Ford Focus

[XDA]

Just had my Focus back from the main stdealer, and after a visual health check they have found a few faults.

The main one is "o/s/r and n/s/r trailing arm bush split" which according to them is a MOT failure. They quoted £382 to fix this (labour and parts included). My focus had its annual full service at my usual independent garage, and they said the bushes were split but thats a common issue and he's never had to change them.

Is it really an MOT failure and is the price expensive? Not sure who's right - the independent garage or main stdealer??

The other issue is with the brake disc's - they need replaced. They have quoted £207 for front and £212 for back (parts and labour included). Thats £420 in total . I know they need done, but is this price excessive?

Anyone able to help?

Cheers.

[steveo3002]

depends how split they are....if theyre hanging off then yes its a fail

if theres minor wear n tear its just something to keep an eye on

chances are they want a bit of extra work thats all..

[ariba10]

As Stevo said. The dealer is probably looking for work.

[goldspanners]

the price for the brakes seems far too much.
can you not do the brakes yourself, they are easy,especially the front pads and discs. for the rears you might need a special tool to rewind the pistons on the calipers,but still fairly easy to do.

i got mintex pads,discs and shoes for my focus for £80 delivered to my door and fitted all with in 2 hours,cleaning everything and putting copper slip on everything that needs it. garages wont do any of that.

[jeannieblue]

I'm confused.........

If you have had it serviced - why go for the health check? Was it one of those 'free' offers?

[maniac886]

the price for the brakes seems far too much.
can you not do the brakes yourself, they are easy,especially the front pads and discs. for the rears you might need a special tool to rewind the pistons on the calipers,but still fairly easy to do.

i got mintex pads,discs and shoes for my focus for £80 delivered to my door and fitted all with in 2 hours,cleaning everything and putting copper slip on everything that needs it. garages wont do any of that.


How does the mintex stuff compare to ford oem brake parts?

[jeannieblue]

How does the mintex stuff compare to ford oem brake parts?
He makes love to Mintex or to any car part to be honest, sad really.

[goldspanners]

How does the mintex stuff compare to ford oem brake parts?

i got 30k out of the original pads and discs, im now just about on the 60k and there is plenty left on the pads,its the discs i need as they are slightly scored! they've recently been making a slight scuffing noise when cold,i guess this is the scoring.
but i will be changing both soon,i will use the mintex ones again,very happy with them.
just seen the front brake discs and pads for around £35 on ebay. i'll try my factors tomorrow and if they cant beat that price then ebay it is.

[goldspanners]

He makes love to Mintex or to any car part to be honest, sad really.
not as good as you though! ;)

[XDA]

I'm confused.........

If you have had it serviced - why go for the health check? Was it one of those 'free' offers?

I had it serviced about a month ago (annual service), at my usual independent garage. I was at the main stdealers yesterday because I had an air bag warning light on. The health check is just something the dealer does while they have the car. (They did it the last time I was there)

Dont worry, I wouldnt fall for one of their "free" offers - We all know why it's "free"... ;)

[XDA]

Cheers for the replies guys!

I dont think they are hanging off, my independent garage said that its a common issue on the focus and he's never had to change them. I'll keep an eye on them over the next few months.

Can anyone advise where online I can get decent disc's and pads for the focus?

Cheers.

[maniac886]

Cheers for the replies guys!

I dont think they are hanging off, my independent garage said that its a common issue on the focus and he's never had to change them. I'll keep an eye on them over the next few months.

Can anyone advise where online I can get decent disc's and pads for the focus?

Cheers.

Ford parts UK. If you request a quote and let them know what you require along with your vehicle reg they will be able to list exactly what parts you need. Always use them for my oem parts.

[jimbo_the_jetset]

I got my mast set of discs and pads for our Focus from Rapid Fit. Was around the £100 mark for non-Ford parts, however in the end they didn't get the non-Ford parts in in time so had to fit Ford ones!

[goldspanners]

ive just bought these ones for mine. local facotrs couldnt come near this price for mintex,could only beat it with cheap pads and discs.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-MINTEX-FRONT-BRAKE-DISCS-PADS-0085 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-MINTEX-FRONT-BRAKE-DISCS-PADS-0085_W0QQitemZ230296927953QQihZ013QQcategoryZ21654 QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262)

[maniac886]

ive just bought these ones for mine. local facotrs couldnt come near this price for mintex,could only beat it with cheap pads and discs.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-MINTEX-FRONT-BRAKE-DISCS-PADS-0085

That's a really good price....might contact the seller and see if I can collect when it comes to changing my pads as I am also based in Manchester. Save me £10 so it will be even more of a bargain.

[swiftnick]

ive just bought these ones for mine. local facotrs couldnt come near this price for mintex,could only beat it with cheap pads and discs.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-MINTEX-FRONT-BRAKE-DISCS-PADS-0085

That is unbelievably cheap! Good find :D

Been saved as a favourite seller.

Nick

[goldspanners]

That's a really good price....might contact the seller and see if I can collect when it comes to changing my pads as I am also based in Manchester. Save me £10 so it will be even more of a bargain.

when i purchased mine he had 255 still in stock so im guessing he wont mind you collecting them.and i doubt he makes much on postage due to the weight of them so it saves him the hassle of getting them delivered.

[maniac886]

when i purchased mine he had 255 still in stock so im guessing he wont mind you collecting them.and i doubt he makes much on postage due to the weight of them so it saves him the hassle of getting them delivered.


Not sure when mine need replacing...will get the mechanic to have a look when my new alloys are on. My last set were done at Kwik Fit(BY PREVIOUS OWNER along with 4 new tyres).

[goldspanners]

Not sure when mine need replacing...will get the mechanic to have a look when my new alloys are on. My last set were done at Kwik Fit(BY PREVIOUS OWNER along with 4 new tyres).

how many miles since then?

