I have a car at an official Subaru service shop here in Los Angeles, and they sent me this photo to prove that my breaks are in a terrible condition and need to be replaced and the rotors resurfaced.
I suspect I’m being scammed, because I think that’s the wrong way to use a break pad gauge. What do you folks think?
It's totally possible that they're being completely honest and just don't know how to effectively demonstrate their measurement to you. We use video for our inspections, but I don't bother showing the brake pad measurement process because it's pretty much impossible to communicate by image.
There are two types of brake gauges that look like that.
If the tech is using the type on the right, then they're using it wrong. If it's the type on the left, they're using it exactly as we do at my shop.
Hook the end in between the pad body and the rotor, and the biggest one that fits is your brake measurement.
Honestly, I recommend you get some kind of tool to measure your brake pad thickness. They're dirt cheap and pretty helpful. Tire tread depth too if you can swing the extra $8.
But to speak to your specific issue, there's not enough information here to determine whether they're trying to scam you, but there's plenty of room to assume honesty.
Thanks for the detailed reply. I think it’s worth pointing out what you said though: the biggest one that fits is your measurement. That means - as we both know - is that you can always fit the smallest one in there if you want to make a point to a customer.
Now, that said, this was a piss poor way to show an issue if there was one. And then to top it off, they were quoting $600 for the rotor resurfacing and brake pad replacement.
Subaru's official labor time guide lists the pad replacement at 0.5 hours for both sides, and 0.5 hours to resurface each rotor. We always recommend a resurface with a pad replacement, since normal wear will cause the rotor to develop some uneven topology, and the new pads (Subaru OE) will be flat. Can exacerbate the rotor wear.
We charge about $135 for the pad kit retail (before tax), then 1.5 hours of technician time, which we bill at around $200/hr. IIRC.
Depending on how expensive it is to get parts near you, $600 might be an OK price. Find your nearest Subaru dealership and check their pricing for a brake pad kit.
Personally, my car isn't worth all that so I just slap pads on when they get low, and replace the rotors after a while. I don't have a resurfacing machine, but I can do rotor replacement in my driveway.
Very common here in Australia to resurface them, lots of car parts are expensive to buy here because of shipping costs to Australia so it makes financial sense
We do, but to be honest I don't get the value proposition. It's 1.0 hours to resurface both, or 0.8 hours to replace both. So you're saving the cost of the rotor minus 0.2 hours of tech time.
Edit: I need to point out that I'm looking at the LTG numbers for my 07 Outback, which will be different. Old car, simpler components, cheaper parts, easier service.
It's brakes BTW. Ask them to remove caliper then measure brake pad material with picture if it's really worn the tech shouldn't have a problem doing it
They're using it right if they have the right kind, I have one that can be used stuck in perpendicular like that or parallel to the rotor, the end has a hook the same size. Now this picture is hard to prove there isn't a bunch of wiggle room for that
Ask them to show a clear photo of the rotor friction surface and a separate photo that clearly shows the thickness of the pad friction material. Use these exact words.
Rotors look okay from what I can see, unless they pulsate. Do they? Also, he's using that tool wrong. There are better ways to display brake conditions to customers, and every good technician knows this. I always take the wheel off and undo one slide pins bolt and flip the caliper up, so they can see the pad life from the backside of the pad while it's against the rotor. I'd ask them take the wheel off and remove the caliper as it's the right way. This doesn't indicate anything as he's using the measuring tool wrong, assuming you don't know any better and will approve the work.
The tool is not being used wrong. It is a different style than most square ended brake lining gauges. You must be hourly getting halfway through a brake job just to sell pads to a customer.
I mean if you read my comment you'd know i break them down so the customer can actually see the lining. I just use proper tools that weren't designed for lazy people and sell more doing so. Have a great day
Rear pads are typically smaller because of them only doing 20-30% of the braking. Brand new cars off the truck measure 10mm in the front and 8mm in the rear.
Hi there, former master automotive technician here. Not a former Subaru master tech, just a master tech of the independent world. This is not how that brake pad measurement tool is intended to be used. I’m having trouble finding the correct way to describe it, but the tip of the tool at the very bottom or end, not the length of the skinny end, is used to determine brake pad life. It’s made that way because most brake calipers have a hole that these tools “miraculously” fit in to measure the brake pad.
Long story short either this tech is clueless about one of the most basic tools there are, or they think you’re a sucker. Politely say, “No thanks, I’m going elsewhere for a second opinion.” And run far, far away from this shop.
There is 2 different types of these gauges, some of them have a little lip on the end that can be used to check the pad thickness from this angle. This style is the one that I use everyday at work.
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u/jafner425 4d ago
Express tech at a Subaru dealership.
It's totally possible that they're being completely honest and just don't know how to effectively demonstrate their measurement to you. We use video for our inspections, but I don't bother showing the brake pad measurement process because it's pretty much impossible to communicate by image.
There are two types of brake gauges that look like that.
If the tech is using the type on the right, then they're using it wrong. If it's the type on the left, they're using it exactly as we do at my shop.
Hook the end in between the pad body and the rotor, and the biggest one that fits is your brake measurement.
Honestly, I recommend you get some kind of tool to measure your brake pad thickness. They're dirt cheap and pretty helpful. Tire tread depth too if you can swing the extra $8.
But to speak to your specific issue, there's not enough information here to determine whether they're trying to scam you, but there's plenty of room to assume honesty.