T5 Soft discs

[BrianJ]

I have done 60,000km in my kombi beach and told today by service person that the front brake pads have only 2mm left, and the discs are worn down and cannot be machined as they would be too close to tolerance. This entails a replacement of brake pads and discs at a meer cost of $AU1000, and I assume the back ones would soon follow.

This could keep you broke just in brake replacement alone.

Anyone else have any ideas on this situation.

Brian

[GUV]

Use the Bendix DB1404 GCT in the future, they don't eat your brake rotors & don't dust your wheels. They cost about $105 trade price through Repco.
I cannot pick any difference in braking quality.
The only problem is that they don't make them for the rear.

GUV

[gslrallysport]

Use the Bendix DB1404 GCT in the future

How did you get DB1404 for a T5? Unless I've got the wrong pads for the T5, they're very different to a DB1404, similar shape, but the lugs are different, and I've got the T5 pads listed as a 1 wire sensor, whereas DB1404 is a 2 wire?

[Transporter]

How did you get DB1404 for a T5? Unless I've got the wrong pads for the T5, they're very different to a DB1404, similar shape, but the lugs are different, and I've got the T5 pads listed as a 1 wire sensor, whereas DB1404 is a 2 wire?

On my 128kW T5 I have 2 wire sensors. I'll be in touch with you for the front pads, I don't want to get Bendix GCT, what I'd like to get is the brake pads that will not cover my rims with black dust. I'll post you exact shape of the pad.

[GUV]

How did you get DB1404 for a T5? Unless I've got the wrong pads for the T5, they're very different to a DB1404, similar shape, but the lugs are different, and I've got the T5 pads listed as a 1 wire sensor, whereas DB1404 is a 2 wire?

Hi Greg, The Bendix have a different sensor connector but apart from that they couldn't be too much different as they have been on my van for the last 20,000 km's with no problems, they have also been fitted to two other vans before mine that I know with no problems either.
I cleaned all the black crap off my front calipers when the Bendix pads were fitted & they are still as clean as they were that day.
I didn't re-connect the sensor as I couldn't see how it could be any more accurate of an indication than removing the wheels and checking during routine servicing of the vehicle, and as others have found they have been able to get many more km's out of their pads after the low pad warning has alerted them.
I am interested in your rear pads for the T5 if they don't leave rotor dust all over the wheels, will I need to replace the rear rotors as well as the pads to stop this happening?

Grant.

[Transporter]

Hi Greg, The Bendix have a different sensor connector but apart from that they couldn't be too much different as they have been on my van for the last 20,000 km's with no problems, they have also been fitted to two other vans before mine that I know with no problems either.
I cleaned all the black crap off my front calipers when the Bendix pads were fitted & they are still as clean as they were that day.
I didn't re-connect the sensor as I couldn't see how it could be any more accurate of an indication than removing the wheels and checking during routine servicing of the vehicle, and as others have found they have been able to get many more km's out of their pads after the low pad warning has alerted them.
I am interested in your rear pads for the T5 if they don't leave rotor dust all over the wheels, will I need to replace the rear rotors as well as the pads to stop this happening?

Grant.

Hi Grant,
How much load do you carry in your van and do you drive in heavy traffic or mainly highways? I might give the Bendix pads go. After 20,000km how many mm do you have remaining on your pads?

[gslrallysport]

Hi Greg, The Bendix have a different sensor connector but apart from that they couldn't be too much different as they have been on my van for the last 20,000 km's with no problems, they have also been fitted to two other vans before mine that I know with no problems either.

Looking at them I can see they'd physically fit, but from what I can see the lugs look slightly different... may not be a issue, but that's often something that can lead to noise.

With alot of this stuff you'll have to bear with us. We very rarely use Bendix's catalog to look up Euro stuff, we'll either use ATAP's (TRW Lucas importer) online catalog, or our hard copy Remsa catalog, which is straight from Europe and easily the most comprehensive catalog I've ever seen at 1088 pages! So often we get a heap of crap that isn't even available in Australia, and often two pads which Remsa list as different, someone like Bendix with their DB numbers will only list one, and do stuff like only manufacturer the smaller of the two thicknesses etc, or make a shape that fits both.

Having the greatest catalog in the world can be extremely helpful, especially with Euro and Import stuff, but can also work against you in a small market like Australia...

[GUV]

Transporter, I only do about 20,000 K's a year of which 12,000 would be city driving, I am a fairly heavy on the brake's (drive the van like its a car) I’ll check the wear over the weekend & come back to you.

Greg, you are correct with the comment about the noise, there is a slight noise as the van recovers after a heavy braking moment but nothing during normal driving, I have another set of new Bendix pads in the shed & will most definitely be using them when these are worn out, but I still haven’t found a dust free set for the back so if you do come up with some please let us know.

Grant.

[Tornado T5]

As a comparison, my pads were all replaced at the 45,000km service (12/11/08, discs were OK and machined. At the 60,000km service 2 months ago (19/6/09) pads are between 8-9mm and discs still OK.

[brad]

I'm surprised you got that many km out of them. You must be light on brakes.

If you are in SE QLD then maybe contact Jmac from this forum. He should be able to give you a price using OEM equivalent parts that will probably last longer.

You might also try one of the VW parts importers like Imparts (they do ATE components) or even think about buying of one of the UK, European or USA suppliers while the dollar is strong.

Traditionally, most of the German marques run soft discs and they require replacement every 2nd set of brake pads. I've had pretty good results using DBA disc rotors (but they might not have a replacement disc for your model).

Same with the friction material, aftermarket will probably give better results but may have some minor negative side affects like poor cold braking (maybe).