Is my wife being ripped off by garage?

Question

My wifes car is due for a service and the garage reckon she needs new brake pads and discs. She is a vey careful driver and has only done 3000 miles. I believe she is being ripped off. Can the pads and disks be worn so fast and what is normal for the weardown of disks and breakpads

I forgot to mention its a Micra bought brand new 3 years ago and only used for work and back 3000 miles in 3 years

Answer 1

3,000 miles shouldn't warrant new brake pads - and if they are saying new discs as well that means the pads are so worn down they have scored the disc - highly unusual at 3k miles.

My car has done 20,000 miles from new and has just had a service and MOT with no problems. Hubby's car has had one new set, but his car does double the mileage of mine. I would estimate his were done at around 25,000 to 30,000?

Get a second opinion - of course there may be a reason (warped discs or something causing uneven wear - I don't know because I'm no expert).

If there's no valid explanation I would consider taking it elsewhere for a service if they are going to rip you off.

Answer 2

If the brake calipers weren't sticking or hanging up from the last brake job 3,000 miles ago, and the brakes have been wearing normally, the fastest I've ever heard of pads wearing out is about 12,000 miles on some performance type cars. Usually you get at least 30,000 miles on most front pads and that's why new brakes are first checked again at that mileage. Even a new car dealer wouldn't normally check the brakes on a new car for the first time before 10,000 miles.

Answer 3

Although the her mileage is low, it is possible to have worn the brake pads if she's just been driving school runs and supermarket trips as these incure more stop/start miles then any other driving.

While mileage is a good indicator of wear and tear on a vehical you'll also need to take into account the age of the vehical and potential how many miles (if any) where on it when it was purchased.

I'll need new brakes at my next service. My cars three years old and while it has done 23,000 miles nearly all of that has been motorway driving. (no braking).

Answer 4

I just had the disks on my car replaced the vehicle had done 145 100 miles at the time the disks got replaced I had done 23 000 of those miles and the pads needed replacing for the first time since I bought it so you are being ripped off by the garage in my opinion

Answer 5

Was the car new or second hand, If you brought it second hand it might of already had worn brakes.

Get the job done and ask for the old discs and pads, Go down and watch the person change them so you know they are the ones of the car, ANd if they are not worn then dont pay and contact trading standards (Thats in the uk) But there will probally be a smiular company in other countrys.

Answer 6

Do you seriously mean the brakes have only done 3,000 miles in total? Or has the car covered more than that but your wife has only driven 3,000 miles herself?

If it's the first, unless your good lady has discovered a novel way of driving there's something seriously wrong there. I'd expect nearly ten times that out of pads and more out of disks with careful driving, unless it's a particularly "hot" car.

Answer 7

If the garage is a dealership, then they are probably trying to get more work in. I used to take my car to a Toyota dealer and they were always wanting to change something. At first I let them do it, but I later found that some of the work was unnecessary. She shouldn't need new pads until at least 15,000 miles, even a lot of town driving. Get a second opinion.

Answer 8

If your wife only drives 3000 miles a year then the discs will rust badly because they will not have been used enough (which keeps them clean).
It is standard practice to replace the pads when new discs are fitted.

Answer 9

I have never heard of brakes wearing out in only 3000 miles. The lowest I have seen someone wear out brakes was about 7,000 miles on a GM product (early 90's).

I would get a second opinion.

Answer 10

Take it to another garage and ask for an estimate for the service, and what that includes. My focus had new front pads only at 40,000 miles, the rear brakes look as new.