|
Not a criticism, but any such odd sounds from the wheel area of any of my cars sees the wheels removed immediately for inspection, or as soon as i get home depending on severity.
Longevity of brake linings is an intersting one and i'm inpressed at the figures quoted, i don't allow any of our cars to get anywhere near the wear indicators, the annual strip/clean/lube often shows up minor cracking of the pads or other signs of ageing and they don't go back in, so my brake friction materials never reach the heady mileages being spoken of here, but then i don't really use engine braking as all our cars are torque converter autos so brakes get necessary higher use, well thats my excuse.
Have removed brakes (from other's cars and those i've bought with FSH) in my time that are cracking up and in extreme cases have literally crumbled apart when removed, in some cases the friction material no longer attached to the backing plate at all yet intact, unvented brake discs worn down to wafer thickness (wish i'd kept those for posterity) the pads having worn away possibly years previously, it's for reasons like this that i have a big issue with the current excuse for modern servicing where a technician might peer through or from behind a wheel at the brakes, then squirt brake cleaner in their general direction and pronounce all is well.
Purely out of interest, my lorry which i drive (approx 60% of its use) with the intention of using the brakes as little as possible (using the exhauster and appropriate gears to slow, as lorry drivers were taught when common sense ruled...tractor unit has three axles, steer and drive axle pads replaced, from memory so don't quote me, @ 300 and 250k kms respectively, the mid lift tag axle still have 60% pad life @ 370k and its 2.5 years old, was hoping they might make the full 5 years and still be originals when it goes back when the lease is up.
|
