Full Brake Check 51 Quid - Good Deal?

pennypincher3562

Hi

I phone a garage that normally has a reputation as being expensive, and asked if they could do a full brake inspection. From memory they mentioned this check would include:

- taking off wheels
- checking discs for wear
- checking efficiencies
- using their MOT tester to conduct tests
- checking fluid levels

There may be more than the above, but I can't remember. They said it would take them about 1 hour in total.

I managed to haggle down the price sufficiently.

Does an extensive break test for £51, sound like an ok deal?

Thanks.

agrinnall

It's just labour, so if you think £51 an hour is reasonable then it's an OK deal. I'm pretty sure you could find both cheaper and more expensive, but if you're happy with the reputation of the garage then it's up to you whether to go with it or not. You could try getting a couple more quotes to see how that rate compares in your part of the country.

foxy-stoat

Or just take it for an MOT test and pay less, you can check your fluid yourself ...at least you wont get pressured into paying for unnecessary work.


They don't take your wheels off but you do not need to.

pennypincher3562

agrinnall wrote: »

It's just labour, so if you think £51 an hour is reasonable then it's an OK deal. I'm pretty sure you could find both cheaper and more expensive, but if you're happy with the reputation of the garage then it's up to you whether to go with it or not. You could try getting a couple more quotes to see how that rate compares in your part of the country.

I'm sure I could find cheaper at some garages I've been to in past, but rightly or wrongly I just don't trust them.

pennypincher3562

foxy-stoat wrote: »

Or just take it for an MOT test and pay less, you can check your fluid yourself ...at least you wont get pressured into paying for unnecessary work.


They don't take your wheels off but you do not need to.

The car was MOT'd in November. It could be my imagination but the brakes just don't seem 'right' on the odd occasion, hence the current inspection.

foxy-stoat

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

The car was MOT'd in November. It could be my imagination but the brakes just don't seem 'right' on the odd occasion, hence the current inspection.

Take it to a local trusted garage, not quikfault or halfrauds - ask them to check them out and quote for the repair, as you don't think they are right. The check will be free.


Whats wrong with them? When was the last time they where changed or fluid changed?


You should be able to drive at 60, with nothing behind you, take your hands off the wheel or lightly grip it and stamp on the brake pedal and it should brake evenly, not pull to the left or right, not make any dodgy noises. Do this on an open road with nothing about, not raining etc.


To give them a harder time do a few 60 to 10 mph stops (if you have a few roundabouts on dual carriage ways this is ideal) then do an emergency stop, if you have any fade then the disks and or pads may need changing. Something the MOT tester cannot do on their rollers, get the brakes hotter than normal.

Good lucks

pappa_golf

fluid level (s)?

Strider590

Well it's not bad for an hours labour, but i'd do it myself for nothing.

System

foxy-stoat wrote: »

Or just take it for an MOT test and pay less, you can check your fluid yourself ...at least you wont get pressured into paying for unnecessary work.
They don't take your wheels off but you do not need to.

You can't tell how good fluid is just by looking at it.

Yes actually you do need to take the wheels off, especially if the car has drums on the rear because it isn't always possible to see the inside pads or shoes if it has drums. Going back a few years to the Vauxhall Cavalier it was common for it to pass a MOT on the handbrake but the shoes be completely worn down to metal. Even though it had discs on the rear it was a disc/drum combo with a drum brake like set up for the handbrake. Unless you took the wheels off and whipped the disc off you couldn't see how worn the park brake shoes were.

pennypincher3562

foxy-stoat wrote: »

Take it to a local trusted garage, not quikfault or halfrauds - ask them to check them out and quote for the repair, as you don't think they are right. The check will be free.


Whats wrong with them? When was the last time they where changed or fluid changed?

What's wrong with brakes? It's very subtle, and possibly even my imagination. Before and after the MOT, I've braked at a junction to experience 'poor braking,' the pedal offering little resistance, and what I felt was a 'subtle grinding sensation.'

Of course the subtle grinding sensation would suggest badly worn brake pads, but I have to say it's extremely intermittent (a few times in a year,) plus it passed MOT in November.

Anyway, I've avoided booking it in to any of the 'High Street Chains' for an inspection. I phoned a garage that normally deals with high end cars (mine is towards the mid-lower end of the spectrum.) The garage has good reviews, and are independent.

They have offered to initially inspect the brakes for free, and take it from there.

:T

liltzero

Bargain! I'd happily pay that to ensure my brakes are fully functional and that my family are safe in my car. Why risk it?