Scotty, in 2020 I leased an Audi e-tron fully electric crossover to try an EV and see what I though without fully committing to one. I didn't put a lot of mileage on it during the lease, but noticed at only about 8,000 miles that the brakes started pulsating (maybe because of the weight (about 5,800 lbs)?). Went to the dealer and was told this wasn't covered under warranty and was quoted a price of $2,000 to replace the rotors and pads on all four corners! I asked why they couldn't just turn the rotors and was told the rotors they put on their new cars are already at minimum thickness and they no longer turned them. Have you heard of this? Are more dealers starting this practice? Do you feel it's on the level or just another way for the dealers to screw us over, especially "high-end" car dealerships? BTW, I didn't take them up on it, bought the lease out, sold it for a profit (during covid shortages) and ended up buying a 2020 Camry with 65,000 miles and never plan on buying electric again. Luckily, Toyota is still turning rotors and I was able to get a reasonably priced brake job when it was needed.
I asked why they couldn't just turn the rotors and was told the rotors they put on their new cars are already at minimum thickness and they no longer turned them. Have you heard of this?
It's not that unusual, quite a few vehicles are this way. Turning rotors is not done nearly as often as in years past.
However one of the reasons for this is in most cases new rotors are not very expensive and it makes more sense to just replace them even if they are thick enough for turning. (I bought name-brand aftermarket rotors for my own car at about $25 each during the summer and about the same price for an axle set of pads.) The ripoff price you were quoted for pads and rotors is about what I would expect at an Audi dealer.
BTW, I didn't take them up on it, bought the lease out, sold it for a profit (during covid shortages) and ended up buying a 2020 Camry with 65,000 miles and never plan on buying electric again.
Sounds like a good move. Most of us here when asked by a member about buying an Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar, etc. will tell them that if they really want one of those money pits to lease the stupid thing and get it out of their system, as you did.
I asked why they couldn't just turn the rotors and was told the rotors they put on their new cars are already at minimum thickness and they no longer turned them.
For modern cars, that's pretty much standard, now. My '79 Pontiac has really thick rotors; the hub and rotor are all one giant piece. Back then, rotors could be turned a couple times before needing replacement. Back in those days, rotors were much more integrated into the car. Nowadays, the hub and rotor are separate pieces, consequently, they're also much more disposable. Most rotors are almost too thin to turn without warping again.
I think it differs per dealer and per rotor. Some dealers turn them. Some don’t. Some rotors can be turned and some can’t (I haven’t verified this statement, but with the way cars are built these days, it wouldn’t surprise me that they are so thin.)
FWIW, when I had my Prius brakes and rotors done at the dealer*, I expected them to turn the rotors, because they were pretty thick. Turns out it was quicker for them to just slap new ones one. Rather than turn old one. So that’s how they did it.
*the was a coupon which put it on par or better on price for a brake and rotor job at a local shop. And it was before I even tried my hand at mechanic stuff.
