but are popular as they produce less brake dust, so you may be able to improve on the disc wear situation, if you can put up with more pad wear.

Steve.

[jonesy]

I've a 3.2 petrol, had a service at 25K and just needed new pads. didn't stop them charging me near on 800 for the service though.

J.

[Neil_Sc]

Brakes are a piece of cake, I've done discs and pads all round on my A4, parts aren't that expensive.

If your not confident take it to a decent independent.

[bertie]

See my comments here...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...


For those who can't be bothered to click...


The old brake disc job is a classic!

Make it sound scary and safety critical and people will never question it.

I must have had that a dozen times on various cars and vans here at work, ask them what thickness they are and what the manufacturers specify as the minimum thickness and then decide for yourself if the disks need changing.

I hate main dealer garages!!

Caveat :- Clearly there are some good ones though.

[jimmyb]

If you want a decent response/ honest answer and decent costing speak to Andy or jean at east kent audi in canterbury they are very good and open about things. Labour is about £95 an hr if i remember rightly. I had my discs and pads both replaced at the same time at a cost of 320 i think about 9 months ago at another dealers. I get around 30000 on pads and audi reckon disks should last twice that. Admittedly i am in anaudi a4 19tdi sport fwd 2001 however i cant see there being that much difference between an a4 brake cost and an a6.

[thong]

Neil_Sc said:

Brakes are a piece of cake, I've done discs and pads all round on my A4, parts aren't that expensive.

If your not confident take it to a decent independent.

id like to see you pushing the rear pistons back on a A6 with elecy handbrake

[nicktowe]

Ihave looked into this issue with my wifes Lean Cupra. Modern pads tend to be harder than in days gone by and disc wear is there fore a bigger issue. The Leon needed new discs at 40k miles. Also my BMW5 series needed disks after about 50K miles. 36k sounds a little early but the A6 is a heavy car.

[RS4john]

If you are a heavey brake user then it's quite possible, however if you're not then I would question it, I have never worn-out a set that quickly other than the 928 GTS but that is renouned for it.