Do I need Brake Discs changing aswell or is the garage having me over?

Iceweasel

The discs will have a recommended minimum thickness at which they need to be replaced.

It will be stamped on them - so there should be no doubt about it.

EdGasket

Quik Fit is probably not your best option. Try a different local garage if you know a good one; doesn't have to be a merc indie to change pads. Any decent aftermarket pad should be fine but leave it to the garage to worry about that.

Joe_Horner

Assuming it's a pre-2012 model non-oem (but accepted quality) branded pads from established suppliers are around £82 for the full 4-wheel set, including full fitting kts and new sensor wires (fitting kits and wires are probably not needed - pads alone around £68). Bear in mind that's "retail trade" price rather than "real trade" price.

Not sure what they're like to change on one of those but a £350 quote is allowing them roughly £270 in labour. At £90 an hour (£75 + VAT) that's 3 hours and I'm struggling to think of any car that would take 3 hours to change a set of pads!

Disks vary a bit depending on exact model, but for a full set of pads & disks the parts price would be about £230 (again non-OEM but accepted quality brands). So they're quoting £520 to change them, or nearly 6 hours @ £90.hour.

Perhaps if they've never done one before and are reading the Haynes manual as they go....

loskie

as a rule of thumb I would say 2 sets pads to 1 set discs. The disc may have a lip on them but tat could be ground off. There will be a minimum thickness as someone said.
http://www.bpw.co.uk/downloads/downloads_page/ECO%20DISC%20BRAKE%20POSTER%20August%2016.pdf

its a big expensive car so costly to maintain properly.

Strider590

Long gone are the days where you could keep changing pads on the same discs, car are MUCH heavier than they were 20+ years ago and brake discs are now a consumable item just as much as the pads.

This idea of being able to only change the pads, it's as old as the idea that VW Golf are the most reliable cars and JUST as incorrect.

straighttalker

As others have said, pads can be had all round for approximately £100 for under for Pagid from EuroCarParts. Fitting should be around 2 hours to be conservative.

However with brakes, you never know what you will face. Maybe a stuck caliper bolt, seized caliper etc etc. A lot of Merca have a large pin which go through the top of the brake pads to secure. Sometimes these can get stuck and need to be cut / drilled out which adds more time to the job.

You won't know if you'll need pads until you or the garage take a look. It's not only wear that can kill a disc off. Excessive rust on an area which isn't swept by the pad due to uneven wear or lipping can make it necessary to replace. Yes they can be resurfaced but that may take the thickness past the minimum level. Also, given the relatively low cost of discs, it's better to buy new ones anyway.

AdrianC

Disks don't last anywhere near as long as they used to - especially on a big heavy barge like an ML. So, yes, after 40k and probably two, maybe even three sets of pads, depending on driving style - they could well be getting thin.

But I'll agree those prices seem... optimistic.

parking_question_chap

New discs at 40,000 on a car probably weighing north of 2 tonnes sounds perfectly reasonable, the price of £750 doesnt.

The fact its a Mercedes is totally irrelevant its still metal and it still wears.

Unless you have carbon ceramics fitted, but thats highly doubtful on an ML.

[Deleted User]

Strider590 wrote: »

Long gone are the days where you could keep changing pads on the same discs, car are MUCH heavier than they were 20+ years ago and brake discs are now a consumable item just as much as the pads.

This idea of being able to only change the pads, it's as old as the idea that VW Golf are the most reliable cars and JUST as incorrect.

So why did the garage change my discs on my business car , a little lightweight Skoda Citigo at less than 20,000 miles ?. I`ll tell you ! its because many garages are up there with plumbers/plasterers/builders etc in ripping off the unwary given half a chance .Because my car was a fleet car the garages think they can do a bit of thieving, just like plumbers do. I`m a steady driver, light braker and I reckon 60,000 miles at least is OK on my discs..I`ve had 80,000 miles from the old Mk 1 Fiestas and they hav`nt gained that much timber to make a pair of discs be a regular change at the same time as pads. Even my pads did`nt need changing at less than 20,000 miles.

AdrianC

Just looking on Mister-Auto at parts prices...

Front pads - £50 TRW/Ferodo or £20 cheap/nasty.
Front discs - £90-100 Bosch (pair)
Rear pads - £48 TRW, £35 Ferodo, £12 cheap/nasty
Rear discs - £70 TRW

So parts prices are £100 for pads - leaving £250 labour.
£170 for discs - leaving £230 for labour.

What's his hourly rate?