Please advise if there are any options here.

mystika121

I had a problem with my brakes and dropped the car into the nearest tyre, brakes, exhausts and servicing centre.

The mechanic said he would call me with a price. He phoned to say it would cost €190 to fix which was to replace the discs and pads. I agreed the price and asked him to go ahead with the work.

He phoned back to say the car was ready but there was a problem and could I call back down to the garage.

When I got there he said that when he replaced the pads and discs and when he went to move the car there was no brakes at all. When he checked under the bonnet, there was no brake fluid. He then checked the back brakes and found that there is a leak which is letting brake fluid out and air in. He said that he will have to phone me with a price to replace the drums, seals etc.

He called back to say it was €610 to fix but that they would knock €100 of the cost which would be doing the work at trade prices.

The car is a 97 fiesta and not worth that to fix. I now have a car that I can't drive and I'm down €190.

I called back down to them to say that I wasn't happy and if I knew the total cost then I wouldn't have got the pads and discs replaced. He just threw his hands in the air and said that if he had seen the back brakes then he wouldn't have touched the front ones.

Is there anything I can do about this situation?

Big Nasty

If they had diagnosed the full problems properly you wouldn't have spent the money as you say. Unfortunately these things can be a process of elimination and the rear issue only became apparent after the first job was done. Assuming you're not going to pay the €510 you could pay the original bill and scrap it or ask them to keep the car and let them break it themselves.

What exactly is wrong that it's gonna cost that much to fix? Sounds worse than just a leak.

mystika121

Thanks for the reply. He said that there is air in the braking system and the fluid is leaking out. He showed me the fluid on the brake drum and a sample seal which is in the drum.

I paid the €190 and brought the car home. He said that the rear brakes could give up completely at any time.

The Muppet

Get a new mechanic. You'll get that fixed for a fraction of what you have been quoted .

The cylinders shouldn't be any more than €25 each , the kit to fix both your existing cylinders is a fiver on e bay.

biko

Indeed, another mechanic can probably fix it for less than half that, depending on parts needed etc.

mathepac

As above plus a tin of brake fluid, a spanner, a lad with a heavy foot and bingo, seals replaced, brakes bled and off she floats for maybe 75 squids tops.

mickdw

I obviously don't know the full facts but if you were having issues with brakes such as air in the system continually, simply changing discs and pads was never going to be a solution. Sounds like shoddy practice from the garage. Did you even need discs and pads?
The price for the rear brake repair is a joke.

mystika121

Thanks a million for the replies. He frightened the life out of me with the cost.

I was looking at scrapping the car.

mystika121

mickdw wrote: »

I obviously don't know the full facts but if you were having issues with brakes such as air in the system continually, simply changing discs and pads was never going to be a solution. Sounds like shoddy practice from the garage. Did you even need discs and pads?
The price for the rear brake repair is a joke.

Thanks for the reply Mick. I don't know anything about how the brakes work. They were working perfectly until this morning.

When I called in I just told the mechanic that I needed them fixed. He did say that he measured the brake disc and it was 8mm and that the legal limit is 10mm.

Nissan doctor

mystika121 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Mick. I don't know anything about how the brakes work. They were working perfectly until this morning.

When I called in I just told the mechanic that I needed them fixed. He did say that he measured the brake disc and it was 8mm and that the legal limit is 10mm.

The disks may have been worn, but if a customer presents a car with brake problems...you check the whole brake system before committing to any repair, especially on an 18 year old car. Making assumptions on something like brakes is not really a runner.

This is all without wondering why a mechanic with any experience would not be checking the rear brakes on a fiesta of that era anyway as leaking rear cylinders and perished brake hoses are a given on these cars unless they've been replaced already.

The price is high alright but its likely that he is quoting for rear hoses, shoes, drums, cylinders and possibly fitting kits as well so people mentioning repair kits for a 5er on ebay is not a comparable repair.

Wheelnut

What was wrong originally that caused you to bring in the car?

colm_mcm

Any time I even replace pads I check the brake fluid level first, is that not just common sense?

The Muppet

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The price is high alright but its likely that he is quoting for rear hoses, shoes, drums, cylinders and possibly fitting kits as well so people mentioning repair kits for a 5er on ebay is not a comparable repair.

It's still too high even if the complete rear braking system was replaced assuming thats what was quoted for.

Theres no mention of anything other that a leaking cylinder in the ops post, its unlikely that the complete system would need to be replaced.

the culture of deference

The Muppet wrote: »

It's still too high even if the complete rear braking system was replaced assuming thats what was quoted for.

Theres no mention of anything other that a leaking cylinder in the ops post, its unlikely that the complete system would need to be replaced.

Sounds like a rip off.

The rear cylinders do go in drum brakes. Leads to no pressure and fluid leaks out. Usually the drum shoes are still intact because they are unused. You only need to replace the cylinder and burn off excess fluid. Simple job for a mechanic.

OP Where are you, maybe you can warn others away from this con man

Nissan doctor

The Muppet wrote: »

It's still too high even if the complete rear braking system was replaced assuming thats what was quoted for.

