Insignia Brakes & Pentagon

RICK..._2

Hi all.

Basically I booked my Insignia in for it's first year service on the 27th June at my local Pentagon, also asked them to investigate judder from the front brakes. Got the car back serviced and was told brakes are perfectly fine... I kept on at them and explained that I was going away and would be doing a lot of miles and their response was: 'Look, we try and make as much money as possible through servicing, but if something doesn't need replacing then we don't do it, the technician has said they are perfectly fine and don't need changing any time soon'

Fair enough I thought...

Went on holiday to Weymouth for 7 nights. Was on the way home yesterday and the brakes were making the most awful grinding scraping noise... took it steady (had to anyway as was in traffic for 5 hours!!!!!!) and got home safely. Just been out to check the front brakes and it looks as though the front brake pads have completely failed????

Here is a pic of the better one:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/nottshb/IMG_0829.jpg

Where do I stand regarding this? Should I get the AA out to check them over? I can't even begin to think what would of happened had they of failed completely.

I feel like writing a long email to head office, but don't know if I'm over reacting?

thefishdude

yep they need changing all right there are knackered. they eitherlooked at wrong wheel or did not look at all.

just re read it was in for a service not just to check brakes in that case then they obviously never checked or looked at them.

gilbert_and_sullivan

[QUOTE=thefishdude;54333551

just re read it was in for a service not just to check brakes in that case then they obviously never checked or looked at them.[/QUOTE]

To be fair the OP would expect, as would i, that one the most basic requirements of a service would be to inspect the brakes, its hardly rocket science, no drums to have to get off to see things, a torch and mirror on a stick will show all, 2 minutes?

Having seen the results of this lack of servicing...technician my back side...i'd be inclined to buy good quality pads and fit them meself, double bounes of cheaper for OP and denying the garage the work they patently do not deserve.

victor2

It sounds like you have every right to complain.
Do you have an invoice stating what was done in the service, or at least which service was carried out, and the mileage at the time? See if there's any mention of checking the brakes, as specifically requested, or in the servicing schedule.
If so, and assuming you haven't added a tremendous number of miles since then, write a letter to them and cc head office. Keep it civil but make it clear you feel let down by them.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

my concern is that the pad is the better of them and has worn unevenly.

in your service sheet does it state service check brakes? if so these pads have been like that for a while so no they didnt chek them in my opinion so my imediate thought is did they service the car at all??

RICK..._2

Thanks for all the replies.

They had it written down on the job sheet to check the brakes as I saw it when I dropped it off. I also have the invoice for the service and they have stamped the service book etc.

I'm really not happy. I thought Ford were bad, these are even worse.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Try a small family owned dealership for your car care if you want to stay in the makers servcing network, usually but not always to be found in small towns.

Large chain owned dealers are not in the least bothered about customer care.

RICK..._2

Good idea, going to have to start doing some research and asking around etc.

I've just read that legal requirement for brake pads is 1.5mm and VX set theirs to 2mm, so they definitely can't of checked them!

GolfBravo

RICK... wrote: »

Was on the way home yesterday and the brakes were making the most awful grinding scraping noise... took it steady (had to anyway as was in traffic for 5 hours!!!!!!) and got home safely.

When you brake and hear a screeching metallic noise, it is the wear indicator - the brakes are designed to make this noise when pads are on their way out.

Obviously the main issue here is that you shouldn't really hear this noise - ideally you should replace the pads before then.

Although the pads are really low the brakes will still work, they won't fail. However, you should take it easy when driving because low pads fade quickly when hot (brakes exchange momentum into heat, and with less pad material they are less efficient at absorbing and expelling heat).

flashg67

1st service, as far as i can recall, wheels not removed - just what can be seen with the naked eye between wheel trims/spokes - ie not much!

A shame they didn't try to make some more money out of you, as they claim they like doing, and charge you for a full brake check.
Possible it's a caliper issue, so stick to a dealer for now as it may be partially covered under warranty - 20k is not bad, but not particularly good mileage for a set of pads so there may be something sticking?

Still, agree, poor from the dealer.

RICK..._2

GolfBravo wrote: »

When you brake and hear a screeching metallic noise, it is the wear indicator - the brakes are designed to make this noise when pads are on their way out.

It's much louder than that and vibrates the whole car also. It's that loud it drowns out the radio!

What confuses me more is why there is literally no compound toward the top, it looks as though it's completely disintergrated.

flashg67 wrote: »

1st service, as far as i can recall, wheels not removed - just what can be seen with the naked eye between wheel trims/spokes - ie not much!

A shame they didn't try to make some more money out of you, as they claim they like doing, and charge you for a full brake check.
Possible it's a caliper issue, so stick to a dealer for now as it may be partially covered under warranty - 20k is not bad, but not particularly good mileage for a set of pads so there may be something sticking?

Still, agree, poor from the dealer.

I specifically asked them to check the brakes while it was in for it's first year service. They said they did check them and that they were fine.

You can see the pads clearly without removing the wheel, as that's what I've done. I'm stupid enough to of not done a thorough check before I went away, once the noises started I just had a quick glance and thought they looked low and so booked it in and assumed they'd sort it... Never assume eh...