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Ceramic brake discs

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by [email protected], Oct 9, 2011.

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  1. gk@kco.no

    [email protected] Rookie

    Mar 3, 2010
    46
    Norway
    Full Name:
    Geir Knutsen
    #1 [email protected], Oct 9, 2011
    My California was delivered in June '09 - an early production. A great car by the way! First time in years I have had a car for more that two years!

    The milage now is 17.000 kms, approx. 10.000 miles. The front ceramic discs are worn out, and has to be changed. There are small craters in the discs. The cost for a change is EURO 12.800, or USD 17.500!

    Now the dealer refuses to take the change on the warranty, as they say the reason for the problem is that I have used the car on racetracks. I must add that when I bought the car, they told me it was made for track driving, and the dealer frequently arranges track days for the customers. I have followed the book and changed brakepads, using original Ferrari pads, three times so far, and always before the pads were worn out!

    Some friends of mine have had the same problem with their Porsches, and have changed to steel brake discs.

    I know that both the Porsche factory and the Ferrari factory refuses to change ceramic discs on the warranty. I think the reason is that the discs are so expensive.

    Being a lawyer myself, I am quite certain that it should be on the warranty, as brake discs should last longer that 17.000 kms.

    Has anyone had any similar experience with a Cali or other cars with ceramic brakes? Has anyone managed to have it covered on the warranty?
     
  2. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    106,120
    Vegas baby
    #2 TheMayor, Oct 9, 2011
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2011
    Brakes in the US are never covered under warranty for wear. If it was defective, that would be a different story. But normal wear and tear are not part of the warranty.

    The same goes for clutches (in the cars that had them) or tires.
     
  3. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,665
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    #3 greyboxer, Oct 9, 2011
    I'd go higher up the food chain - be it at the dealer or at the importer or the section of Ferrari covers you - I think its FNE Slough UK
     
  4. Zinger

    Zinger Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2009
    1,894
    Leesburg, Va
    Full Name:
    Ryan M
    #4 Zinger, Oct 9, 2011
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2011
    Sorry to hear this but unfortunately TRACK=$$$ . Keep fighting it and try to pin it somehow on a defect but track days of hard braking can eat up CCB's :(
     
  5. arizonaitalian

    arizonaitalian Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Oct 29, 2010
    20,507
    Wyoming
    #5 arizonaitalian, Oct 9, 2011
    small craters? Seems you could argue that is unusual and not "normal wear and tear".

    I'm not sure of this, but have been told that certain other cars use the exact same disks as some Ferrari's and thus can be purchased from other channels for less money. For example, I've been told by 2 people that the disks on a CS are the same as disks on some Corvette and can be purchased for 50% of the Ferrari cost...might want to check that out (I hope I never have too!).
     
  6. gk@kco.no

    [email protected] Rookie

    Mar 3, 2010
    46
    Norway
    Full Name:
    Geir Knutsen
    #6 [email protected], Oct 9, 2011
    That is exactyly my point! They seems to be crackled, there are no other signs of tear and wear! Discs should last more that 17 000 kms even if I drive some laps on Nuerburgring!
     
  7. ehrst

    ehrst Karting

    Jun 20, 2011
    92
    Orange County, CA
    Full Name:
    sse
    #7 ehrst, Oct 9, 2011
    Damaged disks are not "usual" wear. The real question is the wording in the warranty. If there is a specific clause in the warranty that states the warranty is voided or altered if you track or race the car, you're toast. If not, seems to me the dealer would have no option but to honor the warranty. That being said, track use is pretty brutal on any car. You have to expect you will have much higher costs of operation if you track your car regularly. Good luck with the dealer.
     

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