The underlying issue is the brakes aren't bedded when the car comes from the factory and it's essential to do this if you want them to work properly and last. It's no different to any car but because of regen EVs suffer much more.
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Disc brake significant grooves - performance only?
- Thread starter Smog
- Start date
So are you suggesting only M3P drivers aren't bedding in their brakes? I don't hear any stories of this happening with non M3P teslas, or any other manufactures for that matter.
MrBadger
Badger out
How long before warranty expires and when is your MOT?
I would see if you could get an official opinion ahead of accepting the work to be done. Even if you remove the item from the list of concerns then request a free health check from Tesla themselves - Tesla certainly use to do that.
Shame you are a bit far from Cheltenham. We had a service/pre warranty expiry report done by ClevelyEV and a scheduled a brake clean. They highlighted a suspension fault that we may have missed ahead of MOT where, had Clevely done the MOT would have been an MOT advisory. That added weight to our warranty request. Time permitting, they could also do an unscheduled brake service, at your cost should it not be thought to be a warranty issue.
Only a close inspection would reveal if it was neglect/wear and tear or a fault and whether that fault is then warranty. Based on some recent comments here such as @ThrustSSC, if it was me I certainly would be pushing for the warranty route, but only after getting a second opinion from a knowledgable source to know how hard to push Tesla.
It'll be 3 years this December when I bought the car. So presumably I have just over another year left?!
I did wonder about taking it for a MOT, which presumably I could do at this stage since it will be 3 years old in December.
No, but obviously ICE cars use their brakes a lot more so they get bedded after a few hundred/thousand miles anyway.
It's not just a M3P issue I can assure you. I've seen plenty of brakes like the ones being shown in this thread on other makes/models.
This is mis-information. Brakes have been the same on the M3P since launch.
i.e. p/n 1044616-00-D is the M3P front rotor and that's exactly the same part number for a 2019 M3P.
There is nothing wrong with the OE Brembo rotors and pads as long as they're bedded properly and inspected every now and then (by the owner) to ensure corrosion isn't becoming an issue, which it can be for instance with cars based in a harsh climate or near the sea.
If corrosion starts to become obvious, often they can be cleaned up with an 'Italian tune' as discussed above, or with a wire brush/sandpaper and then re-bedding.
It's called "preventative maintenance" but most car owners (ICE or EV) won't know or care.
M109Rider
Active Member
I agree. Everyone knows how to care for an ICE engine. What to do, what not to do, etc.
Many folks keep blaming Tesla for their brakes prematurely wearing, but it’s just a lack of educating themselves on the differences, and how to care for them.
As more EV’s are made, this problem will fade away, because people will eventually find out how to keep them clean, and care for them.
Takes time.
rincewind
Member
I can't help but chime in here. I have always turned down regen and regularly given the brakes a workout, and have long been aware of how to properly bed brakes in. What's apparent to me is that it's only the early M3P's that have this issue, later ones don't seem to. To underscore this, I've never seen this issue on other model 3's, only the early P's. Something is different, somehow, with the early one's.
Not so. It’s an issue on other models (and brands for that matter). My 2019 SR+ has similar disc corrosion patterns. It has been highlighted at 2 MOTs but not deemed a fail. It has been raised with SC at time of first brake service. Initial recommendation from Tesla at time of purchase was for no specific brake servicing, then later advice was for a brake service every 2 years and now I think the recommendation is every year if in an area with regularly salted roads.
Mine had already gone through 2 salty winters before the first brake service and the surface corrosion was already established. My car could always be set for low regen in winter and had plenty of serious braking “work outs”.
The rustiest brakes I’ve ever seen on a vehicle on the road were on a BMW i3 … in the right (wrong) conditions most EVs are particularly at risk … in fact where I live it’s hard enough keeping ICE brakes shiny.
The most corrosion resistant brakes I’ve come across tend to be on motorbikes. Because they are on show all the time they are made of materials that don’t show surface rust unless severely neglected.
There’s no doubt that the disc formulation can be changed/improved to be more resistant to rust. However, I believe that sometimes this can lead to a reduction in friction, which may not be what you want on a fairly heavy performance car. It can be a trade off. Meantime it would be interesting to know if anyone has had their discs professionally skimmed, either by Tesla or by an independent brake specialist.
There's no difference as I pointed out earlier. The part number is literally the same now as it was when the M3P was first sold in the UK. If there is any revision in the part, the part number suffix would have changed at the very least. I don't know where you got your information from that the discs/pads had changed in 2022 but they haven't.
The pads have always been the Brembo HP1000 compound. Not exclusive to Tesla, BTW.
Upgrading to a more abrasive pad can help keep discs corrosion free, but there aren't any readily available uprated road pads available for the M3P calipers sadly.
Brembo's HP2000/Sport pads are a worthwhile upgrade when it comes to the M3 SR/LR. Better brake bite and feel and they certainly seem to keep the rotors in better condition from my experience. Available here if any non-P owners want to give them a try: Brembo Sport Brake Pads for Model S/X/3(SR, LR)
Your observation may be more to do with owners reading threads here and looking on FB groups etc. and educating themselves on bedding and preventative maintenance. For the early owners, once the corrosion has set in it's generally going to stay there until they replace the components or give them a proper overhaul.
