Brake pad lifetime

[willywonka]

Hey guys, a bit of advice if you wouldn't mind.
I had new pads and discs fitted all around in April this year and last week the brake pad sensor warning came on the dash. Audi took the car in to diagnose the warning and have just rung to say the front inner pads are warn and need replacing. By no means do I hang about when driving but isn't 6 months (about 5000 miles) a bit low?
Just want to check if this is normal or if I should be questioning either Audi's diagnosis or the fitter of the new pads back in April.

[bam_bam]

Hey guys, a bit of advice if you wouldn't mind.
I had new pads and discs fitted all around in April this year and last week the brake pad sensor warning came on the dash. Audi took the car in to diagnose the warning and have just rung to say the front inner pads are warn and need replacing. By no means do I hang about when driving but isn't 6 months (about 5000 miles) a bit low?
Just want to check if this is normal or if I should be questioning either Audi's diagnosis or the fitter of the new pads back in April.

How much meat is left on the outer pad? These are sold as a set, one set per side. If the fitter only used one set (check invoice), then it sounds as though they've only changed the outside pads!!! While it wouldn't surprise me if a stealer has done this, it would still be shocking service, almost dangerous even. Also, i can't see a reason why the inner pad would wear quicker than the outer pad, I understood the outer pad got hotter due to less cooling but it should wear at a very similar rate, ne?

[Rob1977]

Pretty sure a set of pads is both sides as shown here http://www.ecstuning.com/ES1159539/

[barryrs]

What pads were fitted?

By your post it implys to me that Audi didnt fit them and if they came from ECP then 5000 miles is about right from what i have heard by others experience on here.

[willywonka]

Well, just been to look at the pads this morning and as far I can see the front o/s pads are almost non existent versus the front n/s pads which easily have 4ish mm+.. so looks like it's back to Audi to diagnose faulty calipers.

[C6NVS]

Let us know how you get on with the diagnosis willy. I think there was a caliper seal recall (rears ??? someone ??), but would be interest to hear if the caliper is faulty as this is the first I have heard of such an instance, and many of the C5 guys use this caliper also, so plenty of hard miles in them..

[willywonka]

Car is booked in for next Tuesday to get this looked at.
Poor car is feeling a bit sorry for itself right now, alternator failed last week too.

[bam_bam]

Car is booked in for next Tuesday to get this looked at.
Poor car is feeling a bit sorry for itself right now, alternator failed last week too.

Whaaaaaat? A C6 alternator has failed? What's your mileage and first reg date, Wonka?

[willywonka]

March '10, 29k miles.
I think there's just something bad in the air round here at the moment, I had 3 cars develop a mechanical fault all in the same week.

[Ben777]

There has been a calliper seal recall - at least for my May 08 car - a few months ago. While changing the seals the friendly ones discovered a calliper was stuck so they replaced the entire claw. Under warranty. So it can happen...