Brakes

llcoolc

Hi all,

Just a quick Q re the brakes on my car. I brought it in for a free Vehicle Health Check the car is due the NCT so I thought why not! Anyway, basically they said that there is a crack or something in one of my brake pads that may cause the brakes to fail at any time and that I need new brake pads & discs. :eek: To be honest I'm a bit dubious about it all. How can I tell if I look it myself (or get a friend to) if the brake pad is cracked or loose, would I need someone to physically remove the tyre and brake pads discs, etc to look at this and would a vehicle check check pick this up usually? Also do the NCT physically look at your brakes or is it just like a test re strength of brake and would they pick up a crack on a pad or if the pad was loose? Apologies in advance - I have no clue about cars!

Al Capwned

Personally if there is any issue with the brakes, I'd be getting someone to investigate it.
Not a big job to fit new discs and/or pads.

Anan1

Who did this test? I'd bring the car back and ask them to show you exactly what the problem is.

sebastianlieken

Cracked pad so you need new discs all round aswell? lol - okay then.

how about, cracked pad and you need new pads all around?

What car is it?
How many miles are on it?
If you look at the brake discs, do you see a considerable lip around the edge?

This is a lip. A lip is okay, to a certain extent. If you can put a euro coin on the flat bit and it's just barley flush with the raised part of the lip though, it's probably a bit too much and would warrant disc replacments.

llcoolc

sebastianlieken wrote: »

Cracked pad so you need new discs all round aswell? lol - okay then.

What car is it?
How many miles are on it?

Its a Focus, 80k on it. I'll have a look for the lip thanks. I have the NCT booked for next week so was thinking of just putting it in - would they pick up on something like a cracked pad? I obviously don't want to be driving the car if the brakes are unsafe. Does a cracked pad make the car unsafe? Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to get ripped off but want to make sure its safe to drive and was thinking that the NCT would set my mind at ease.

visual

Nct only check some things and may not pick up on it but you should really have breaks checked by a garage you trust.
Its not a big job so ask around to find a good garage.

sebastianlieken

yeah brakes arn't something i'd skimp on.

Just think how regularly you come to a stop in traffic behind cars. All your brakes dont have to suddenly stop working, but say if they even one of them does - your stopping distance is greatly increased and you may well end up rear ending somebody.

Much cheaper and less hastle to get your brakes serviced by a garage you can trust as "visual" said.

That said, a cracked brake pad doesn't neccesarily mean you need new discs all round. 80,000 kilometers (?) on the other hand is a bit of mileage though and it is possible that you do... Garage you can trust. Ask the mechanic questions. challenge their judgment. Ask why - be curious.

com1

llcoolc wrote: »

Its a Focus, 80k on it. I'll have a look for the lip thanks. I have the NCT booked for next week so was thinking of just putting it in - would they pick up on something like a cracked pad? I obviously don't want to be driving the car if the brakes are unsafe. Does a cracked pad make the car unsafe? Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to get ripped off but want to make sure its safe to drive and was thinking that the NCT would set my mind at ease.

Be careful when you are "Having a look" at the disks - they can get very hot after use (i.e. dont hop out of the car after a drive and have a quick feel for the lip on the disk - you will probably leave some sizzling finger prints behind...)

biko

Many of those places will try to flog you on pads and discs when it's not really necessary.
That said, take car to another garage and let them have a look, it'll probably not cost anything to just have it checked.

llcoolc

com1 wrote: »

Be careful when you are "Having a look" at the disks - they can get very hot after use (i.e. dont hop out of the car after a drive and have a quick feel for the lip on the disk - you will probably leave some sizzling finger prints behind...)

Ouch!! That sounds totally like something I would do! Thanks for the tip!

