[WonkoTheSane]

I had to have my 12V battery replaced and had them look at a steering noise.
They said my brakes are rusting and pitted from being unused.
I rarely press my brake pedal, putting for regen instead, but it looks like I should start using them.
Awaiting an estimate on a related repair.

 

[wa4yih]

Try to slow down with the brakes a little more to warm them up and dry them out.

 

[WonkoTheSane]

I'm told they need to replace my half-shaft, brake pads and rotors. $1400.

 

[garsh]

I'm told they need to replace my half-shaft, brake pads and rotors. $1400.

Holy crap.

Ask them how much to just replace the half-shaft. I'm curious to see if they're overcharging for the pads & rotors. Anybody can replace the pads & rotors - I've done both myself.

 

[WonkoTheSane]

Holy crap.

Ask them how much to just replace the half-shaft. I'm curious to see if they're overcharging for the pads & rotors. Anybody can replace the pads & rotors - I've done both myself.

I canceled my appointment. Looking into other options.

 

[WonkoTheSane]

I canceled my appointment. Looking into other options.

 

[garsh]

Rock Auto has front-brake rotor and pad kits for the Model 3:

• Daily Driver: $133.79
• Premium: $208.79
• High Performance: $232.79

So, a little expensive, but not excessively so. I assume this $355 price does not include labor?

 

[WonkoTheSane]

Correct, that was for only the parts. I've changed brakes before, I'm just unhappy about having to change them.

One of the selling points for me was that the brakes last 100,000 miles because you rarely use them.

I'd prefer if they were used a little more and didn't rust.

 

[Rub"Y"]

Tesla knows this is going to happen so rotors should be stainless steel.

 

[garsh]

Tesla knows this is going to happen so rotors should be stainless steel.

You have to be a very careful driver to never use the brakes. I always use regen at the highest setting, but I still end up using the brakes at times to come to a complete stop a little quicker than the car would. That little bit of braking is enough to prevent the rotors from deteriorating like this.

I guess you could get stainless steel or ceramic rotors if you don't want to have this issue. But those are expensive options for a mass-market vehicle. It's probably less expensive to replace the rotors every 4 years.

 

[francoisp]

One of the selling points for me was that the brakes last 100,000 miles because you rarely use them.

I'd if they were used a little more and didn't rust.

You must be living somewhere warm all year because up north in the winter with reduced regen we have no choice but to use our brakes. 😊

But your comment does highlight an issue that Tesla could easily fix. Tesla could periodically use the brakes along with regen to give them a workout. I remember that the GM Volt would consume gas periodically, regardless of the need to do so, just to make sure the gasoline wouldn't go stale. Tesla could do the same with the brakes.

 

[Bigriver]

One of the selling points for me was that the brakes last 100,000 miles because you rarely use them.

I am curious if you had ever done the recommended lube/cleaning? I have heard of a number of people unexpectedly having to replace Tesla brakes/rotors in places with winter salt, and I know someone who swears by the importance of doing this maintenance. I feel this is kind of buried in the owner’s manual:

 

[WonkoTheSane]

I did not do the lube/cleaning. I've had tire replacements twice by Tesla service and never did they recommend or warn me. Though it is, of course, my responsibility. My nephew lives near me and got his M3 a month before me. He hasn't had this issue and has not done the cleaning either.

















































































writing in this forum. My editor goes whacky.






























































What the **** is up with

 

[WonkoTheSane]

I am curious if you had ever done the recommended lube/cleaning? I have heard of a number of people unexpectedly having to replace Tesla brakes/rotors in places with winter salt, and I know someone who swears by the importance of doing this maintenance. I feel this is kind of buried in the owner’s manual:
View attachment 46552

I'm wondering when that was added to the user manual. Was it there when I read it in 2018 or was it added later? If added later, were we, as owners, informed of it in one of the updates?

 

[FRC]

I'm wondering when that was added to the user manual. Was it there when I read it in 2018 or was it added later? If added later, were we, as owners, informed of it in one of the updates?

I'm wondering when that was added to the user manual. Was it there when I read it in 2018 or was it added later? If added later, were we, as owners, informed of it in one of the updates?

I believe it was there from day 1. But after 135,000 miles I have yet to heed this advice to no ill effect. But I use regen a lot and I live in the south.

 

[WonkoTheSane]

I believe it was there from day 1. But after 135,000 miles I have yet to heed this advice to no ill effect. But I use regen a lot and I live in the south.

Living in the south is the key. It is the salt we use on the roads up north that does it. Though my nephew got his M3AWD a month before me and he hasn't had the problem (also didn't do the maintenance) but I think I rely on regen a lot more than he. I rarely touch my brake pedal but probably should more often.

 

[Feathermerchant]

There is now an option to have the car use brakes as regen when regen is reduced or unavailable. Maybe this would help up north. I sometimes have limited regen and I live in DFW. And my car is usually in the garage.