Woe Is Me

Honestly I’m not really surprised for the problems on your 2020 CX-5 Sig. in Colombia. From what I’ve read, somehow Mazda has managed to become a poorer quality and reliability car brand from Japan in Asian countries such as China and Taiwan. Another Japanese car brand is in similar situation? Honda.
Oh, yes, 3rd. and 4th. brake jobs at 28,000 miles are not surprising at all. Sheesh, rolling eyes, whatnot.
 
Oh, yes, 3rd. and 4th. brake jobs at 28,000 miles are not surprising at all. Sheesh, rolling eyes, whatnot.
Maybe there not Mazda pads or any name brand pads. Perhaps the shop OP is taking vehicle for service is throwing on subpar off brand pads? My guess is they just leave them on and don't even touch them.
 
Maybe there not Mazda pads or any name brand pads. Perhaps the shop OP is taking vehicle for service is throwing on subpar off brand pads? My guess is they just leave them on and don't even touch them.
There are a number of possibilities. Who could say for sure? As I recall, Pitter drops 7,000 ft. from his mountain aerie over a relatively few miles on a twisty road every time he goes to town. That would cause premature brake wear. But this bad? And I seem to recall he did not have a problem this severe with his previous vehicle. Given the laundry list of items I would not rule out locals dipping into the wallet of a "rich", naive gringo.
 
There are a number of possibilities. Who could say for sure? As I recall, Pitter drops 7,000 ft. from his mountain aerie over a relatively few miles on a twisty road every time he goes to town. That would cause premature brake wear. But this bad? And I seem to recall he did not have a problem this severe with his previous vehicle. Given the laundry list of items I would not rule out locals dipping into the wallet of a "rich", naive gringo.
Totally agree. I don't believe for a second that pads were legitimately wearing this fast. Wearing faster than normal use? Totally. Four sets in 28k miles? Come on, that's a shop trying to pull one over.

That's why I want to know if you specifically took it in for brake complaints @Pitter or if they are really just trying to tack on a bunch of stuff you don't actually need while doing a routine oil change or something.
 
Totally agree. I don't believe for a second that pads were legitimately wearing this fast. Wearing faster than normal use? Totally. Four sets in 28k miles? Come on, that's a shop trying to pull one over.

That's why I want to know if you specifically took it in for brake complaints @Pitter or if they are really just trying to tack on a bunch of stuff you don't actually need while doing a routine oil change or something.
This is why some of us still feel Mazda should be offering a manual 5 or 6 speed. A lot less braking.
 
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These are images the shop sent to me via WhatsApp while the car was being serviced. I don't know what the third one is. And I don't know if the images are adequate to show condition. On my next trip to the US I could buy pads at a Mazda dealer or maybe aftermarket to see if they're better but there's a catch 22. It is illegal to bring in auto parts (some protectionist thing). That said inspection has been quite lax on may last couple of trips so there's a good chance I could get them in. To recap, my daily decent is about eight and a half miles from about 6,900 ft down to 3,300 ft. Three full sets of pads have been replaced plus the rears an additional time. At 18,400 miles the front disks were scored and replaced. About 3.7 miles daily are over rough dirt road.

The oil leak I'm still not clear on. My mechanical Spanish leaves much to be desired but I'm going to nail it down on Monday and I'll post a follow up. There is no oil leaking on my parking area. The brake pad replacements have occurred at the regular service intervals, not the result of any problem I noted. The last four vehicles I've owned here, Suzuki 4x4 Vitara, Mazda 4x4 pickup, Nissan 4x4 Frontier (pads changed at 25,000 miles) and Renault 4x4 Duster (pads changed at 37,000 miles) all had only front disc brakes.

I'm not sure what I'd change to if I had my druthers (and the money). Perhaps Toyota Landcruiser 76 series or Nissan Patrol.
 
