Quick MOT question (brake imbalance) please

Padz_2

My 3 year old Jimny just failed its first MOT on a wiper blade and front brake imbalance. I Googled it quickly after the chap came to tell me.

A bit later a different chap came and said it would be £199 for new discs and shoes. :eek:

I've asked him to let the techs have a go at cleaning them up and regreasing as I'm not heavy on the brakes and that has obviously led to them getting a bit pitted.

Was that the right thing to do or should I just have bent over and paid the £199 for new ones?

I was shocked though because I've never had a suggestion of having to have brakes replaced at such an early mileage.

Would be grateful for any opinions. I know you folks know what you're talking about.

Also any tips to stop or help to stop it happening again? Cheers.

verityboo

Was the test offered at a bargain price at a Kwik-Fit type place? If it was then I would take it elsewhere for a 2nd opinion

Padz_2

Thanks for replying. No it is in at Main Dealer having service and MOT. Car still under warranty (for about another fortnight) so not taking it anywhere else until warranty is up. Even then I wouldn't touch Kwikfit with someone else's bargepole.

verityboo

Does seem a strange reason for brake imbalance - would have thought a sticking piston/caliper would would be more likely?

mikey72

Discs and pads are the easy option. I've replaced pads after a year due to imbalance. I did both original and replacement sets myself, they were about £15, so it wasn't worth argueing about. And they were imbalanced, and it did fix it. Discs usually last longer, having siad that, we just bought a three year old car, not been used much, and the discs on that look poor. But they're a tenner a side to buy.

s_b

at 3 years old its difficult to say without seeing
but as a general guide a quick wash and brush up followed by confirming no sticky cylinders is all that would be required

backed up by fact brake discs pitted were not on your advisory

Padz_2

Apparently there was a 25% difference between one side and the other. That didn't sound like much to me so I've opted to have them cleaned and keep my fingers crossed. Will update later and let you know whether it worked or not.

Padz_2

That's a good point about the advisory sb. They've still got the car at the moment (and I'm sat in their waiting area on their wifi) but he didn't mention any advisories.

Funnily enough the chap who came to say it had failed said a clean might fix it.

Second chap just seemed interested in plugging the 'offer' that suzuki had on brakes at the moment and I had to heavily suggest that I'd like them cleaned first rather than just a straight replacement.

Thing is I've not noticed any signs at all of any problems with the brakes. I mean Jimny brakes are generally a bit crap but leaving that aside it hasn't been pulling to one side or had any deterioration in brake performance or doing anything different.

jbainbridge

You did the right thing ... if the disks / pads / shoes etc are not worn out it should be covered by the warranty. After all that's why your doing it at the main dealer!

Padz_2

It will be interesting to see what happens later. If it fixes the problem and if not why not.

Joe_Horner

Padz wrote: »

Apparently there was a 25% difference between one side and the other. That didn't sound like much to me so I've opted to have them cleaned and keep my fingers crossed. Will update later and let you know whether it worked or not.

Possibly splitting hairs a little but that shouldn't have been a fail. The failure criteria is:

"the out-of-balance of the brakes on the steered road wheels is greater than 25%"

To be honest, at 25% imbalance you really want to get them sorted but it should be a pass & advise rather than fail (thereby "encouraging" you to have it done there and by them).

For the sake of a fortnight's warranty I'd be sorely tempted to take the work elsewhere. If they've been imbalanced for a while you may need pads but if not, sorting out the (probably) tight caliper should cure it.

As for "disks and pads", that's a long-term pet hate of mine. Disks VERY rarely need changing - from the MOT perspective they're considered safe until they're virtually disintegrating:

"a brake disc or drum in such a condition that it is seriously weakened or insecure"

A bit of surface pitting or scoring doesn't "seriously weaken" them, which is probably why they didn't advise for this - then use the imbalance as a reason to sell you a set anyway