Kwik Fit Free Brake Test - Outcome = 350 Oh my god pounds

vaio

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

Didn't they get caught squirting oil onto them to make it look like they were leaking? Then they did it on car that had been fitted with gas-filled shock absorbers.

Err, I’m reluctant to let the facts get in the way of a good story but gas filled shocks still have oil in them

Conor_3

tomstickland wrote: »

That'd cost about, oh, £30 for the drums, £70 for the cylinders,

SEVENTY QUID FOR THE CYLINDERS? Where do you work, Kwik Fit?

They're under a tenner a peice from motor factors. Hell, even the master cylinder is under £70 for most cars.

tomstickland

Approximate numbers based on a hazy memory of buying a pair for a vw a few years ago. Whatever, it'll make it even cheaper, and even my AMAZINGLY EXPENSIVE total was way less than Kwik Fit.

anewman

I wonder if a little copper grease (cost a few quid) in the correct place on the brake pads would cure the squeal. However, as they don't feel very good that indicates another problem too.

I'm glad you went away to get quotes elsewhere anyway. Kwikfit rely on the shock you're going to die, don't drive away tactics and they'll be nice to you and sort it out after taking £££. I would also get a second opinion on what's wrong.

wishiwasarichgirl

bambammy wrote: »

Took it in for a free break check, to be told if the brakes were illegal, by law they couldn't put them back on and would have to replace them.

anyone know if this is correct, can they refuse to put your car back together if they say it is illegal/unroadworthy, or should they restore it to the state that it was in before entering and let you take responsibility??

anewman

wishiwasarichgirl wrote: »

anyone know if this is correct, can they refuse to put your car back together if they say it is illegal/unroadworthy, or should they restore it to the state that it was in before entering and let you take responsibility??

Just do not ever go to KwikFit is probably the best advice, they're dirty tricksters happy enough to use blackmail and deception. I know of somene who had them scratch a brake disc intentionally right in front of him, then claim it was unsafe to drive away yada yada.

I guess if you threatened to call the police they'd be happier to put it together. Unfortunately this approach is due to the sales driven nature of their business model. Either it's due to comission being paid, or targets set.

AFAIK they cannot do this unless they're doing an MOT. If your car has a current and valid MOT then you can legally drive it away (at your own risk of course - if it is supposedly dangerous) It would technically be a criminal offence to drive a dangerous vehicle, but they cannot prevent you I would have thought.

Best way is to avoid them all-together.

350nutter

Take it to a local independant garage. The squealing may just indicate that the moving parts of the brakes need greasing as mentioned above, or it could indicate that one or more of your brake shoes/pads has worn out and isn't working efficiently and causing further damage when it is used.

If it is worn out brakes, I can't see how this could affect the bearings.

Conor_3

I suppose that if they're seized, they could cause the hub to overheat and thin the grease down in the bearings.

Grasping at straws I know.

Wayne3765

Browntoa wrote: »

I've had Kwik Fit diagnose "dangerous suspension" that must be sorted now......3 weeks after it passed the MOT when my ex-wife took the car in for a tyre

I'd rather drive on 3 wheels tha go into one again !!

The last time I went into KF and they that happened to me , went in for a tyre and ended up with a £350 quote for two tyres and dangerous suspension that needed changing immediately.

I only let them change the one tyre and two months later the car passed the MOT with the dodgy other tyre and suspension still on it , amazingly it passed again the next year with the very same dangerous struts still fitted.

I must admit this was a few years back ( I had a Mk 2 Escort at the time ) and maybe they've changed now but I'm not willing to go back and find out.

Thatadamlad

Went for a free brake check today and the guy looking at my car said I needed new brake lines at a cost of £500 odd pounds. While my car was left there for 3 hours he had left the brake fluid resivoir cap off and when he replaced it he didn't tighten it. Left like that the fluid would absorb moisture in the air and perish. This would have caused brake line failure symptoms causing me to send my car to kwik fit for replacement. Very clever. Not happy at all. I made sure I tightened it before I left it was really loose.