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These are images the shop sent to me via WhatsApp while the car was being serviced. I don't know what the third one is. And I don't know if the images are adequate to show condition. On my next trip to the US I could buy pads at a Mazda dealer or maybe aftermarket to see if they're better but there's a catch 22. It is illegal to bring in auto parts (some protectionist thing). That said inspection has been quite lax on may last couple of trips so there's a good chance I could get them in. To recap, my daily decent is about eight and a half miles from about 6,900 ft down to 3,300 ft. Three full sets of pads have been replaced plus the rears an additional time. At 18,400 miles the front disks were scored and replaced. About 3.7 miles daily are over rough dirt road.

The oil leak I'm still not clear on. My mechanical Spanish leaves much to be desired but I'm going to nail it down on Monday and I'll post a follow up. There is no oil leaking on my parking area. The brake pad replacements have occurred at the regular service intervals, not the result of any problem I noted. The last four vehicles I've owned here, Suzuki 4x4 Vitara, Mazda 4x4 pickup, Nissan 4x4 Frontier (pads changed at 25,000 miles) and Renault 4x4 Duster (pads changed at 37,000 miles) all had only front disc brakes.

I'm not sure what I'd change to if I had my druthers (and the money). Perhaps Toyota Landcruiser 76 series or Nissan Patrol.
1st are you sure those are your pads in the pics? They look deeply scoured. What do your rotors look like? Did they ever turn or replace your rotors? It's looks like they just keep replacing pads on bad rotors to me. If those are even pics of your pads? The last pic looks like someone sprayed battery acid on the brake pads to create those dimples. I'd recommend popping your front wheel off and checking the rotor to see if it's smooth or gouged. If the rotors bad, have them turned or replaced before putting on new pads. For the supposed oil leak, if your not losing oil and needing to add oil then I'd say their full of s***. Unless they mean there is seepage?

Also you need to start downhill in sport mode or low gears and pump the brakes. Being in the Appalachians, I use a combo of engine breaking and short braking bursts when picking up too much speed. Try to keep it in 4th gear downhill and braking when it's picking up too much speed over 40 mph or find your own rhythm that lessens long braking. You shouldnt be scouring the rotor unless the pads are worn down to metal backing plate and you shouldn't be ruining new pads like the pics unless the rotor was damaged by the last set of worn pads backing plate. But you would hear the brakes scouring the the rotor. Something seems fishy. Maybe they use those pics for all the customers?

The pads in the pics look like organics and semi-metallics. if you have auto stores there, maybe get your own pads so you can get some ceramic pads. Don't let them put organic or 100% metallic pads on. Either ceramic or semi.

Lastly don't risk smuggling brake pads through customs. You ever see Midnight express? Granted it's not drugs but it doesn't matter what you smuggle, they'll lock you up...and expect a ransom or leave you rot.

Had a friend moved to Costa Rica to help setup a factory down there...with big promises that never materialized.
At some point you have to ask yourself, is it worth it?
 
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Ok very good information I will take a look. I used the term disk and should have said rotor, Yes the fronts were replaced once. No I can't be sure of the authenticity of the photos but I honestly don't think they would fake them. Any idea what the tird photo is? I will follow that advice for descending. Don't worry about me getting locked up. They would just remove them from mt suitcase if they checked and that depending on the agent.

I moved down here twenty years ago and apart from my Mazda experience it has been very rewarding. I just miss snow.
 
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These are images the shop sent to me via WhatsApp while the car was being serviced. I don't know what the third one is. And I don't know if the images are adequate to show condition. On my next trip to the US I could buy pads at a Mazda dealer or maybe aftermarket to see if they're better but there's a catch 22. It is illegal to bring in auto parts (some protectionist thing). That said inspection has been quite lax on may last couple of trips so there's a good chance I could get them in. To recap, my daily decent is about eight and a half miles from about 6,900 ft down to 3,300 ft. Three full sets of pads have been replaced plus the rears an additional time. At 18,400 miles the front disks were scored and replaced. About 3.7 miles daily are over rough dirt road.

