Used car juddering and problems with brakes

adrian21

Hi

I bought a used Mazda 6 from a garage two weeks ago. I have noticed that it was juddering when driven over 60mph. I took it to ATS who did a vehicle health check.
They have said that there is a twisted rear tyre, the brake calliper on the opposite rear tyre is sticking on, all the brakes including the front are badly worn and need pads and discs replacing asap (there is a lip on the front discs), two new rear tyres are needed and the aircon gas is almost empty.
The garage I bought it from said they serviced the car before I bought it, as it has done 50k then they are not responsible for replacing the worn brakes and have agreed to fix the sticking brake calliper.

I am within my rights to ask for all the work to be done?
Should I get an independent engineer to asses the car?
Any advice would be great.
Many thanks

arcon5

Shouldn't you have done the inspecting before buying? Tyres for example are easy to inspect, even for a novice. They are unlikely to replace two tyres for you.

The only issue really seems to be the sticking caliper. I'm assuming it's the handbrake pully sticking?

molerat

Strange that ATS have only found faults on parts that they can repair

adrian21

Thanks for the reply.

I did look at the tyres but I didn't even know you could get a twisted tyre. On the test drive I didn't get a chance to take it on a motorway or dual carriage way so didn't notice the juddering until I got a chance to get it up to speed.

I don't know if its the handbrake but the wheel hardly turns at all when it was on the ramp. The other side spins fine.

Do you think this could cause the juddering?

adrian21

Hi molerat,

That thought was also running through my mind. Is a twisted tyre a major problem should it be replaced asap as they suggested?

tberry6686

never heard of a twisted tyre.

The wheel not turning is probably due to the sticking caliper.

The juddering may be caused by a warped disk (possibly caused by overheating due to the caliper sicking on).

You often get a lip on the disks due to the way the brakes work. Are the disks below minimum thickness or warped, pitted etc, if not they they may not need replaced and may only need new pads.

With the sticking caliper on the back new disks and pads are almost certainly needed there.

worried_jim

ATS will take you for every penny you have, as will kwik fitt and halfords, it's what they do, scare stories about the death traps they are driving but for £500 they can make it all okay again with some new shocks, disks, pads, exhausts, tyres- strangely all the items that they sell.

Do yourself a favour and take it to a proper independent garage and get you sticking caliper fixed for a fair price before you get your pants pulled down and spanked with your cheque book.

adrian21

Thanks for the all the advice

tommyjj

I've not heard of a 'twisted tire' before. Perhaps ask ATS what they meant by that. Wheel rims and tires are designed in such a way that they can't twist on the rim as all the air would escape. Perhaps they meant the tire or wheel was damaged somehow.

In my experience ATS and other similar MOT centres can be quite belligerent and know-it-all about the cars they deal with, but actually can't diagnose even basic problems.

In terms of the service they claim to have given it - I would tend to replace worn brakes during a service, since they are major consumable items. Ask the garage you bought the car from whether they have proof of the service, and what items were replaced. 9 times out of 10 a used car garage classes a 'service' as wiping the dirt of the oil filter to make it look new.

Remember that you are covered by a number of consumer acts if you bought from a dealer - hence the price premium from a garage over a private sale.

Don't let them fob you off and be persistent. Find a Mazda6 owners forum and ask for help there.

adrian21

Hi

A quick update.I went back to the dealer I bought the car from and they have fixed the sticking calliper and balanced the wheels for free, which was good of them.

Unfortunately the car is still juddering when I get to 60mph. It reduces when it goes to 70mph or when driven slower. Its still pulling to the left but not as much as it was.

Has anyone please got any suggestions? I am thinking of taking it to an independent mechanic and getting it checked out. I am just worried about throwing good money after bad.

I also found a Mazda forum and asked for some advice there but no joy so far.

forgotmyname

Put the spare tyre on and see if they fixes the problem.

As above though KwikFit lol.. 1st mistake. I also find it interesting they found faults with everything that they repair.
Tyres/Brakes and aircon. Shocked you done need an exhaust also. Or maybe that would be more than the cars worth? They will get you on that next time.

Pulling to the left. Make sure its not because of the camber of the road. Find a clear stretch where you can drive along the centre at 30mph in both directions.

Tracking adjustment may help with the pulling to the left also.