D4 rear brakes

[Konradical]

During our Canning trip earlier this month the brake warning light came on after a few sand dunes. The vehicle has around 58k on it and from reading these threads, its pretty normal wear, considering the off road and towing work we do.

Well while the D4 is back in Darwin having the EPB replaced for a second time in four months (some bull**** about clips which hold the cables in failing - no current fix) I had the dealership quote me on replacing which ever brakes were worn. So they came back with $907 to do the rears. I can do an axle of brakes including pads, discs and labour on a Volvo FH13 for less than that.

Anyway, I figured that they would just be doing pads and wear indicator wire and i can purchase genuine parts including freight for around $250. Even if I do discs, it will only push the price up to $500.

Firstly, taking costs out of it, is there anything in the job where it would just be better that a dealership do it?

Secondly, does the rave CD for the D4 have the relevant information for the MY16 that I could use to carry out the job, so I have a "IAW" procedure incase of future warranty issue? (I'm a qualified Heavy Diesel Fitter with an ABN, so the legal side isn't an issue)

Thirdly, has anyone had any experience with Brembo branded brake components on these vehicles? I have found a Brembo alternative which is slightly cheaper, and considered using it in place of genuine.

Also open to alternatives.

Thanks.

[IndusD4]

I've had my brakes done by a local independent garage without issues. Had pads and discs replaced, and the last time just pads. I have not asked them to clean the EPB brakes though - that was done by an LR specialist.

Ron

[winglen]

I recently had Roverworks Canberra do my MY16 D4 rear disks at 65k and the wear indicator on. Such a good price I had them do the fronts too. $440 for the lot.

[DiscoJeffster]

I did the tears and referenced the Bodsy Brake Bible and found it a simple activity on a Disco.

[Turtle60]

Two weeks after a service last month my brake wear indicator come in the middle of nowhere and over 1000 k from anywhere. On return a good look said it was time for rotors as well. To my surprise when doing the rears myself the inner left pad was down to metal and had gone undetected at service because the Computer told the indie all was good with the brakes.

Lesson here is the wear indicator warning light while wear should be relatively even across the pads across a given axle but it will actually only tell you the state of ONE of the 4 pads and if there is a calliper issue your only way to tell is have look..... yourself. This particular pad was not one with the wear sensor. It would of happily ground down to nothing (as it did)
Oh and if the wear sensor triggers that needs to be replaced too.

Anyway relatively straight forward job with the right tools and following the above mentioned bodsy brake bible, no bleeding required and all good now. But.....computer said it was good???
BTW sorted the calliper too.

[Slunnie]

Thirdly, has anyone had any experience with Brembo branded brake components on these vehicles? I have found a Brembo alternative which is slightly cheaper, and considered using it in place of genuine.

Also open to alternatives.

Thanks.

Are the factory pads actually Brembo anyway if you have the front Brembo calipers? On my Audi the pads are marked as Audi and also Brembo. That said, the Brembo pads are excellent high friction pads but they do produce a bit of brake dust for your shiny wheels - I have to clean them each week.

[Konradical]

I am thinking I will give them a go. Brembo is a solid brand with a pretty good reputation. Will just need to decipher Rimmer Bros code and model application.

When we got the car back, they left the repair sheet in the car as I have asked them to do for my records and I read that the rear brakes were "near" wear limits and that the wear sensor lead and height sensor lead were pinched. Presumably from when they had the rear apart last time. They replaced both under warranty.

[kenl]

I'm yet to find a dealer of any brand of car that doesn't tell me that my brakes need doing at the next service.

[DiscoDJ]

I'm yet to find a dealer of any brand of car that doesn't tell me that my brakes need doing at the next service.

Yep. Service departments have targets like sales departments. Always brakes, rotors, and the good old "oh the inner of the rear tyres is worn and they both need replacing" is a good one too. If 50% of people agree then targets are easily met.

I'm just so lucky my RR L405 sold this week (brakes done for RWC!) and I could find a beautiful high km 2014 Disco I can live with, pay off some debt and found an awesome independent LR specialist a 20 min walk from home in this process.

[oldsalt]

Care to name the "Independent LR specialist" ... ? Always good to have alternatives...

cheers

[Eric SDV6SE]

I did the tears and referenced the Bodsy Brake Bible and found it a simple activity on a Disco.

I replaced all four rotors and pads at about 120,000km with DBA "Kangaroo Paw" rotors and Bendix pads all round - A$600 and fitted them myself - easy job no issues.

Re used the brake wear sensors (the rotors were worn, not the pads) and as I checked them myself. The (st)ealer never mentioned anything about brakes.

They flushed the brake fluid at the recommended interval though...

Had a mild shudder about 5000kms after replacing them, found out the front pads (Bendix HD 4WD ones) were a bit glazed. After some "spirited" driving and braking, this shudder went away. All good now at 182,000kms.

One point - not happy at all with the Bendix HD 4WD pad material in terms of dust (black wheels all the time), noise (squeal like baby pigs at a petting zoo) and life / wear, rotors are grooved worse than the rear, and the brake bias on these cars is 40:60 front to rear.

Now due for new front pads and will give the front rotors a skim clean up machine ($30 each rotor). Will go back to Ferodo pads (as specified OEM) unless i find a better alternative. Ferodo pad type for the D4 SDV6 is "DB2203FTQ" and retail about $65 for a set of 4 pads (front rotors only). Rears are still OK - no dust, no squeal, no rotor grooves at all (Bendix std material).

Will also replace Brake fluid again (2 years since last change).

Cheers,

Eric

[DiscoJeffster]

I use Pagid on mine. T2127 on the rear of mine. They’re not dust free but better than OEM.

[orville]

5/09/2018 took D4 for service at Wilf Chambers Perth.
I mentioned the rear brake pads were probably worn.
His charge Rear brake pads $81, labour $120 which included a sensor.
Not gold plated but the stop me.