The oil leak I'm still not clear on. My mechanical Spanish leaves much to be desired but I'm going to nail it down on Monday and I'll post a follow up. There is no oil leaking on my parking area. The brake pad replacements have occurred at the regular service intervals, not the result of any problem I noted. The last four vehicles I've owned here, Suzuki 4x4 Vitara, Mazda 4x4 pickup, Nissan 4x4 Frontier (pads changed at 25,000 miles) and Renault 4x4 Duster (pads changed at 37,000 miles) all had only front disc brakes.

I'm not sure what I'd change to if I had my druthers (and the money). Perhaps Toyota Landcruiser 76 series or Nissan Patrol.
First of all, did you already approve the work? Otherwise it is not clear to me why the pads are off the car unless you reported a braking problem.

From a thickness standpoint, those pads look like they have plenty of life left especially as seen in the second picture, less so in the first. Did they give you the thickness measurement on the pads? If not, why not? Did you report a problem with the brakes--vibration, pulsating, squealing, whatnot, especially when you descend your mountain? If not, I'm having a hard time seeing why you need a brake job.

The amusing Toyota goth chick in the following video, starting around the 5:00 mark, provides a primer on checking pad thickness:


I don't know what the Mazda minimum thickness recommendation happens to be but a rule of thumb would be 2.0 mm is time for a change. Maybe 3 mm in your case given the mountain driving,
 
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Those pads are absolutely FINE with PLENTY of meat on the bone, almost brand new thickness. They are not glazed and the surface can be lightly sanded with 2000 grit paper and placed back in the caliper for service. The light straiations are a characteristic of the material of all brake pads and unless there are deep groves that cant be sanded out, they will function perfectly and properly. Pads do conform to rotors and if your rotors dont have any deep grooves in them but rather light circles on the surface and are not glazed over and have never been cut before, then they are also perfectly fine and serviceable with a little fine grit sandpaper to smooth out any fine lines. You only need to do that if you are replacing the pads with brand new ones so that the pads don't conform to the grooves or high and low spots already on the rotor and ruin them.

In this instance with the pictures you have posted you are absolutely scammed on any brake pad job that they told you you needed.
 
Pads do conform to rotors and if your rotors dont have any deep grooves in them but rather light circles on the surface and are not glazed over and have never been cut before, then they are also perfectly fine and serviceable with a little fine grit sandpaper to smooth out any fine lines.
Right. The OP indicates they are not resurfacing or replacing the rotors this time around. That would indicate mild scoring at worse on the rotors, which in turn indicates the scoring on the pads would be mild.

There is reason to believe a personal inspection or second opinion might be in order regarding the leak and belt replacement that is also being recommended. It's especially hard to believe a belt would be shot at 28k miles.

Not sure what that is in the 3rd. picture.
 
Right. The OP indicates they are not resurfacing or replacing the rotors this time around. That would indicate mild scoring at worse on the rotors, which in turn indicates the scoring on the pads would be mild.

There is reason to believe a personal inspection or second opinion might be in order regarding the leak and belt replacement that is also being recommended. It's especially hard to believe a belt would be shot at 28k miles.

Not sure what that is in the 3rd. picture.
I agree he's getting scammed. really doubt those are pics of OPs pads.

But if they are, the only pads that look normal wear to me are the 4th pic and the right pad on the 1st pic.

Of course I either turn or replace my rotors every brake job so my pads look like the 4th pic.

The 1st pic is fuzzy but the left pad of 1st pic has some scoring / gouging. The 2nd pic has multiple grooves and the 5th pic looks to me like someone dumped acid on in it or a substandard pad that is falling apart. I think they're scamming him with pics from other cars.
 
Not far from the Mazda dealer there is brake specialist company. The next time they tell me I need pads I will say thank you, not today and go have the brakes checked at the specialist company.

Yes this "servicing" has gotten way out of hand.
 
Third pic looks like a broken caliper body around the piston.

Pads have what looks like 80% or better thickness remaining.

That last pad picture looks like metal embedded in the pad. Also, the "arc" of the rotor wear looks opposite of the arc of the pad (as if it were somehow installed upside down). I dunno how that would be possible.

