Xantia Front Brakes

[Joe Shell]

Hi, All Xantia Users,

Last Week my Xantia 1.9TD was 3 years old. I have had it from new, It has completed 18150 miles only. I am retired and do not do a high milage. My driving is 'mixed', ie. urban, rural and distance. on putting it in for its service and MOT last week, I was told that my front brakes were 'shot', requiring new discs and pads, cost £153.00. My friend bought his Xantia at the same time as me, also new, and a 1.9TD, and has just completed 55000 miles, On his recent service, he was required to replace only his front pads. I have never been one to drive, 'on my brakes', and have never ever had to replace Brake Discs on any of my other cars, in over 45 years of driving.

Has anyone else had this experience?, or would anyone like to comment on what they regard a normal, expected, brake life should be. I should be interested in any comments at all.

Regards, Bemused.

[corkymills]

you should have a light on your dash which indicates when your front pads are wearing down,this will come on when you are driving. I have this on mine 1998 1.9td so it should be on yours being only 3yrs old. I think you would have noticed when braking if the pads were worn down to the metal. Did your mate notice this light???? all the best...........corky :)

[Nice2CVous]

While sympathising with you I think it's more likely an indicator of driving habit than product failure. Both urban and rural motoring wear brakes in that their are more drivers, more hazards, more junctions, more obstructions, more bends, etc. While you state you don't drive on your brakes, most people do. Most drivers travel too close to the car in front meaning they have to brake more often. Few drivers let their gears slow them. Rural roads can be gritty so your discs can pick up deposits and wear down the pads. Ensuring brakes are cleaned regularly will lengthen lifespan.

[Guest androcles]

maybe such low usage could've meant greater opportunity for rust pitting.

 

still seems a remarkably short disc life nonetheless.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

My experience of modern brakes, since the demise of asbestos in the pad material, is that, the less you use them, the sooner they fail. Also, the current trend of not having a full shroud on the inboard side of the disc means that corrosion and pitting can take hold much more readily, leading to earlier than normal failure which can actually be exacerbated by lack of use.

 

So! the best thing to do is brake quite heavily at least once during each journey to keep the discs and pads clean and free of corrosion. Also, because the pads don't have asbestos in them, they are MUCH more abrasive, and it is almost normal now to replace both discs and pads at the same time.

 

Cheers. Hope this helps :blink: