So I have a 2018 model X with 112,000 km, started getting a grinding sound from the front right wheel. Took it to my brake shop as I could not get an appointment at TESLA for three weeks! The front brakes are shot already!
The technician surmised that due to dirt, salt and road debris buildup on the brakes, it caused them to hang up and prematurely where the pads down as well as the rotors.
I had the car in at the same shop 18 months earlier to inspect the brakes because every morning when I drove out of the garage I could hear rubbing sounds coming from the front wheels. At that time, the technician told me that due to the regenerative braking, the brakes weren’t being used enough and corrosion was building up on the discs. He recommended that I use the low regenerative mode so that I use the brakes more often, which would also keep the callipers free and moving.
At this most recent visit, he was shocked to see how quickly the brakes had deteriorated due to the dirt buildup. He believes that it’s a design flaw that does not deal with dirt and salt very well.
I noticed that in the Tesla manual, they do recommend that brakes are serviced every year in areas that use salt on the roads, unfortunately and to my fault, I ignored this advice.
It does make me question TESLA’s motive to design such a brake system when my 2017 Chevy Sierra went 165,000 km on one set of brakes and no problems.
Word to the wise, use your low regen mode, and if you operate your Tesla in an area with snow, ice, salt and sand on the roads or on dirt/gravel roads, get the brakes serviced once a year.
The technician surmised that due to dirt, salt and road debris buildup on the brakes, it caused them to hang up and prematurely where the pads down as well as the rotors.
I had the car in at the same shop 18 months earlier to inspect the brakes because every morning when I drove out of the garage I could hear rubbing sounds coming from the front wheels. At that time, the technician told me that due to the regenerative braking, the brakes weren’t being used enough and corrosion was building up on the discs. He recommended that I use the low regenerative mode so that I use the brakes more often, which would also keep the callipers free and moving.
At this most recent visit, he was shocked to see how quickly the brakes had deteriorated due to the dirt buildup. He believes that it’s a design flaw that does not deal with dirt and salt very well.
I noticed that in the Tesla manual, they do recommend that brakes are serviced every year in areas that use salt on the roads, unfortunately and to my fault, I ignored this advice.
It does make me question TESLA’s motive to design such a brake system when my 2017 Chevy Sierra went 165,000 km on one set of brakes and no problems.
Word to the wise, use your low regen mode, and if you operate your Tesla in an area with snow, ice, salt and sand on the roads or on dirt/gravel roads, get the brakes serviced once a year.