[jeannieblue]

I had it serviced about a month ago (annual service), at my usual independent garage. I was at the main stdealers yesterday because I had an air bag warning light on. The health check is just something the dealer does while they have the car. (They did it the last time I was there)

Dont worry, I wouldnt fall for one of their "free" offers - We all know why it's "free"... ;)
Phew!!........ was worried for a mo there.. :D

[CarineG]

I have just purchased a used Ford Focus. It has got 36000 miles on the clock and it looks like the oil needs to be replaced. The car is from 1999.
Is it worth taking to Ford to have a full service done which will set me back £310 or take it to my local garage who I am sure will have a more competitive price?
Also, I have been advised that the cambelt may need replaceing after 10 years (I thought it was around 50 000 to 60 000 miles). Does anyone know if it is worth replacing now?

[maniac886]

I have just purchased a used Ford Focus. It has got 36000 miles on the clock and it looks like the oil needs to be replaced. The car is from 1999.
Is it worth taking to Ford to have a full service done which will set me back £310 or take it to my local garage who I am sure will have a more competitive price?
Also, I have been advised that the cambelt may need replaceing after 10 years (I thought it was around 50 000 to 60 000 miles). Does anyone know if it is worth replacing now?

No point taking the car for a service to the main stealer as its not under warranty any more, take the car to your local mechanic...as for the cambelt I wouldnt bother replacing it now. I would replace it around the 50K mark as you say above. I paid £120 for a full 3 year service at my local ford indie.

[Inactive]

A ten year old cam belt certainly requires changing, whatever mileage it has done.

( That is assuming that it hasn't been changed, did you not get a service history? )

[Sirbendy]

I have an Astra with 55k on the clocks and 9 years under it's belt..Vx spec 8 years/80000 miles for a change..

Now, after only 55k but 9 years, I've had it done with the water pump and thermostat as a precaution, as it was past the 8 years. It's usually a "whichever comes first".

Total cost at an local independent outfit today was a whopping, scary £169...:D

Vauxhall wanted silly money for it, and the first independent local to work wanted £240..so shop around and get quotes.

Turned out my water pump was leaking too, so I'm well chuffed. I always change my timing belts when I get a new vehicle, just for my own peace of mind.

For "normal servicing" (oil/filters/plugs/autobox) I do it myself for a total of an hours time max and about £35, using the haynes manual. Well worth it. Brakes I leave to a specialist, along with steering. Too risky for me.

[goldspanners]

get it serviced by your local independant garage, get the cam belt done, especially if its never been done, if you dont know or cant find out then get it changed.

ford specify 10 years or 100,000 miles which ever comes first on the cam belt, to be on the safe side i got mine done at 4 years old on 50,000 miles.

a local independant will generally spend a little more time on your car than the main dealer as they are timed,but unfortunatly these times are for newer cars where everything hasnt already seized up.

[Sirbendy]

get it serviced by your local independant garage, get the cam belt done, especially if its never been done, if you dont know or cant find out then get it changed.

ford specify 10 years or 100,000 miles which ever comes first on the cam belt, to be on the safe side i got mine done at 4 years old on 50,000 miles.

a local independant will generally spend a little more time on your car than the main dealer as they are timed,but unfortunatly these times are for newer cars where everything hasnt already seized up.

Oh yes. I have a copy of the Vauxhall dealer TIS DVD here detailing all the models, parts, repair procedures and timings/charge level for them. The independent had mine all day, but when I came to collect it he showed me what was done, showed me the parts from it and made sure I was happy.

I like independents more. :D Well, this guy anyway.

as to 10years/100000 miles on a belt...stuff THAT. I agree on 40k..60 at the outside. It's FAR cheaper than an engine rebuild.

[CarineG]

Thanks for the advice.
Ford quoted me £256 for replacing the cambelt kit which I thought was reasonable. However, the service is a rip off (also £256).

After going through the service history (I have all of it), I found a receipt for a timing belt + fitting for £32. I know the cambelt itself is about £30 so maybe it was purchased and fitted by a friend?
Maybe I can find out from contacting the garage in question...

[CarineG]

Correction, what has been replaced is the drive belt. Does anyone know what it is?

[goldspanners]

Correction, what has been replaced is the drive belt. Does anyone know what it is?

drive belt,cam belt,timing belt,call it what you like, its all the same thing.

you will also have other belts which are easier and cheaper to replace,these will be auxilliary drive belts,running alternator,power steering and air con pump.

[CarineG]

I have just called the garage which did the work and it is a fan belt they replaced, not a cambelt. I thought £35 was too cheap for a cambelt!

I'll be looking around my area to see if i can get the work done for a reasonable price.

[Sirbendy]

Auxilliary belt or serpentine belt then..:) Fan belt is also an outdated term - they're usually electric now.

[CarineG]

I decided to take my car to my local garage and was impressed with the fact that they wanted to inpect the car before charging me for a full service. They wanted to see what needed to be replaced first.

I am having the cambelt replaced for £251 due to the car being 10 years old. I am also having a service done with oil and some filters replaced for £179. Also the exhaust back box needs to be replaced.

Total of the repairs are around £550 but I got a 10% discount because I saw the garage listed in the yellow pages. I am paying £499. The garage has also informed me that the car is generally in good condition and I shouldn't have anything else done for while. Let's hope it is the case.

[Armengar]

My poor little 1999 focus got scrapped recently. Up until then I had 3 advice notices about suspension bushes so dont worry. I had the cambelt changed at 70k, didnt bother at 140k (this year) as I knew I was getting rid of the car. Never used OEM ford parts, cant remember name of discs used but I dont remember changing pads or discs in the last 2 years (40k)

They are tough little things.