Brake Pads

[whizzing]

Something was going wrong with my car when I was braking and the result according to the garage is I have ruined a brake pad. They are telling me I need to replace all four brake pads even though the rest are practically new and in perfect condition. Am I being conned.

[espresso]

It is normal to replace all four together if one has been damaged/failed etc. They should wear together, so are usually replaced together and are supplied as a set.

[Quinny]

Like the man said.

Pads will come in a set of 4,when supplied,so you are not being conned,don't worry.

Ken.

[Stephen Leak]

I know that it seems a shame to have to replace all 4 pads when only 1 is faulty, but you don't get second chances with (and therefore don't faff about with) things like brakes, tyres and steering.

[vaio]

The other question to ask is why a single pad failed, the normal reason is a sticky calliper, If you don’t fix the cause it will just happen again

[Alias_Omega]

What car is it.? How much do they want for the pads? How much is fitment.? Can you supply your own parts from halfords? What pads are they fitting? Are the OEM, Can you get Ferrodo items for less, or a better pad for the same price.

Have you shopped about, kwik fit can fit pads, they can price match too. Play them all against each other.

Beware though, they will tell you need a new exhaust, shocker etc.

Reminds me when they told me my gas shockers were leaking oil, though they passed the MOT..;)

[whizzing]

You are correct vaio it was a sticking caliper and this was fixed, but had caused damage to a brake pad - yes - only one. They charged me £200 for the four brake pads.
I was hoping that as only one had been effected and the rest were only a few months old I could have got one done for a bit over £50.

[Stephen Leak]

National Tyres are doing 10% discount vouchers for disc & brake pads and I've got one! It is valid up to the end of July.

If this makes them the one to go with, PM me with your name and postal address and I will post it to you. It seems criminal not to use it, especially when there is fellow MSE who could put it to good use!

[waster]

You are correct vaio it was a sticking caliper and this was fixed, but had caused damage to a brake pad - yes - only one. They charged me £200 for the four brake pads.
I was hoping that as only one had been effected and the rest were only a few months old I could have got one done for a bit over £50.

I assume the £200 was for the work/replacemnt to the caliper/disc and the renewal of the pads? The price of the pads (4) would be between £20 and £50 for a “normal” car. So your £200 may or may not be reasonable depending on what they actual undertook.

[mr_accountant]

I assume the £200 was for the work/replacemnt to the caliper/disc and the renewal of the pads? The price of the pads (4) would be between £20 and £50 for a “normal” car. So your £200 may or may not be reasonable depending on what they actual undertook.

Did they change the caliper or do anything else; otherwise as has been said your £200 will be wasted because it will happen again.

£200 just for pads is way over the top; they only cost £20 for most cars and are fitted in 30mins.

You need to quantify what the mechanic has actually done.

[tomstickland]

[quote]Can you supply your own parts from halfords? [/qoute]
Nooooo, go to a local motor factors, much cheaper.

[raf35y]

If all you have had done is a new set of pads fitted you have paid far too much. To fit yourself would cost about £15 to £30 for a set of pads and 1hr at the most to fit. At a main dealer this would be £60 to £80 total. At an independent garage £40 to £60 total. For £200 I would have expected both front and back discs and pads.

[vaio]

The OP said they fixed the sticky calliper, £200 sounds reasonable(ish),

we just got a recon caliper for an astra, cost £35 add £30 for pads, £5 for fluid, two hours labour, some profit & VAT and you’re at £200

Whizzing, the reason only one pad wore out is the sticky caliper was pressing that pad against the disc all the time, effectively driving round with the brakes slightly on via that pad hence it wore out.

It’s good practice to renew all four (or all 8 on my car), for this reason they are supplied as an axle set, a garage would never not replace all of them as this could well result in brakes that pull to one side.

[whizzing]

Thanks vaio and others. I wondered why they replaced all four. The work was only for the brakepads but I am informed that this is what you would expect to pay because of the type of car it is and the fact that it was done at the dealers garage in order to keep the service history intact.

[Hintza]

Thanks vaio and others. I wondered why they replaced all four. The work was only for the brakepads but I am informed that this is what you would expect to pay because of the type of car it is and the fact that it was done at the dealers garage in order to keep the service history intact.


Sounds about right. You have made no mention of the car but £40-£100 would be about right for a caliper plus the pads at £20-£40 plus labour.

The question is, os the car still in warranty? I guess not but worth checking.

As for keeping service history intact, this repair has really nothing to do with service history.

[vaio]

……The work was only for the brake pads but I am informed that this is what you would expect to pay because of the type of car it is and the fact that it was done at the dealers garage in order to keep the service history intact.

……You are correct vaio it was a sticking caliper and this was fixed, but had caused damage to a brake pad - yes - only one. They charged me £200 for the four brake pads…….

I’m curious……..Are you saying you paid £200 just for the pads? With the caliper repair on top? What car? What costs?

[mr_accountant]

£200 for pads even at the main stealers, must be good pads!:rotfl:

By the way i doubt pads will have any bearing on service history when you come to sell whether they were changed at dealer or another garage, as long as good quality were fitted