Theres no mention of anything other that a leaking cylinder in the ops post, its unlikely that the complete system would need to be replaced.

the culture of deference wrote: »

Sounds like a rip off.

The rear cylinders do go in drum brakes. Leads to no pressure and fluid leaks out. Usually the drum shoes are still intact because they are unused. You only need to replace the cylinder and burn off excess fluid. Simple job for a mechanic.

OP Where are you, maybe you can warn others away from this con man

If the cylinders have leaked fluid onto the shoes, then the shoes have to be replaced as the lining is contaminated and can't work properly. The only situation where the cylinders alone can be changed is when the leak is very slight and has been contained within the rubber dust cover of the cylinder.

Brake drums also wear in exactly the same way that disks do and so on a 1997 car, would very likely be worn beyond spec.

As I said, the price is still too high, but people saying that all that needs to be changed are the rear cylinders are not trained and not suggesting a proper repair for the most important system on a car.

mystika121

Thanks so much for all the replies.

The problem I had was that I had to press the brake pedal almost to the floor to get the car to stop. The brakes were working fine until yesterday morning. The place I brought the car to didn't ask for any details. They just said that they would check it out and call me with a price.

It was one of those centres that do brakes, servicing and tyres. There is a chain of them around Dublin and I brought the car to them as it was the only place open at 8:00 am. I don't think I can name them here.

I feel ripped off as it feels that they put discs and pads on the car knowing that it wasn't fixing the problem. I think they knew if they told me the full price €615 + €190 I wouldn't have taken the car out without them making any money. With what they did they still made €190. I don't think there is anything I can do about this.

A relative spoke to a mechanic and he was appalled that they did this but not surprised as he has had numerous reports about this particular chain. His opinion is that they don't expect repeat business so that anyone that needs work done is charged the absolute maximum that they can squeeze out of the customer as this chain have daily targets to meet. He will take a look at the car for me at the weekend.

I believe that it will be expensive to fix and that they just saw the opportunity to make a quick buck while still leaving me with the same problem.

Nissan doctor

Well I don't know what chain it is(in fact I shudder to think which one it might be:rolleyes:) but the pedal going to the floor only indicates one issue with brakes and that's a leak, and like I said, on a Fiesta, there are obvious common places to look first. Replacement pads and disks where never going to fix a sinking pedal.:rolleyes:

If you went to them, and told them that your problem was the brake pedal going to the floor, then I would complain to the management.

mystika121

Thanks Nissan doctor for the reply.

I just said to the mechanic that the brakes needed fixing. He didn't ask for any info just said to leave it with him and he would call with the price.

I think he would have moved the car before doing any work so he would have experienced the extend of the problem before beginning to replace the pads and discs.

If I went back to complain again I doubt I would get any further. The manager was with the mechanic when I complained. They had agreed to take €100 of the final bill if I went ahead with the additional work. That seemed to be the only concession they were willing to make. The pads and discs are on the car so I suppose I am paying them for work they did so I can't see if I can get any refund. Should I have handled the situation differently when I went back to collect it?

Nissan doctor

mystika121 wrote: »

Thanks Nissan doctor for the reply.

I just said to the mechanic that the brakes needed fixing. He didn't ask for any info just said to leave it with him and he would call with the price.

I think he would have moved the car before doing any work so he would have experienced the extend of the problem before beginning to replace the pads and discs.

If I went back to complain again I doubt I would get any further. The manager was with the mechanic when I complained. They had agreed to take €100 of the final bill if I went ahead with the additional work. That seemed to be the only concession they were willing to make. The pads and discs are on the car so I suppose I am paying them for work they did so I can't see if I can get any refund. Should I have handled the situation differently when I went back to collect it?

Well its always more helpful to describe the exact problem your having, but in the absence of info, any mechanic should check the car(drive and full inspection) and hear/feel/see any issues for himself. If he was competent and felt the problem then he would have been led straight to the cause.

The Muppet

Nissan doctor wrote: »

As I said, the price is still too high, but people saying that all that needs to be changed are the rear cylinders are not trained and not suggesting a proper repair for the most important system on a car.

I didn't suggest that all that needed to be done was the rear cylinders, how could anyone know this without inspecting the car? I gave an indication of the cost of new cylinders or replacement seals to indicate why i though the quote was to high, thats all. Fiesta parts are cheap and the braking system is very easy to work on, I've done them myself and I'm no mechanic.

€800 for repairing a Fiesta braking system is scandalous irrespective of the parts required.

mystika121

Thanks again for the replies.

A mechanic is going to take a look at the car over the weekend. I will post up the details of his estimate when I get it.

mystika121

Just back from the garage.

The real mechanic said it will cost €130 to fix!

That's for new cylinders, shoes and labour. I can't belive how the other rip off merchants can get away with this!

Some difference from €615 with their great 'trade discount' of €100.

I phoned the first place back to discuss their quote and was told that the chap who worked on the car had left and that all quotes for work were deleted from their system at the end of the day - nice.

Sugarlumps

Jaysus that's disgraceful behaviour from those clowns you initially went to, fooking scandalous carry on.