"Ask the mechanic questions. challenge their judgment. Ask why - be curious"

Yeah, I really want to know why all new pads & disc necessary, i'm just a little unsure of the lingo & proper questions to ask- there was mention of the disc becoming damaged by the pad being loose? Can that happen? Sorry I know this all sounds very vague! Gosh, I wish I wrote it down when I was speaking to the guy on the phone yesterday evening. I don't know the garage at all, I'm new to the area so am just being overly cautious I suppose - don't want to be ripped off but don't want to seem like a complete pest either to the garage!!

Ronnie Beck

llcoolc wrote: »

Ouch!! That sounds totally like something I would do! Thanks for the tip!

"Ask the mechanic questions. challenge their judgment. Ask why - be curious"

Yeah, I really want to know why all new pads & disc necessary, i'm just a little unsure of the lingo & proper questions to ask- there was mention of the disc becoming damaged by the pad being loose? Can that happen? Sorry I know this all sounds very vague! Gosh, I wish I wrote it down when I was speaking to the guy on the phone yesterday evening. I don't know the garage at all, I'm new to the area so am just being overly cautious I suppose - don't want to be ripped off but don't want to seem like a complete pest either to the garage!!

Go to an good independant garage and ask them to check your brakes. If he gives same explaination then you know it's true. They independant will probably be cheaper if they need changed. 150 euro or so for a new set of pads and discs I would imagine.

Where are you based? someone on here might be able to recomend you a garage.

llcoolc

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Go to an good independant garage and ask them to check your brakes. If he gives same explaination then you know it's true. They independant will probably be cheaper if they need changed. 150 euro or so for a new set of pads and discs I would imagine.

Where are you based? someone on here might be able to recomend you a garage.

Yes, I will probably end up doing that, I'll have an ask around work here to see if anyone knows a good independent place - i'm in dub city centre. I've been quoted €300 for the pads and disc?? Is that too much?

Al Capwned

llcoolc wrote: »

Yes, I will probably end up doing that, I'll have an ask around work here to see if anyone knows a good independent place - i'm in dub city centre. I've been quoted €300 for the pads and disc?? Is that too much?

For a focus, I'd imagine so yes - I got front discs and pads for my brothers Ssangyong Kyron a year or so ago. Cant remember the price tbh, but it wasn't €100, and the whole job took me a little over an hour.

Avns1s

I'm a long time around cars and I've never seen or heard of a "cracked pad". I would be cynical about the diagnosis.

But as said, don't skimp on brakes or mess with them either if you don't know what you're doing. Your life or someone elses may depend on them!!

Ronnie Beck

300 is alot. I would have thought roughly 100 for parts and 70 euro for two hours labour. Anything under 200 would be reasonable enough.

dgt

Did they physically take off the pads and have a gander? I'd be fairly suspicious about statements like that

It's the only way to see if they are

TheBully

You will buy pads for 25 quid! a mechanic will throw em in for another 25! Just get it done so you can have some piece of mind!
Its Not a big deal, Its not like the garage was taking you for a ride cos its such an easy and cheap job to do! If they wer going to rob you, it would be for more than break pads!!

mickdw

TheBully wrote: »

You will buy pads for 25 quid! a mechanic will throw em in for another 25! Just get it done so you can have some piece of mind!
Its Not a big deal, Its not like the garage was taking you for a ride cos its such an easy and cheap job to do! If they wer going to rob you, it would be for more than break pads!!

They were charging 300 though and it common as muck for some outlets to scam people into fitting new discs and pads.
I bought new front discs and pads for audi a5, genuine brand for 140. Focus should be significantly cheaper so even with labour, it should not be near 300.
Get a different garage to check.

monkeypants

If you hang around for ten minutes, the garage can show you the problem. Won't take them long to get the car up on the hoist and the wheels off.

hi5

He could have meant a cracked disc, it can happen from heat buildup.

phunkymonk

Have an issue with the brakes aswel on a 02 polo - 106miles on clock - brought for service back in Nov and said the brakes need to be 'overhauled' said would cost a few hundred, not exactly sure what he meant by that I wasnt talking to him it was my other half - any idea on how much it would cost to get fixed? planning on leaving it into a different garage in a wk or 2.