dealer says I need new brakes, but no brake warning light???

[angelehua]

So the dealer says I need new brake pads, rotors and sensors at 40K for my '04 V8. Was told after the 40K service that I could go another 1K, maybe, before needing them replaced. My question is that I have never had a warning light come on for a brake issue, not this time or at 20K when the pads were replaced. From reading other posts it would seem that I should have seen some type of warning light. I have had continuing problems with the TPMS and recurrent warnings about real and
non-existent problems with head/tail lights and turn signals. Is there any connection between the brake warnings and tire/light warnings?

Thanks!

[Tahoe]

No connection between TPM sensors on your tires and brake sensors.

The dealer is telling you that your pads are getting low, but your brake sensors will tell you when they really need to be replaced. As the pads wears to a certain point, it cuts the wire for the sensor and sends the signal to the computer to turn on the brake light. (even this sensor has proven to be premature)

No reason to change the brakes until this light is activated. You can even go a good 1,000 miles after this light is activated. It sounds like your dealer is jumping the gun and wants to make some extra cash why he has you in the shop.

My advice is to wait until the brake sensor light goes off. Or if you are worried, ask the dealer to measure the pads thickness and compare it to what the replacement tolerances are.

I have an 04' V8 and didn't need to change my brakes until 50K. You are already on your second set?

[angelehua]

At my 20K service they changed the pads(no warning light, probably should have waited) and now at 40K the dealer is saying it all needs to be replaced. I can tell that the brakes are not as good as they used to be, have heard some squeaking. I guess that one of my concerns is that the
t-reg is supposed to be able to self-monitor, but mine very obviously has problems with this aspect. One example is that I was having lots of issues with prox-sensors(3rd or 4th time)and the diagnostics said everything was fine, but the tech manually inspected(?) and found that one was malfunctioning.

With all the trouble I've had with the dealership, I have a hard time believing them when they are wanting me to shell out a thousand bucks. A few times ago they said they had found the problem with the headlights and that one needed a new bulb and adjusting and voila! the problem would be fixed(not a warranty issue and I'd have to pay $17), but about 18 hours later it started doing the same thing. So very frustrating, they are supposed to be the experts, but most of the time, they don't seem to know what they are doing.

[VdubTech]

Originally Posted by angelehua

At my 20K service they changed the pads(no warning light, probably should have waited) and now at 40K the dealer is saying it all needs to be replaced. I can tell that the brakes are not as good as they used to be, have heard some squeaking. I guess that one of my concerns is that the
t-reg is supposed to be able to self-monitor, but mine very obviously has problems with this aspect. One example is that I was having lots of issues with prox-sensors(3rd or 4th time)and the diagnostics said everything was fine, but the tech manually inspected(?) and found that one was malfunctioning.

With all the trouble I've had with the dealership, I have a hard time believing them when they are wanting me to shell out a thousand bucks. A few times ago they said they had found the problem with the headlights and that one needed a new bulb and adjusting and voila! the problem would be fixed(not a warranty issue and I'd have to pay $17), but about 18 hours later it started doing the same thing. So very frustrating, they are supposed to be the experts, but most of the time, they don't seem to know what they are doing.

Just wait until the light comes on. Touareg pads by looking at them BRAND new are very thin compared to other VW's. The vehicle is smart enough to tell you when you need pads. When the light comes on you have about 10% pad left.

[BoostAddiction]

[quote="VdubTech"]

Originally Posted by angelehua

The vehicle is smart enough to tell you when you need pads. When the light comes on you have about 10% pad left.

In my experience, that just isn't so.

The brake sensors came on at about 35000 miles on my Treg, and when I examined the old pads, they still had about half their life left.

That means, if my experience is a reliable guide, that people are replacing pads (and rotors as well) about twice as often as they really need to.

Some people on this list have seen quotes of $1700 for all four rotors and pads to be replaced at the dealer. If they are only half-worn, as mine were, that means that your friendly dealer is really suggesting that you pay him about $3400 every time the brakes are actually worn out.

Nice work, if you can get it.

My new standard is to check the pad wear every 5000 miles when the oil is changed. It's really quite easy to do by just looking at the pads through the wheel spokes. If you see them getting near the wear limit, it's time.

-Will

[Tahoe]

Originally Posted by BoostAddiction

My new standard is to check the pad wear every 5000 miles when the oil is changed.

Just wondering: If you are so concerned with added dealer cost on the brakes (which is understandable), why are you changing the oil every 5K? Twice as often as you need to.

[BoostAddiction]

Originally Posted by Tahoe

Just wondering: If you are so concerned with added dealer cost on the brakes (which is understandable), why are you changing the oil every 5K? Twice as often as you need to.

Mine is a V10, and it sees use in towing, thus the different interval. The intervals from VW are minimums, not ideals, and, as every manufacturer says, may vary based on use. In my case, I don't doubt that the oil at 10,000 miles is probably fine, but I feel uncomfortable about carrying dirty oil for so long (and as we all know, diesels carry more junk in the oil than the equivalent gas engines).

Finally, my point about the brakes was that the sensors go off way too early, and that the threads above seem to think this was both normal behavior, and somehow acceptable. I think it is neither. The consequence of those premature wear sensor settings was that many people were having money taken from them under false pretenses. The decision to change oil early is a voluntary one, and thus is a different situation.

-Will

[Tahoe]

Well explained.

I agree with you on the brakes. It is just another way for the dealers to make extra cash and replace them early.

[angelehua]

Thanks, everyone! It sounds like I won't be needing new brakes for at least a while. Which is nice since the 40K maintenance just cost $541, in addition to them not being able to fix most of the problems that I continue to have.