New Brake Pads needed

ohreally

vansboy wrote:

Don't be mis-led by 'Lifetime' guarantees!!

That means they will replace if they FAIL - not wear out!!

& you can be sure they'll do that!! BEFORE failing - not really much to go wrong with pads themselves!!

http://www.kwik-fit.com/brakes-at-kwikfit.asp 5th para.

vansboy

Kwik-Fit guarantees any brake pads or shoes against accidental damage, wear and defects for as long as you own your car, provided you authorise all work identified as being required during your brake safe inspection.


The wording says ACCIDENTAL WEAR - not NORMAL WEAR .....so think I'd be correct in saying, they wouldn't replace 'cos they wore out, under ordinary use.

If the staff are saying they will - get it written, more clearley, than the info, here!!

VB

Wig

If I were you OP I'd phone up a few motorfactors (car accessories and parts) and get a few quotes for pads for your car. Then go and buy the cheapest (could be as little as 10 pounds) more likely to be about 15 pounds.

Then go with your pads to a few back streets, and ask them how much to fit your pads. should be about 20 quid 30max.

Brake pads are easy to do if you know how, but certainly not something the untrained eye should be attempting unless supervised.

You can check the discs yourself now easily just reach behind the wheel and feel to see how much of a lip there is on the rim of the disc, again this is really something you learn but if you think it is more than 1.5mm on each edge (ie both sides of the disc) then it may need changing. If you do go to Kwik fit and they say it needs a new disc ask them to measure the thickness in front of you with a micrometer. You can find out the minimum thickness from the haynes manual, if it isn't wrapped in cellophane in Halfrauds look up braking in the chapters at the start of the book, look in the start of the chapter on braking under Specifications..it should tell you disc thickness, new and minimum values.

If it is wrapped in cellophane run your finger nail through the cellophane and have a look anyway

ohreally

Wig wrote:

If I were you OP I'd phone up a few motorfactors (car accessories and parts) and get a few quotes for pads for your car. Then go and buy the cheapest

I'd suggest the op considers this option carefully before progressing. I used to work for a large govt agency repairing and servicing their vehicle fleet. Obviously brake pads were a routine job that we completed fairly frequently, and something we found (most noticeable when manufacturers stopped using pad formulas with asbestos) was when using certain pads,they tended to introduce a sponginess to the pedal* - the pad material was prone to compressing. I'd be wary of cutting corners for the sake of a few pounds and get a decent pad like Mintex or similar.

*One major dealer supplied OEM parts were very susceptible to this until they had the lining spec changed.

gallygirl

CrazyChemist wrote:

Hello :santa2:

I need a pair of brake pads for my Almera (97) and Kwik-Fit is quoting around £110 for the supply and fitting of these pads. The discs seem fine at the moment at least that's what they said when I went for a brake inspection.

Are there any other places I could look for brake pad replacement? Kwik-Fit is the only one I know about at the moment. Any help appreciated :snow_grin

CC :beer:

I'll match your brake pads - and raise you brake shoes, rear calipers, 4 new tyres and a new cam belt...... happy new year to me.......:mad: Lucky if any change from a grand - and there was me congratulating myself on getting through Xmas without going overdrawn......

Sainsbury's 0% card for 10 months is in the post.......

ohreally

ali007 wrote:

I'll match your brake pads - and raise you brake shoes, rear calipers

Think yourself lucky you don't run a Ford Cargo. Iirc the rear calipers cost in the region of £780 exchange - each.

CrazyChemist_2

ohreally wrote:

I'd suggest the op considers this option carefully before progressing. I used to work for a large govt agency repairing and servicing their vehicle fleet. Obviously brake pads were a routine job that we completed fairly frequently, and something we found (most noticeable when manufacturers stopped using pad formulas with asbestos) was when using certain pads,they tended to introduce a sponginess to the pedal* - the pad material was prone to compressing. I'd be wary of cutting corners for the sake of a few pounds and get a decent pad like Mintex or similar.

*One major dealer supplied OEM parts were very susceptible to this until they had the lining spec changed.

Thanks very much for that - I'm going to phone Kwik Fit tomorrow and ask what brand they use... only thing is that I don't know what each brand is like so if it's ok with you I'll post what they say tomorrow morning and see what you think of it. I will ask about Mintex and post here tomorrow am. :xmassmile

What happens with compressing?? I have to say that the brake pedal does seem a bit spongy atm maybe I'll ask them to make sure Nissan didn't let any air into the brake fluid at the last service when the fluids were bled and renewed.

On another subject but related to Kwik Fit, the new car battery they supplied in September with a 4 yr warranty has started to leak (I think) as there is a puffy white powder on the top of the battery, dead between the two terminals. :rolleyes:

vansboy

The battery probably NOT leaking.

Just make sure the caps , if any on the top of the battery, are sealed/pushed down/screwed up tite.If any are open, you need to check the level inside, hasn't dropped. If it has, you top up, to just above the plates (the bit you can see, inside the battery, if the covers are removed) using distilled water - like the stuff in a steam iron. It MUST be this, not ordinary water.

Then pour boiling water over the residue & rinse again lots cold water.

Lightly smear grease/Vaseline on the batter terminals & any area around the battery, which have now gone rusty looking.

VB

tomstickland

£15 brake pads from motor factors are fine - I use them. The "best" pads are the ones sourced from the main dealer. For example, on the tuned up Vauxhalls we found that the OEM parts bought via trade club gave the best results. In fact, the Police Spec items were actually Mintex <insert number> pads anyway.

Changing pads is not difficult, but it needs a bit of investment. Haynes manual, trolley jack, axle stands, some basic tools, breaker bar and a bit of time.

tomstickland

I'll match your brake pads - and raise you brake shoes, rear calipers, 4 new tyres and a new cam belt...... happy new year to me....... Lucky if any change from a grand - and there was me congratulating myself on getting through Xmas without going overdrawn.....

Fot a mainstream car, these are approx prices
Rear shoes - £20
Rear calipers - recon parts from motor factor £150
4 tyres from Protyre £210
cam belt parts £50
cam belt fitting £300

Total of £730 so far. Your £1000 total isn't too bad then, you might be able to make it £800 by shopping around a bit.