My 2020 M3LR is also suffering. I've tried everything apart from skimming the rotors, including new pads and lubricating the pad "ears" every 6 months. I never drive with full regen now. I just can't get the pads to engage the outer 3rd or half of the brake rotor. A rotor skim would almost certainly work but no one seems to do that nowadays.
rincewind
Member
There's a couple of places that skim rotors (discs) not too far from me. I'm going to give them a call next week.
Anyone got to the bottom of this problem with Tesla officially? I have a M3P 2019 (bought 6 months ago) - can't say I actually looked when I purchased it at the discs that closely & I have a MY 2022. The M3P shows similar pattern to everyone else on this thread. The MY 2022 still has shiny brake discs. Should I be concerned? MOT testing has not raised any concern whatsoever. Perhaps it's just a cosmetic issue?
Reading this forum suggests there is a possible quality problem and if so, Tesla should acknowledge it. I have asked them by way of 'service request' - see what they say... If they give me the "hit the brakes" hard a number of times answer I won't be happy. Nobody should need to take risks like that.
Reading this forum suggests there is a possible quality problem and if so, Tesla should acknowledge it. I have asked them by way of 'service request' - see what they say... If they give me the "hit the brakes" hard a number of times answer I won't be happy. Nobody should need to take risks like that.
PITA
Model 3 Performance
I've just cleaned my front Brembo Calipers on my 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance with 26,500 miles.
The discs are surface rust. Looks nasty but nothing to worry about. The pads were like new and nothing actually grooved or scored.
But...
What I did notice was a big buildup of salt crud. Some UK Councils mix the salt with molasses so it sticks to the road.
Problem is, it stick to everything else as well.
The crud is heavily settled around the brake caliper abutment flats which are designed for the pads to temporarily slide back and forth.
Seems they can get 'welded' into a fixed position on one part of the pad (upper or lower) which could cause uneven pad wear.
The edges of the pad backing plate had a buildup of salty crud, and were slightly bubbled with rust. A quick brush down cleared them up.
Cleaning them yearly in Springtime is going to be my plan. Keep this salty crud off them.
The discs are surface rust. Looks nasty but nothing to worry about. The pads were like new and nothing actually grooved or scored.
But...
What I did notice was a big buildup of salt crud. Some UK Councils mix the salt with molasses so it sticks to the road.
Problem is, it stick to everything else as well.
The crud is heavily settled around the brake caliper abutment flats which are designed for the pads to temporarily slide back and forth.
Seems they can get 'welded' into a fixed position on one part of the pad (upper or lower) which could cause uneven pad wear.
The edges of the pad backing plate had a buildup of salty crud, and were slightly bubbled with rust. A quick brush down cleared them up.
Cleaning them yearly in Springtime is going to be my plan. Keep this salty crud off them.
Last edited:
Genuinely not trying to be smart here, but are you sure the "Brakes have been the same on the M3P since launch." i.e. is 1044616-00-D still the current part number being used by Tesla for the front rotors? The reason I am querying this, is because I decided to bite the bullet and replace the rotors and pads myself, as in I will purchase them, and my good friend (a mechanic) will fit them. I haven't purchased the parts yet, but in my quest to find out what I needed, the front rotor parts don't align with your suggestion of 1044616. interestingly this guide does however agree with you. But I am now wondering if that guide is out of date and parts have been revised?!
How I found the parts. I used Brembo part finder. here. Which returned the below following parts for my M3P. Interestingly, if you search for those discs on Autodoc, it tells you that the OEM part number is OE 1044611 for the front discs, and OE 1044631 for the rear. According to that guide I linked to in my first paragraph, 1044611 is the front disc for a Model 3 "Base" / Standard Range and Long Range, but not the M3P.
So I have so many questions now which are preventing me making this purchase. Has Tesla reverted their MP3 discs to that of the SR and LR, perhaps because of known issues with 1044616-00-D? or has Brembo part finder led me on a wild goose chase? Autodoc also does not list a "1044616-00-D", almost like its been obsoleted.
They are geometrically different too:
1044616-00-D front rotors measure 355mm x 25mm, where as the part Brembo tells me I need, is 320mm x 25mm
BRAKE DISCS
09.N360.11 - Front
09.N361.11 - Rear
BRAKE PADS
P 09 029 - Front
P 09 030 - Rear
Tesla part numbers are more trustworthy than even Brembo's own parts catalogue. I've spotted several mistakes on aftermarket parts websites, particularly with brake components i.e SR/LR pads and discs listed as being for the P. Yes the rotors differ between SR/LR and P but the parts haven't changed between 2019-2023 and there's nothing to suggest there's a problem with them. It's just that they need bedding and preventive maintenance like any brakes do.
Last edited:
I reached out to Tesla Edinburgh parts department this morning and the rotor part numbers still align with what you said. So Brembo definitely seem to have it wrong.
However, the pads set Brembo advised, P 09 029 and P 09 030, do appear to align to OEN below according to Autodoc and are significantly cheaper than Tesla. I just cant seem to find anywhere else, other than Tesla to buy the rotors from.
Front discs = £125 each plus vat (1044616-00-D)
Rear discs = £95.83 each plus vat (1044636-00-D)
front pads set = £271.25 plus vat (8008242-00-C)
Rear pads set = £258.33 plus vat (8008246-00-D)
Be careful with the pads. Brembo have that wrong too with at least one listing I looked at recently. The spec and drawing does look correct but double check with the supplier before purchase.
Last edited:
Similar threads
