Brakes need replacing after 5k miles?!

little_pup

Hi everyone,

I bought my car last June from Arnold Clark. It’s a 14 plate Ford Fiesta. I’ve just had the annual service and MOT done, the car has passed the MOT however a number of problems have been detected by the service.

I’ve been told the exhaust flex pipe (not sure if I heard the name right) is broken and the cost to repair is £720. The comment on the report is “Flexi snapped on cat”.
It might be covered under the Autocare plan (insurance for up to £3000 of unexpected faults). Also I’m sure if it’s not covered it’ll be a lot cheaper at a local garage to sort.
I was hit from behind at a traffic light recently so also looking into whether that caused this pipe to break but they said it’s unlikely to be related.

The main thing which concerns me is that my brake discs and pads need replacing on the front wheels! They told me new discs and pads were put in last April, and the car has only done 5k miles since! I drive every day and it’s start-stop driving as I’m in the city so although I don’t drive far I’m still driving for at least an hour each day in total.
The report said the front pads are approx 5% worn and the front discs are “heavily corroded”.

They told me maybe it’s because I don’t drive enough so the parts have become corroded but this doesn’t sound right to me.
Surely the parts should last longer than 5000 miles?

I know absolutely nothing about cars but I’m really shocked at the amount of advisories on the vehicle health check and the cost to fix! There other comments were rear axl bushes worn, air con needs servicing, brake fluid needs changing. I’ll be getting a full list of faults and estimates for costs tomorrow but if anyone could give me advice so I don’t get mugged off that would be fab.

I’m really worried about paying for these repairs, also my insurance is up for renewal soon and my premium has gone up as a result of the recent accident even though I wasn’t at fault (the joys). The bus is starting to look more appealing!

couriervanman

Well firstly when you were hit from behind did you/report it/get other drivers details etc because its a fair chance the exhaust pipe will have taken a knock so did you get it repaired on insurance

little_pup

Yeah I took their details (incident happened at Christmas) and my car was repaired this week.
I was stationary at a traffic light and the other driver drove into the back of my car, not a massive impact but cracked the panel on the back of my car by and dented the beam underneath (both replaced by the repair garage). My insurance arranged the repairs but it was a no fault claim for me as the other driver admitted responsibility.

The repair garage never said anything about the pipe but maybe it wasn’t something they checked. The person I spoke to at Arnold Clark said it’s unlikely to be related and said the pipe just snaps randomly.

daveyjp

Leave new disks outside for a year and they will become pitted after zero miles as they do rust.

Our Aygo had cheap brakes which were very badly corroded after 3 years and 12 thousand miles due to too many city miles, the brakes never got hot. However doing similar miles the A class had no brake issues whatsoever. Aygo: Cheap car, cheap components.

Whilst you haven't said, if this was an Arnold Shark service I wouldn't believe them if they said it was raining outside without checking, you should do the same with your brakes. Its easy money for them.

Aircon, just keep it switched on all the time. If its giving cold air leave it. Brake fluid yes if it hasn't been done in a couple of years, but no more than £30 for a change.

little_pup

Yeah it’s an Arnold Clark service, I bought a service plan with the car. I’ll be taking the car to a local garage which a few people have recommended and getting a second opinion.

Arnold Clark quoted my boyfriend £114 to examine his car after it broke down outside their garage then quoted £1100 for a repair which this garage did for about £300. I’ve heard loads of bad things about AC and their overinflated prices.

Nobbie1967

Sounds like they're trying to mug you off for a few quid. If the front discs were badly corroded I would have expected the MOT to mention it, same with axle bushes. Air con service is usually just a money maker for garages. If it works, there's no need for a service. Brake fluid might need changing, check the service book for when it was last done and the service schedule for how often.

System

little_pup wrote: »

The report said the front pads are approx 5% worn and the front discs are “heavily corroded”.

First of all I'm not quite sure how it can pass a MOT with a cracked flexi pipe. You'd hear it too, either a loud noise when the car is running or a pfft pfft sound, If it is nice and quiet then given it has passed a MOT it is likely OK. Same with the discs.

Ask them for the actual thickness in millimetres, not some vague guess at a percentage that tells you diddly squat. If it is 3mm then you need to change them at some point before the next service, 2mm or less they want to be done now really. Above that they're fine. As for the corrosion its an old trick to con people into paying for stuff they don't need. Often it is a ridge of dirt that builds up on the outer edge of the disc and sets rock hard becoming a rusty colour. Once upon a time during a service a mechanic would get a hammer and chip it off but nowadays they use it as a way to con people into a brake disc job. Look at the brake discs when you've been out for a drive, do they look nice and shiny on the round flat surfaces? If so then they're not corroded.

Personally I'd go into Arnold Clarkes, go straight to the service desk, ask to see the service manager and ask why that given that the exhaust, brake discs and rear axle bushes are testable in a MOT then surely if they were as bad as they're claiming they'd have failed the MOT or had an advisory. I'd then say to them directly to their face that given it passed its MOT then either the claims they're making that they need doing are wrong and they're trying to pull a fast one or the MOT THAT THEY DID must be dodgy if the exhaust is split, brake discs are corroded to the point of needing changing and rear axle bushes are worn and maybe you should report the garage to VOSA for doing a dodgy MOT. And then I'd stand there quietly laughing to myself watching them squirm as they try to get out of that pickle.

AdrianC

The pads are "5% worn"? So 95% unworn...?

But heavily corroded discs - the pads must have been replaced last year, but not the discs. You don't replace discs without replacing pads at the same time.

And, yes, the flexi on the exhaust is very likely to have been damaged by the impact.

"Aircon needs servicing" and "brake fluid needs changing" are both routine maintenance, time-based. The aircon is probably a bit of an upsell - but brake fluid absorbs water from the atmosphere, and corrodes the system from the inside, as well as increasing the risk of brake failure (through premature boiling of the fluid) if the car gets used hard.

MOT should have picked up the exhaust flexi and the bushes, though. If it passed without any advisories, then they're just fine and you're getting advance warning. If it passed with advisories, then they're on the right side of borderline.

little_pup

Thanks for the advice everyone - I will update when I’ve been to get the car this afternoon.
I paid for an annual service so scratching my head as to what I’ve actually paid for? I would assume my annual service included routine stuff like brake fluid and air con servicing :S I need to check the documents.

AdrianC

little_pup wrote: »

I paid for an annual service so scratching my head as to what I’ve actually paid for? I would assume my annual service included routine stuff like brake fluid and air con servicing :S I need to check the documents.

"Annual service" could be as little as changing the oil and filter.

On its own, it's a fairly meaningless term.

Mercdriver

It all depends on which service it is. Most cars have a service A and a service B. One is usually more expensive than the other as it involves more checks and more fluids need changing.