Do I need new brake pads?

mcw92

I only bought this car two weeks ago after it was sourced via a dealer for me. It went through a RAC Checklist prior which stated as having 50% + remaining on the break pads.
But on checking there yesterday, I can not see any of the break pad at all.
To me it looks like the pads are completely gone, but there is no noise from the breaks at all.


I plan to bring to a garage but wont be able to until later in the week.
(Then if given the bad news, I will be checking with the dealer as to what has happened and how there was a check for 50% + only a month ago.)

Seat Leon 2014 FR 184



https://i.imgur.com/RKYNqzv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/T5pdbBL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/g9f2ECc.jpg

Deagol

EDIT: Looking actually ok if you look at the third picture. You can see a big chunk of pad there.

mcw92

Deagol wrote: »

EDIT: Looking actually ok if you look at the third picture. You can see a big chunk of pad there.

It has me very worried, if I am checking them all would it be a case that if there is any gap between the caliper and the disk, then there is pad remaining?
I'll get more pictures of the others, but I think this was actually the better of the 4 (on the pads, its the worst looking disk)
If they were as badly wore as you thought, surely there would be squealing when breaking?

Deagol

If you look at 3rd and 4th pictures you can see a flat plate which is the carrier and then a big chunk of brake pad. I think they're fine. I'm not sure why you have those lines on the disc though, perhaps a mechanic will comment later on that - has the car been sitting up for a couple of days or are you doing very short journeys only?

mcw92

Deagol wrote: »

If you look at 3rd and 4th pictures you can see a flat plate which is the carrier and then a big chunk of brake pad. I think they're fine. I'm not sure why you have those lines on the disc though, perhaps a mechanic will comment later on that - has the car been sitting up for a couple of days or are you doing very short journeys only?

No the car has been driven every day for 2 weeks. Average around 40 miles per day and maybe a 200 mile round trip every weekend. 
I'm going to speak to the dealer about it anyways, just wanted an opinion. I do not think they will care though once they have my money.

my3cents

It looks like there is loads of pad remaining but the lack of wear where the rust on the discs are is very strange.

My best guess so far is that the discs got really bad in the past and some has done half the job of skimming them leaving lower areas where the rust is. The new pads may be very had and not wearing very quickly so have not got the wear on them yet to match up with the discs. But that really doesn't make much sense?

If you look at the discs you can see that there is some sign of machining.

mcw92

So am I correct in thinking this is the pad?
https://i.imgur.com/JjceMNS.jpg
More pictures
https://i.imgur.com/EVFGpjA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tlit8vv.jpg

Deagol

Yes, that's the pad. The thin metal part at the back is the carrier. The rest is pad material so no problems there.

The disc uneven wear is more of a concern, it may be that the disc has been poorly skimmed for some reason. If you're concerned I'd definitely drop it into a garage for a quick look - it should cost nothing for a mechanic to take a look and advise. Brakes are not optional so peace of mind is important on them!

my3cents

Yep thats the pad and there is plenty of meat on it. The thinner bit behind is the metal backing plate. People often let the pads wear down to a few mm before they change them.

It looks like new pads have been fitted to discs that have been messed up by pads that were left too long before changing or even worn down to the metal backing plate.

tbh 50/50 if it was mine if I'd change the discs (and replace the pads don't use old pads on new discs).

Edit> Thinking about it I would probably get new discs and pads fitted its shouldn't be an expensive job as it doesn't take long and parts shouldn't be that expensive.
My concern is that because the pads aren't all gripping the same amount of disc that braking will be uneven.

pablo128

Vws are known for sticking calipers. I would get them checked.

mcw92

my3cents wrote: »

Yep thats the pad and there is plenty of meat on it. The thinner bit behind is the metal backing plate. People often let the pads wear down to a few mm before they change them.

It looks like new pads have been fitted to discs that have been messed up by pads that were left too long before changing or even worn down to the metal backing plate.

tbh 50/50 if it was mine if I'd change the discs (and replace the pads don't use old pads on new discs).

Edit> Thinking about it I would probably get new discs and pads fitted its shouldn't be an expensive job as it doesn't take long and parts shouldn't be that expensive.
My concern is that because the pads aren't all gripping the same amount of disc that braking will be uneven.

I'll bring it to a garage on Saturday, I'm based in the North, how much would you expect to pay for say 2 new disks and pads? 
Only two of the disks are wore like this. 

Thanks for all the response everyone

rex-x

You dont need discs and pads, its more likely a caliper issue, very common on VW. Around 200 fitted each caliper.

Mech1

just drive on!!!

Looks like the car has laid up for a few weeks thats all,

Next time you need pads get discs too.

Professional mechanic opinion here.

my3cents

Mech1 wrote: »

just drive on!!!

Looks like the car has laid up for a few weeks thats all,

Next time you need pads get discs too.

Professional mechanic opinion here.

Only thing that concerns me is that after 2 weeks driving the pads haven't worn fully to the shape of the disc.

You'd get the odd groove in old discs but not wide strips like in the OP's last picture in the first post.

rex-x

plus those discs and pads were very clearly just changed, they cant be more than a month or two old

my3cents

rex-x wrote: »

plus those discs and pads were very clearly just changed, they cant be more than a month or two old

OK so how about the discs were changed because they were bad but the pads were nearly new so they reused them?

That would account for the disks not wearing evenly across their whole surface because the pads still have wear marks from the old discs.

Deagol

Quite possible - it may be they changed the pads hoping it would cure a problem and then changed the discs when it didn't. TBH, if the car is braking without undue pressure needed etc and there's no squelling etc I'd not be too worried. But, I'd have a local mechanic look at it just to be sure.

barneygumble99

Yep to me it looks like new discs and pads and they just haven't bedded in fully yet.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I would fit new pads before those pads destroy the discs any more. I’m guessing the discs were replaced but not the pads and now the pads (which wore unevenly on the old discs) are wearing the same pattern on the new discs.