In these times and before, don't dealers always say.. oh your pads are worn x amount to try and get more cash.. honestly.. fark them

 

get a second opinion from a high st brakes place for free if you're not able to take them apart and have a look.

our vectra the dealer told us it needed new discs and pads all round. OK the front pads were 80% gone but the discs are fine. t0ss

 

I always ask for any parts that are replaced to leave the old bits in the car.

Quite often I got the call back (after saying brakes needed doing) soon after to say, "our mech has had another look and it appears they don't need replacing". hmmmmmmm

The "%age worn" one is an old one, often used to *scare* customers into replacing bits. So the rear discs are 75% worn on a 30k mile car, so that means there's still another 10,000miles worth of life in them!! Not to mention that I'll need new front pads soon (even though I replaced them weeks earlier!)

Problem is, it's now got the point that dealers can't be trusted to the extent that when pads/discs are genuinely worn we don't believe them! catch22.

I now use my mechanic who I known for years and trust. He's cheaper too and more thorough.

 

I replaced my front discs and pads the day before a service and the service report stated that they were 70/80% wear, dont always believe them, if you are worried get a second opinion

 

If you guys dont trust the dealers then check them yourselves.
Its not difficult to learn, and all you really need is a micrometer to measure with -

 

Techs make good bonus points for pads/discs replacement, always a favourite job, " a safety issue sir" is the battle cry of the service dept. Second opinion req'd.