Hi guys,
Something strange is going on with my rear brakes. I have not had to replace either the front pads or discs, yet I have had to replace the rear pads twice (at 30 000km and 50 000km). Any ideas as to why this might be happening?
Thanks in advance.
Xsara Rear Brake Pads
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Jon
The rear pads on ZX, Xsara, 306 etc only have a thin layer of friction material on them in comparison to the front pads.
Many people upon seeing them for the first time think they are worn out, even although they might be quite new!
If the pads are genuinely well worn, check that the handbrake cables are not sticking on, and that the handbrake lever on the calipers are not seized.
Do you carry a lot of weight in the back of the car? This also wears the rear pads quickly as does towing.
Many people upon seeing them for the first time think they are worn out, even although they might be quite new!
If the pads are genuinely well worn, check that the handbrake cables are not sticking on, and that the handbrake lever on the calipers are not seized.
Do you carry a lot of weight in the back of the car? This also wears the rear pads quickly as does towing.
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Langers
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 29 Apr 2003, 03:19
Jon,
Thanks for the reply. The pads only have about 1mm of meat left on them so they really are well and truly buggered (the mechanic I go to keeps the parts he replaces for me to inspect). Don't carry much of a load in the back, never do any towing. Strange.
20 000km out of a set of REAR pads just sounds strange to me, that's all.
Handbrake completely disengages, no problems there.
Thanks for the reply. The pads only have about 1mm of meat left on them so they really are well and truly buggered (the mechanic I go to keeps the parts he replaces for me to inspect). Don't carry much of a load in the back, never do any towing. Strange.
20 000km out of a set of REAR pads just sounds strange to me, that's all.
Handbrake completely disengages, no problems there.
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Dave Burns
- Posts: 1915
- Joined: 14 May 2001, 05:30
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furyspyder
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 24 Jun 2003, 06:00
Does the car go unused for more than a few days at a time? or is it kept outside and not used every day?
I found on my ZX (same brakes as Xsara I presume?) that because I only use the car at weekends, or sometimes only every other weekend (I cycle to work) a fine layer of surface rust was building up on the discs even with the slightest hint of dampness, i.e. most of the time in the UK !!, and my car is garaged all of the time. If the car is put away wet, particularly in the winter when the cheapskate councils chuck salt everywhere, it sometimes takes a matter of hours for the brakes to become practically seized on. As a result i have had to make a point of using my car more often and now the problem has gone away.
Anyway, my point is, that all of this surface rust causes the pads to wear more than normal while it is being worn away back to clean metal, which isn't a particulary rapid process on these cars as they are so light on the rear brakes (they should have fitted drums !!). I had to replace my discs and pads all-round at about 35000 miles, due to severe corrosion (pad running on reduced area of disc) particularly on the rears, and again at 65000. Since then I seem to have it under control and the new OEM discs/pads I have, remain clean and shiny.
Could this be what has happened to yours?
I found on my ZX (same brakes as Xsara I presume?) that because I only use the car at weekends, or sometimes only every other weekend (I cycle to work) a fine layer of surface rust was building up on the discs even with the slightest hint of dampness, i.e. most of the time in the UK !!, and my car is garaged all of the time. If the car is put away wet, particularly in the winter when the cheapskate councils chuck salt everywhere, it sometimes takes a matter of hours for the brakes to become practically seized on. As a result i have had to make a point of using my car more often and now the problem has gone away.
Anyway, my point is, that all of this surface rust causes the pads to wear more than normal while it is being worn away back to clean metal, which isn't a particulary rapid process on these cars as they are so light on the rear brakes (they should have fitted drums !!). I had to replace my discs and pads all-round at about 35000 miles, due to severe corrosion (pad running on reduced area of disc) particularly on the rears, and again at 65000. Since then I seem to have it under control and the new OEM discs/pads I have, remain clean and shiny.
Could this be what has happened to yours?
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furyspyder
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 24 Jun 2003, 06:00
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Langers
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 29 Apr 2003, 03:19
I'm actually beginning to think that the last mechanic charged me for the pads but didnt replace them. That seems the most logical explanation at this point!
P.S. Does this forum have email notification when someone replies to your post? Because I never receive any notification (hence this late reply)
P.S. Does this forum have email notification when someone replies to your post? Because I never receive any notification (hence this late reply)
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simonelsey
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 27 Oct 2003, 05:47
Ive got a xsara 2.0 hdi estate ,(brought second hand 29000 on clock 2000 model) Ive done 30000 miles in it and have had disc and pads all round twice now . Is this a common fault with xsaras?
Use to have a toyota carina and done 245,000 miles in it had 4 years and had to replace drums once and discs not at all . pads lasted average 40000 miles and shoes about 50000 miles . so Im not heavy with the brakes. any idea
Use to have a toyota carina and done 245,000 miles in it had 4 years and had to replace drums once and discs not at all . pads lasted average 40000 miles and shoes about 50000 miles . so Im not heavy with the brakes. any idea
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Nikolaymk
- Posts: 121
- Joined: 02 Jul 2003, 04:58