Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Now i knew my pads in my recently aquired WRX STi where in need of replacement as basically the braking was rather bad. But i never in my wildest dream thought the pads where THIS bad!!! Something ScoobyClinic completely over looked!!!!!! ...........





I would have never driven the car if i knew they were in such a state, what would cause them to degrade in such a manner, there not evenly warn down at all!!!

I manage to replace the front pads tonight, will do the rear tomorrow, hate to think what state they are in. I cant understand why the brake warning light never came on the dash to alert me just how warn the pads actually were?

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Being sat in a scrap yard for a year ?

dunx

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

Bloke I know runs a car ramp lifting referb business. Ran his 3.5 tonner front brakes till the piston had worn the pad base away and popped out the caliper... staggering stuff considering he towed a trailer and big weight too

Yours look pretty bad though

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

So does the the WRX STI have a warning light for low pad level, as reading the manual it only has the one warning light for brakes which is the same light when the handbrake is engaged, on my CTR there was the handbrake light aswell as a brake light also, but just appears to be the one on the STi?

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

Those pads are pretty scary

There isnt a warning light. The little tab on the bottom of the pad should touch the disc and make a noise to warn that the pad material is low. Not all aftermarket pads have them though so best to do a visual inspection to monitor wear.

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

No, you can usually tell as they'd have a sensor to plug into the loom somewhere.

These have the metal tabs you can see on the bottom right of the bottom two pics. When the pad gets low enough, that metal will make contact with your discs and screech like mad.
But in this case, as only one side of the pad has dissappeared, thats why it didn't touch the disc.

Jimbob

iTrader: (13)

You can see your brake pad warning system, the metal clippy thing on the bottom that should have made the brakes squeal.
That is terrible pad wear though, should check them more often

djandyg

iTrader: (2)

tbh that looks more like the friction material has broken away from the pads at some stage (allow tho obviously were low to)
This happen with my rear when i went to change them, lifted the friction material and pad mounting plate out as 2 seperate pieces lol

Camoscooby

iTrader: (5)

Holy Moley

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Yeah must admit when I had the pad still in the calliper and was leaving it against the disk to push the calliper back there was a fair few bits of the pad just breaking off!! The last owner must have fitted some really cheap pads!!

The worrying thing is back the other week I took the car to scoobyclinic for a 30,000 mile service + cambelt and they never even mentioned anything about the pads what so ever!!

CREWJ

Those are pretty horrific.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Now that is worrying...

dunx

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Do you think I should give Scoobyclinic a ring and have a pop at them?? I took my car to them as everyone raves about them, but to be fair if they have over looked these brakes the way they were then what else might they have over looked. On reflection don't think I be driving the 100+ mile round trip to them next time the service is due!

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

I agree 100% , you should complain to them.

It is shocking and dangerous that they missed these pads on a service.

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

I might fire an email off to them with the pictures attached above so they can actually see the brakes that where on a car that they apparently serviced! To be fair i dont know what good it will do as if they offer me a free service im not sure id even drive the miles to have it serviced by them again, bit of a trust issue really!. Anyone know who's the main man and email address for Scoobyclinic?

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Seriously, if the pads are that bad what are the discs like?
I had similar (but not as bad!) problems on my STi due, I assume, to lack of use. The contact area on the inside face of the discs was considerably reduced. If I were you I would inspect the discs thoroughly before fitting the new pads.

JohnD

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

Does scooby clinic offer a free check of your car when servicing?

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Im not 100% sure if they do or not, but they did pick up on the small fact that there was slight wear on the outside tread of both front tyres, but neglected the brakes it would seem!!

Surprisingly the disc are all good, no lip on them at all and now are quiet shiny after give the pads a test run (no squealing either! )! It is strange though as the rear pads still had a fair amount of thickness to them but certain small areas of the pad had just disintegrated!!???

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

WOW, that's scary, when was the car last serviced before Scoobyclinic checked it over? They're some seriously worn pads you have there. My specialist strips down the brakes at EVERY service, then gives me a realistic idea of when they'll need replacing.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Some people will go to silly extremes when selling a car, including swapping out new/decent pads to sell on as "spares"...

An e-mail is unlikely to get much of a response, but you do need to find someone closer !

dunx

P.S. I have no personal experience of SC, but the stories I have heard don't encourage me to use them....

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Yeah hopefully Zen Performance will start doing services again when the time comes for its next service

gallois

This is the reason i only ever service my own cars, i'm the only one i can fully trust.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Agreed. They also look very old and like they've spent a lot of time near the sea.

I see a lot of shocking brake stuff in my job, quite common to find no pad material left. I went out to a vivaro the other day with "noisey brakes" and as I moved it closer to my van I heard a clonk and one of the rear pads fell out. It was almost halfway through the metal backing of the pad. I've also seen transits where the pads have gone and the pistons fallen out on the rears. Some people are animals . Mind you, the people who are servicing them before aren't much better.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Depends on the 'service'

For example an intermediate service is just an oil change and quick look over without removing the wheels. Cambelt, of course is typically charged as an additional non-service task. And IIRC the big service on Subarus is 12months AFTER the cambelt due date (which will be gearbox oil, coolant, possibly plugs and optional brake fluid). Check the shedule in the service book if you are in doubt.


FWIW I seen pads far worse than that. Quite normal for the material to come away from the backing once they get below 5mm due to the heat and aging.

Plenty of women (and male) drivers come in with pads on the metal....brakes can work surprisingly well too! (until it wears through the backing, on to the pistons...which will then fall out - as mentioned above).

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Well the car has done 18,500 miles and i booked it in for the 30,000 mile service and also cambelt and fuel filter replacment (they didnt replace tensioners as they didnt need it), the only thing that shouldnt have been inspected/replaced was:

Spark Plugs
Valve Clearance

so dont think they have any excuse really!?

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Sounds very unlike the Clinic, who have an awesome reputation on here.

I'd give the gaffer there a call and see what's gone on.

Let us know how you get on!

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Is the gaffer Andy??

chrisdicko

iTrader: (21)

He's called Kev. He is called The Gaffer on here.

Tomwrx

iTrader: (54)

thats shocking and very lucky u didnt need to do any emergency stops,

u can seee the thinkness of the tread on the pads without taking the tyres of and any garage worth there salt will check/look at the pad wear as its more money for them if the do need to replace them,

sounds like someone wasnt doing there job and very lucky u werent involved in any accident due to poor braking,

i have never used sc and always thought they were a gd outfit so i would contact the manager/owner and explain over the phone whats happend and send the pics to his email.

The Gaffer

Hi,

we dont overlook brakes and would have reported to you they were in need of sorting if they were worn, and I state "worn" not destroyed, they look as if they have had some serious heat into them.

contact me to discuss this further on 01246 590807 or if you prefer E mail me on info@scoobyclinic.com

cheers
Kev