Persistent Brake Failure, Dealerships Fault -- Advice Please!

colino

Can you get them to explain clearly to you what is going on? I'm pretty sure this must be a one man and his dog operation and the joint from the flexi to the metal pipe is leaking after each, "repair". No car should go out after brake work before a pressure test, and while one error might just be believable, multiple bodges really aren't on. Brake flaring tools for a garage can be had from £150 upwards for a handheld, and every garage will have a good one because it is frequently needed for MOT work (and is frankly a very profitable repair).
While they are now whining about a faulty tool (the formers do wear out or get burred through mis-use) what has that got to do with their incompetence in sending out a dangerous car? I wouldn't put it passed them to find out they weren't using the proper size in the flaring tool.
Get the car checked over by a real, recommended garage and leave this dog to whatever they think they can do, but make sure they pay for the remedial work.

AdrianC

colino wrote: »

No car should go out after brake work before a pressure test,

It sounds as if the problem is manifesting itself after a while, rather than immediately.

colino

If it is the joint easing itself off, (they are not high torque connections) then they are even more incompetent, potentially criminal, than anyone could have thought.

AdrianC

I was thinking more of the flare being badly formed and holding pressure initially before starting to pull through the union.

colino

That's why you do a simple pressure test, it generally either seals or it doesn't with no gradual leak to failure.
Either way, this garage is one to be avoided, customers shouldn't be doing road tests for morons.

Smurf88

The problem has occurred roughly every 4 weeks, in which time we drive it no more than 75-100 miles.

They have been performing pressure tests to attempt to replicate the problem but have been "satisfied" each time that the repair is good after these tests. Last time they even sent it home with a mechanic for the night to make sure.

The garage is part of a Peugeot dealership with 34 locations across the UK - so I thought I was taking it to the proper garage!

But yes - starting to feel like we are road testing for them and risking our safety each time.

AdrianC

Smurf88 wrote: »

The problem has occurred roughly every 4 weeks, in which time we drive it no more than 75-100 miles.

They have been performing pressure tests to attempt to replicate the problem but have been "satisfied" each time that the repair is good after these tests. Last time they even sent it home with a mechanic for the night to make sure.

This is just making me wonder even more if there's some kind of misdiagnosis. If t'were my car, I'd be moving up and down the brake line - replace the wheel cylinder or flexi - in case there's damage there that's causing a failure in sealing.

Smurf88

AdrianC wrote: »

This is just making me wonder even more if there's some kind of misdiagnosis. If t'were my car, I'd be moving up and down the brake line - replace the wheel cylinder or flexi - in case there's damage there that's causing a failure in sealing.

Last time it was in (the third repair), they checked the entire brake circuit - would this have been done as part of that?

Thanks!

colino

It may well be part of a chain, but the fitter doing this is clearly incompetent and needs sacked. Are you sure it's part of a manufacturers group? Strange that a glass palace not only gets it wrong frequently, but then talking to the customer that their tools are rubbish.
Unbelievable that a car coming in with a similar, dangerous fault on multiple occasions isn't being reviewed by a master tech and his boss.

AdrianC

Smurf88 wrote: »

Last time it was in (the third repair), they checked the entire brake circuit - would this have been done as part of that?

Given the cost of the parts, I'd just replace them. And that's without the cost of the labour. To check them properly, you'd be removing them anwyay - might as well just replace.