You could ask the shop why they want to replace the pads? It can't be for thickness. If that 3rd pic is indeed a caliper on your car, I would think it would need replaced.

That really looks like a harsh environment you operate in. Dust, dirt and debris.
 
Third pic looks like a broken caliper body around the piston.

Pads have what looks like 80% or better thickness remaining.

That last pad picture looks like metal embedded in the pad. Also, the "arc" of the rotor wear looks opposite of the arc of the pad (as if it were somehow installed upside down). I dunno how that would be possible.

You could ask the shop why they want to replace the pads? It can't be for thickness. If that 3rd pic is indeed a caliper on your car, I would think it would need replaced.

That really looks like a harsh environment you operate in. Dust, dirt and debris.
I've been trying to figure out these pictures. The 'caliper' picture looks like a dual piston caliper which to my knowledge the CX-5 doesn't have, only single piston caliper. The brake pad with the opposite 'arc' you refer to looks like a basically new pad with the 'arcs' being from the grinding the surface smooth in manufacturing. The imbedded metal particles look normal as I've seen this many times in the past in brake pads (brass looking usually).
The pictures look like:
#1-- worn pads with plenty of material remaining
#2 --new pads
#3-- caliper that doesn't belong on a CX-5 and has a torn piston dust boot
#4 -- worn pad with plenty of material remaining
#5 -- new pad
It seems the dealer just took some pictures of whatever and sent them to OP. Kind of confusing.
 
... The 'caliper' picture looks like a dual piston caliper which to my knowledge the CX-5 doesn't have, only single piston caliper. ...
The 2.5 turbo and 2.2 diesel have dual piston calipers up front.

This whole brake situation of pitter 's is strange indeed. It would be good to get a second opinion from a trusted mechanic.
 
@ Tchman2016 ha ha no I'm not a woman, that's a girlfriend in the avatar, much more decorative than me!

And to everyone, first of all thank you very, very much. Lots of great advice and analysis.

Ok the car was delivered this morning and I sat down the service manager for a clear explanation of the issue. The car needs replacement of seals betwenn the engine and transmission due to an oil leak. I asked him why? Some kind of damage from hitting a rock in the road (there's one I have hit when not seeing it at night). He said no just normal wear. Huh??? Has anyone in the states ever heard of this?

In the future I will seperate issues to their proper forums. This time they all came at once.
 
@ Tchman2016 ha ha no I'm not a woman, that's a girlfriend in the avatar, much more decorative than me!

And to everyone, first of all thank you very, very much. Lots of great advice and analysis.

Ok the car was delivered this morning and I sat down the service manager for a clear explanation of the issue. The car needs replacement of seals betwenn the engine and transmission due to an oil leak. I asked him why? Some kind of damage from hitting a rock in the road (there's one I have hit when not seeing it at night). He said no just normal wear. Huh??? Has anyone in the states ever heard of this?

In the future I will seperate issues to their proper forums. This time they all came at once.
Are they sure the leak isn't further up? (If it is even leaking at all)

Thats very uncommon for that seal to leak on new low mileage vehicle. Ime, usually those seals last 10 years and over 120,000 miles or more before you develop seepage(not leak) and I've had vehicles go 12 years and over 150 k before seepage(no leak). And at the point the seals were leaking slightly, put in some Valvoline high mileage oil to restore them.
 
⋯ The car needs replacement of seals betwenn the engine and transmission due to an oil leak. I asked him why? Some kind of damage from hitting a rock in the road (there's one I have hit when not seeing it at night). He said no just normal wear. Huh??? Has anyone in the states ever heard of this?
Yes, a couple of members here had had this problem. Kedis82ZE8 had the rear crankshaft bearing seal leaking and got replaced under 5-year / 60K-mile powertrain warranty.

I had a rear main seal leak and that timing chain cover leak on my CX-5. Both repaired under warranty . TC weep came back. I just clean it up a couple times a year. Nothing hits the ground. It comes and goes for whatever reason... perhaps temp but has never gotten worse.


Timing chain cover leaking
 
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