Advice

hedgey17

Hi I'm looking for some advice. I have a 2010 1.4 Vauxhall Astra, I use it about 3 or 4 times a week doing about 15 - 20 miles a time. It had an MOT and Full service end of august at Halfords Auto centre and had new brake pads and discs fitted. I took it to a garage today to get the tyre changed, the mechanic noticed that the hub (I think that's what it's called) was not moving when the handbrake was off he recommended I take the car back to halfords who fitted the brakes asap. I went back to Halfords and after only a few minutes (less than 5) was told there was nothing wrong with them and because I wasn't using the car everyday they may have ceased but driving it today could of un ceased them (don't believe that) I took it back to the 1st garage who noticed the problem and they re checked and said the problem is still there and told me to have the calipers checked at Halfords, because I've got 'brakes for life' with Halfords the other garage can't do anything or it would be void. Should halfords noticed this when it was Mot'd and serviced 5 weeks ago? Checking the calipers and breaking system is included in the service I want to know if it's worthwhile going back to halfords to get sorted or forget about the 'brakes for life' and go back to the other garage? I don't know much about cars so I'd appreciate any advice anybody can give.

foxy-stoat

If the hub isn't moving when the handbrake was off them the wheel wouldn't spin.  You sure they meant when the handbrake is on it doesnt lock the wheels?

hedgey17

I'm not sure if he said on or off, he just said that normally it should spin freely, which also explained the traction control warning light coming on and off and the droning noise when I reverse. Never had any of these problems until Halfords did the mot and service and fitted the new discs and pads.

foxy-stoat

hedgey17 said:

Never had any of these problems until Halfords did the mot and service and fitted the new discs and pads.

Thats where you went wrong.   Get your trusted garage to sort it and forget you ever went to Halfords.

tacpot12

"Brakes for life" is basically a marketing gimmick, but such gimmick can work to your advantage some of the time. Halfords shouldn't charge you if there is a fault with their work - and I would definitely push them to accept that it is fault with their work - no other work has been done on that wheel I take it?

foxy-stoat

I wouldn't trust them to fix a fault with my car, let alone fix a fault caused by them. 

hedgey17

I reluctantly rang Halfords customer service after being advised to by the AA I'm booked in tomorrow at a different halfords autocentre for it to be checked out, if it is their error then there will be no charge, but I'm sure they will find a way to say it's not their fault. Apparently my complaint has been "escalated to the senior claim team" whatever that means. I am not bothered about the brakes for life as it only covers pads but they catch you out because all other brake work has to be carried out with them, which can be more expensive than going to a smaller garage. I just need to prove now that they're was nothing wrong with my brakes before they did the MOT and service. Thanks for the advice