Brake Backplates - Replacement Estimate

LeafGreen

My Toyota Yaris has been making some intermittent noises recently so I asked the garage to investigate while it was being serviced recently.

They have said fairly conclusively that the issue is corroded front backplates (both sides), requiring replacement.  Apparently this would also involve replacing wheel bearings.

They are quoting around £550 in total for this - which is mostly labour (5 hours), with parts being around £165.

Does this time estimate sound reasonable?  I don't suppose the hourly rate is going to be much cheaper even if I shop around but at 5 hours it quickly adds up!  I don't have any reason to think that 5 hours is unreasonable - I consider the garage trustworthy - but I would just like to reassure myself before I book it in.

Thanks All :-)

tacpot12

If the problem is the backplates, then the wheel bearings don't need replacing. If the wheel bearings need doing, and they might, then replacing the corroded back plates at the same time is a sensible option. 

The backplates cost around £50 each, and the wheel bearings about £100 each. So the quote is fair to do the work IF the work needs doing. If you want to check whether the wheel bearings actually need doing you will need to jack the car up (the jack for changing the spare tyre is fine for this particular job) and you will need to try rocking the front wheel at each side and at the top and the bottom - if it rocks, the wheel bearings have gone. There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing you what a failed wheel bearing looks like when you try to rock the wheel. 

[Deleted User]

The hub bearing can fail without inducing play, roughness for example.

Grey_Critic

How old is the vehicle and when did it have an MOT? They would check for play in the bearings at that time.

[Deleted User]

Grey_Critic said:

How old is the vehicle and when did it have an MOT? They would check for play in the bearings at that time.

They did, then issued a pass certificate.

Bigwheels1111

I’ve had 3 cars where the back plates rusted. I twisted them off and never replaced them.
Wheel bearings make rumbling noise if that help.
Also in 33 years of driving I’ve only ever had 1 rear bearing go.

LeafGreen

Thanks everyone.

The noise sounds a bit like gravel being flicked up onto the bottom of the car, it’s intermittent and I generally only hear it when doing 50-70mph

Car is getting on a bit and I am conscious of that - it’s a 2010, I have considered ditching it for something else but the price of a replacement in the current market puts me off, given that I don’t do many miles.  The tyres need replacement too which will add further to the cost, but it’s otherwise in very good condition, low miles (45k), I’ve owned it for 9 years so know the history.  I’m hoping to get another 2, maybe 3, years out of it.

MOT was November with no issues.

Bigwheels1111

Get a second opinion, and go from there.
Have you looked behind the wheels at the back plates ?.
The 3 I had go were over 10 years old and brought from near the sea side.
Most of my cars had 100k on them when I got them.
But not changed and backplates in 25 years, and 30 years for a wheel bearing.

sheslookinhot

Backplates don’t need to be replaced. They could be replaced if other work was being done, re bearings , discs etc

grandadgolfer

Which garage did you ask .....local garage or one of the big boys.....Halfrauds / Kwik 5h1t 

donemedosh

5 hours work to replace both backplates is about right. But why are they replacing the wheel bearings as the hub being removed is going back on & you can use the old one's with no safety issues. I have only once reqiured new wheel bearings (on one wheel) and you know when they go wrong. Get second opinion