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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: forzahibs on 14 August 2012, 14:28

Title: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: forzahibs on 14 August 2012, 14:28
My 2 year old GTI is in for its first service today and have just been told that the brake pads/ discs are badly corroded. Also being told that VW will not cover this under warranty. The reason for the corrosion is being blamed on the inactivity of the car; less than 11500 miles covered. I find it astonishing that the longevity of the part is dependant on average use? Does anyone have any experience of this and of getting VW to replace under warranty?

Thanks for your help
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: gizzywizzy on 14 August 2012, 14:48
My 2 year old GTI is in for its first service today and have just been told that the brake pads/ discs are badly corroded. Also being told that VW will not cover this under warranty. The reason for the corrosion is being blamed on the inactivity of the car; less than 11500 miles covered. I find it astonishing that the longevity of the part is dependant on average use? Does anyone have any experience of this and of getting VW to replace under warranty?

Thanks for your help

Crap my car is just over 3 with 15000 miles on and very little corrosion, so tell VW to stick that in their pipe.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Jimble on 14 August 2012, 15:03
^This, mine is nearly 2.5 years old with 13000 on, the disc/hubs go a little rusty anyway, my brothers old Rocs were terrible but VW said it was normal, tell them to leave them alone and get a second opinion.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: AlanH on 14 August 2012, 16:49
Interesting. My GTD was in for its first long-life service last week (around 18,500 miles) and I pointed out the rust on all 4 wheel hubs, plus quite substantial rust on the front wheel calipers. Photographs were taken, and I'm waiting to hear back from the Service Department.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Snoopy on 14 August 2012, 17:59
Alot of things are only covered for 6 months or 6500 miles which ever comes first.
 http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=237565.msg2191670#msg2191670
I copies vw warrenty onto the forum.

Bit of a warning some dealers have a health check during service etc. Ask someone who works at these places off record and they will tell you its a money making exercise by dealer managers.
Have your brakes checked by independent if your worried.
You could post up photos and we could advise.
Brakes, aircon normally come up on health checks  :wink:
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Ess_Three on 14 August 2012, 19:25
Sadly, since the use of asbestos was stopped when making brake pads, the make up has changed, where the discs are softer than ever in order to get decent performance.
It's not uncommon for brake discs to outlast brake pads.

Since the metal is 'softer' than previously, it's more prone to rust. This is especially bad on the inside edge of the disc, where the water can sit.
Cars sitting unused outside suffer...as do those washed and put away without drying the brakes off first.
This can be minimised by driving the car round the block  with plenty of braking, before laying the car up for a lengthy period, to ensure the insides of the brakes are dry.

I suffered this exact issue with a previous car...and since drying the brakes before periods of inactivity, I've avoided the problem.

Sadly, rusting discs is something we just have to live with.



Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Raffe on 14 August 2012, 20:47
2 year old car with 11k miles here and no issues, doesn't sound right to me.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: mustard on 14 August 2012, 21:29
As above, I have a 2.5 year old car with only 8000 and there is minimal rust.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Ess_Three on 14 August 2012, 21:38
As above, I have a 2.5 year old car with only 8000 and there is minimal rust.

Has it sat for extended periods?
Or just done lots of short runs?

This does have an impact.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: mustard on 14 August 2012, 22:04
As above, I have a 2.5 year old car with only 8000 and there is minimal rust.

Has it sat for extended periods?
Or just done lots of short runs?

This does have an impact.

It tends mostly to be used for short runs, but last year I drove to Paris, to York and to Denmark. It is garaged, which may make all the difference. Garage is unheated but well built and only a few years old.

Previous Golf I had for six years, did slightly more miles 36,000, but again had no trouble with rust on the discs.

Can't believe they said it was lack of use.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Ess_Three on 14 August 2012, 22:40
It tends mostly to be used for short runs, but last year I drove to Paris, to York and to Denmark. It is garaged, which may make all the difference. Garage is unheated but well built and only a few years old.

Previous Golf I had for six years, did slightly more miles 36,000, but again had no trouble with rust on the discs.

Can't believe they said it was lack of use.

Oh, I can believe they used lack of use as an excuse.

Sadly, garaging can make the matter worse!
When outside, the air circulating can dry anything wet - like brakes...whereas putting a car away wet, then leaving it for 2 weeks at a time, seemed to let the rust have free run of the discs.

I still garage mine...I just dry the brakes first and have had no issues since.

Maybe worth a try?


Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: forzahibs on 15 August 2012, 10:23
Thanks for all replies guys. They said it was not a safety issue yet so did not get the work carried out; interesting to guage opinion and to see that there are lots of low mileage cars out there with no problems. I tend to only use the car at weekends as I tend to wind up drivers on my bicycle Monday - Friday. On another subject, I think this will be my last brand new car, hard to justify this level of purchase with this mileage, might go down the BMW 3 Series coupe route like my friend who got a 335 for around 15k
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: RickS on 15 August 2012, 10:46
My 2 year old GTI is in for its first service today and have just been told that the brake pads/ discs are badly corroded. Also being told that VW will not cover this under warranty. The reason for the corrosion is being blamed on the inactivity of the car; less than 11500 miles covered. I find it astonishing that the longevity of the part is dependant on average use? Does anyone have any experience of this and of getting VW to replace under warranty?

Thanks for your help
Items such as brake discs and pads are not covered for the full term of the warranty - only 6 months or 6500 miles, look here http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warranty/factory/terms (http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warranty/factory/terms). I traded my GTI in for the R when it was 2 years and 4 months old and had only done 8945 miles - no corrosion at all on brake discs. What causes the worst corrosion is washing the car and then leaving it whilst the discs are still wet. I always take mine for a short spin after washing to dry the discs. Is your car garaged? Leaving it outside in all weathers won't help either.
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: forzahibs on 15 August 2012, 12:21
No garage, its outside in all weathers. It's not washing it either because it does not get washed as often as it might
Title: Re: Brake Pad/ Disc Corrosion
Post by: Belfast Child on 15 August 2012, 20:07
My car goes into vw tomorrow as the front offside disc has 4/5 scores in it, the car has done 800miles and 5 months old. There is also a rattle noise From the offside, sounds like metal clattering when you go over a bump, any ideas what it could be? I have had the car up on ramps and nothing found!!! But it's doin my head in!