Brought my car in for an alignment....the dealer tells us the brakes are getting low, and they never do just pads, but routinely replace pads, rotors, sensors, etc with the brake service. The car is a Panamera S, 24000 miles, driven very gingerly (I often coast to lights, rarely to never stop hard). The total service is about $3900. Does that sound normal to you...to need a $4k brake job at 24k miles?

 

I drive fairly hard and don't need new GTS ones at 35K.

 

Interesting...also I forgot to mention, the car has a slight shudder when slowing down...the service rep states this is what happens as the brake pads wear. I've had a lot of cars over the years but never remember that happening. I'm thinking he's f.o.s., unless someone tells me something is different about this car that would make brakes wear by 24k miles and require all new brakes. Finally, the car is still under warranty. I wonder if there isn't something wrong and they're just not bothering to check.

It's almost as if the dealers have a competition to see who can screw the customer the most. I need to find an independent Porsche service shop. Does anyone know of one in South Florida?

 

My 2014 4S rear brakes did not pass the CPO checklist and were replaced at 38,000 mi prior to my purchase. Parts only for rear brakes were $720. I do not have a detail of the labor charges.

Front brakes still measure OK at 58,000 mi, but the last 20,000 has been mostly highway driving.

Regards,

Chuck
'14 Panamera 4S

 

We recently picked up my wife's 2018 Panamera 4, so I don't have any real experience yet with these cars. However, considering you are easy on the brakes, 24K seems much too soon for worn out pads. Normally the slight shudder you feel is the result of warped rotors, not worn pads. Rotors shouldn't be warped based on your light usage. By any chance have you had the wheels removed and then reinstalled? Some shops don't adjust their airguns to the proper torque and they over tighten the lug nuts which can cause the problem.

You are wise to find a competent independent shop. Let us know what you find out.

 

My 2010 has 52,000 miles on the original set. I also am easy on brakes, but nevertheless, my shop warned me 2 years ago that a brake job was imminent. That was about 12,000 miles ago! It's become a standing joke with them that they are trying to rig business.

 

Brakes are easy money as they are so easy and fast to replace. Doubt you need them from what you say. Do these cars not have sensors that warn for low pads? I bet the pulse you are feeling is a little rust that you see when cars sit wet. That will go away. Do a few 75MPH full on brakes in a safe place and that will clear them up. I have almost 30K and will not even check them this early. I do lots of highway miles.

 

They need to give you pad AND rotor thickness for each corner. Typical dealer BS. If you're above the minimum rotor thickness but pads are down to 2mm for example just do pads. Only the axle that needs them.

 

my 2012 reportedly had front pads only at 40K, then rear pads @ 50K. Front pads again and front rotors @ 76K just before my purchase.......so if they're wearing that quick tell them it must be a defect and cover it under warranty!

 

Wait until the brake wear warning comes up on the dash. When that happens you'll have about 20-25% pad remaining, then you know its time to make an appointment to get them replaced. Replacing them before the wear light comes on is just throwing away money.