[Volte]

Hello,

My MINI Cooper went in for a Inspection2 service and they said the REAR pads were down to 4mm and I should think about changing them.

Normally I would have said go for it, or even changed them myself, but I'm thinking of changing the car soon, so considering it's the rear pads and I mainly do motorway driving, will I be able to get a few more months out of them? The front pads are only 4 months old.


Cheers.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Because of the very long service intervals on the car the dealer is bound to take the cautious approach to brake pad replacement as he's not going to see the car for another 15,000 miles or maybe even more Consequently, it's probably fair to assume that they won't last for another 15,000 miles...

Based on 4 months of motorway driving personally I'd keep the existing pads and keep an eye on them, but this one's got to be up to you...

Tigger.

[Volte]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

Because of the very long service intervals on the car the dealer is bound to take the cautious approach to brake pad replacement as he's not going to see the car for another 15,000 miles or maybe even more Consequently, it's probably fair to assume that they won't last for another 15,000 miles...

Based on 4 months of motorway driving personally I'd keep the existing pads and keep an eye on them, but this one's got to be up to you...

Tigger.

Cheers,

As always, me being the one who uses 10 words when two would do, I guess what I'm asking is - "Is the MINI light on rear brake pads?"

[MIL7215]

If you are getting rid soon, then I wouldn't bother.
Just keep an eye on them and you should be fine. If they get down to 2mm then change asap

[oldnell]

Quote: Originally Posted by Volte (original)

Cheers,

As always, me being the one who uses 10 words when two would do, I guess what I'm asking is - "Is the MINI light on rear brake pads?"

It has been known for rear pads on the MINI to wear quicker than the front ones. I think this is possibly due to sticking callipers, which does happen.

I know mine did this. My dealer, who had serviced the car only months before my rear pads wore down to the metal backing, said that they don't inform customers when their pads are low at service because everyone drives differently.

The lesson is not to rely on the brake pad wear indicator and check yourself. I say this because I thought my car had wear indicators and I found out too late that it doesn't.

Oli

[adrian.farmer]

My S has 33000 miles and checked my pads the other day fronts were 6mm, rears were 5.5mm so yes the rears do wear quicker than the fronts.

[georgemac]

My daughter has a Mini One - just over 2 years old, has done just over 25,000 miles - not driven hard at all.

At the service, the dealer recommended changing the disks and pads rear and front, which surprised me - I have never had a car that needed those changed in such a short time as that. Anyway, the quote was just under £500 so I decided I would do the work myself, using standard parts - would have went for upgraded if it was a cooper S and being driven hard.

Fronts - really straight forward to do, only problems were getting the studs/screws out - obviously not lubricated at assembly, and the sensor is very fiddly to refit.

Rears, again same problems with bolts/studs, and access not so easy as the front, but definitely needed is the tool for turning the piston when pushing it back in. I saw it online for £24 - made by Laser, worked great, my mate already had the tool for his Honda so I just bought the BMW adapter.

Just to add I think living by the sea leads to greater corrosion rates on the disks due to the salt air.