Hi folks. I use adaptive cruise control (Eyesight) about 97% of my daily total driving, which is half highway and half non highway roads. I'd say 65% of my total driving is bumper to bumper. I've had to change my rear brake pads at around 37,000 miles and now my mechanic said my Front pads/rotor need to be replaced at 38,250 miles. He said I had uneven wear because my front left brake pads have about 1 months life left and front left Rotor has a somewhat deep groove. But he showed me that the front right brake pad had much more life left in it and didn't need replacing. I was told that I'd barely pass inspection due to my front left brake pad, which is barely above state minimum specs. I also have Subaru extended warranty as well if that helps. Hope to hear from folks if the excessive use of Adaptive cruise control is causing the rapid brake pad/rotor wear? Thanks a bunch.
Brake pad/rotor excessive wear ACC
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My guess a slider pin is hanging up and the brake has been dragging upon release.
I don't think ACC is adding anything. VDC certainly does. That's why rears are wearing out faster. But anytime there is uneven wear, he caliper isn't retracting properly. Unless you have some traction situation that forces the VDC to pick on that one wheel all the time. But that, you should already know about if that is the case.
Something like ... "I Powerslide my OB into the handicap space in front of my local Starbucks twice a day. I have been doing it for a year..."
I don't think ACC is adding anything. VDC certainly does. That's why rears are wearing out faster. But anytime there is uneven wear, he caliper isn't retracting properly. Unless you have some traction situation that forces the VDC to pick on that one wheel all the time. But that, you should already know about if that is the case.
Something like ... "I Powerslide my OB into the handicap space in front of my local Starbucks twice a day. I have been doing it for a year..."
I actually didn't know we're not supposed to use it in bumper to bumper traffic. The pads were changed after the 36k mile warranty expired. So out of pocket cost. I'm trying to understand if my excessive use of ACC is causing brake pad wear or as Traildogck mentioned maybe VDC is why possibly. I don't want to have to change my pads/rotors every 3 years on the dot :-(
Thank you for your reply.
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Take it at face value. It could be written in there for liability reasons. People can and do use t for a variety of uses, but the whole giant addendum about EyeSight stuff seems to have been written by a legal team.
You’ve obviously demonstrated it works in stop and go traffic. What do you have to do, tap the gas or hit resume if it comes to a full stop?
Anyway I agree, 36 months is a little lean in terms of pads and rotors. The issue isn’t with the replacement of pads and rotors - this is probably reasonable because the computer is being reactive whereas a person driving and be proactive. The computer will accelerate until it detects it needs to stop or maintain speeds, and then use the brake possibly more often than a human would.
I view it like a stick shift. Once I’m going I will do anything I can do to keep that sucker out of neutral or first. There is no sense in me accelerating into a stopping scenario.
You mentioned you had an extended warranty. There are two variants. One would have covered the pads but costs more money.
Pilot1226, thanks much for your reply. Yes i do have Subaru Gold Plus Added Security warranty with $0 deductible for 7yr/100K miles. I was told by Subaru dealer that pads were covered up till 36k miles. I changed the rear brake pads on my own cost since it was changed at 37,000 and out of standard manufacturer warranty. Now my local mechanic says i need to get both Front pads/rotors (though right front brake pad is fine) changed and i'm at 38,000 miles. Will Subaru Gold Plus warranty cover this? Thanks again.
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Potentially I think you might be able to argue that this was consequential damage, then? Such as, the caliper is not operating as intended, and therefore caused consequential damage to one of the two front pads?
Now, the Subaru website says this about the Gold Plus:
https://www.subaru.com/owners/added-security.html
The website says it covers brakes. I'd say you have to call up and start arguing. They may even reimburse you for your previous brake pad work - so I hope you kept your receipts!
It is correct that you'd want to change both pads at the same time. You don't want to have the brake pads at different thickness.
Thanks for your reply again. I'm looking at the Added Security service agreement from 2015 and it says "We will pay for cost of any breakdown less your deductible, except the following: ...brake pads....Other parts not covered are brake rotors and drums...".
So my suspicion is that i'll have to fight for hours and hours to get them to cover the current Front pad/rotor issue. I will drop my car off at the local dealership and see what they say, but I suspect they'll deny any coverage since they'll try to blame it as a wear and tear part. Pilot1226, thanks again for your reply, and i do have the receipt from the Rear brake pads :smile2:. I hope to find out what outcome the dealership drops on my lap.
The uneven wear is an issue. Something is wrong. It's not the ACC or VDC. So if there is something not function right, your position might be worse. New brakes are not going to solve the problem if there is one.
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And if all else fails, I'd get on the phone with Corporate. They have been known to use discretion on things from time to time. If they build a case for you, the service department would do what they'd be asked to do. They (service department) are all independently owned, so it's possible they might be concerned that Subaru might not reimburse them for warranty work.
Thanks traildogck, i'm hoping the dealership will give me some understanding as to the uneven wear on front pads/rotors.
I certainly will call and open an incident with Subaru America after i hear back from my dealership. Thank you Pilot1226
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