My '22 wind AWD is in for the ICCU recall check, and I thought I’d get the 2-year service done a bit early at 14.3k. The dealer suggested servicing the front and rear brake calipers for $300 to lubricate the pistons. They also recommended an alignment for $185. Both services seem based on mileage alone. My tire wear is even at 6/32, and the brake pads are all at 9 mm, which both look good on their inspection report. Are they trying to pull a fast one on me? I liked their service for the first visit, and they’re conveniently located with a free ride share, so I’d rather not drive across town to another dealer.
Don’t follow the dealer’s recommended maintenance schedule for any car. Check the owner’s manual for the actual maintenance schedule.
Politely decline those extra services. The only thing you really need is a tire rotation. You can easily swap out your cabin air filter yourself; they’re cheap on Amazon. An alignment is only necessary if you notice uneven tire wear, and I’d suggest going elsewhere for that service.
I’m a professional ASE Certified Technician. Here are two points:
1: Unless your steering wheel is off-center or you see uneven tire wear, you don’t need an alignment.
2: Lubricating the pistons is unnecessary. However, lubricating the caliper slide pins is something you should consider. I’ve seen many brake issues arise from seized caliper slide pins. EVs aren’t the same as ICE vehicles, but caliper slide pins are found on all calipers without opposed pistons. They’re more likely to seize in wetter areas, like the Pacific Northwest where I live. In drier places, like SoCal, it’s less likely, but different issues can arise.
I think it’s even more relevant since EV calipers get less usage compared to ICE cars, meaning there’s less heat to evaporate moisture in the assembly.
That’s just my two cents, take it or leave it.
@Robert
Great advice! I like to check my alignment yearly. Maybe it’s a bit much, but I’m all for preventive maintenance.
This is why many dislike dealerships. I wouldn’t do either service unless I had a specific issue.
I agree with you. They’re definitely trying to take advantage.
Yeah, ‘lubricate calipers’ is something you typically do when replacing brakes. I’d hold off on that for now. Personally, I prefer to do brake pads, rotors, lubricate caliper pins and slides, and flush the brake fluid all at once. It costs more, but it ensures smooth braking and helps me keep my records organized.
With the regen system, brakes are used less often than in the past.
The alignment check is reasonable since it should happen every year or every 12,000 miles. I think $180 for an alignment on a regular car is a bit high, but it’s not outrageous.
I’d suggest having them do the alignment (ask for a printout) to avoid the hassle of going somewhere else, but decline everything else.
In the Connect app, you can find a maintenance section that lists all recommended services for each milestone. Anything beyond that, you should definitely decline. I just had my 16K service last month, and the only extra I did was an alignment because of these Missouri potholes.