Brake Pads - Repair cost?

donegalgirl28

Was driving last night and approaching a traffic light junction which was red and when I went to brake, it went from under me (no resistance) so I managed to pull on the handbrake and stop in time before any collision with the car in front.

Got the insurance to pick my car up and bring it back home. The guy said that it's a possible problem with the rear brake pads (shoes) on the right side or the front brake pad has fallen off. I told him that I got my front brake pads replaced last July/August (have only driven about 6,000 km since then) which I paid €180 for.

So I dunno if I wanna go back to the garage that replaced my front ones cos I think I was overcharged and if the front ones have fallen off, then it shouldn't have.

How much do you think it would cost if I had to get the rear and front ones replaced?

sean1141

What make and model/year?

donegalgirl28

sean1141 wrote: »

What make and model/year?

Ford focus Hatchback 99.

tcawley29

Check the brake fluid. It may need topping up. 180 euro sounds a bit steep for front brake pads. I got two rear brake pads last month for 60 euro, which included fitting by a local mechanic.

Glencarraig

I won a "free service" from a local Ford dealer. Brought my 07 Focus in and they did an oil and filter change.......that was the free service!. but of course they did a 38 "point safety check" and when I went to collect the car yer man reads off the list of things that need to be done......

Front brake pads 80% worn their charge to supply and fit........€219

Brake fluid needs to be replaced, cost....................................€ 48

Pollen filter to be replaced, cost..............................................€42

Needless to say I didnt go back to get these jobs done,what a total rip off. I got a well trusted lcal mechanic to do the jobs for me........parts cost €71........labour €69........total €140.00

dzer2

Front pads 30 euro back shoes 40 euro fitting 100 euro should change the fluid but if the brakes just went you might have burst a pipe as the car is 14 yrs old. with a car that age you might have needed to change the brake discs as well as the pads.

mickdw

Glencarraig wrote: »

I won a "free service" from a local Ford dealer. Brought my 07 Focus in and they did an oil and filter change.......that was the free service!. but of course they did a 38 "point safety check" and when I went to collect the car yer man reads off the list of things that need to be done......

Front brake pads 80% worn their charge to supply and fit........€219

Brake fluid needs to be replaced, cost....................................€ 48

Pollen filter to be replaced, cost..............................................€42

Needless to say I didnt go back to get these jobs done,what a total rip off. I got a well trusted lcal mechanic to do the jobs for me........parts cost €71........labour €69........total €140.00

You got the free service and you got what Im sure was a thorough check over as part of the service. The service was never going to be a free fix all. It is to be expected that they would try to get some cash out of you and Im assuming they brake wear was a genuine assessment of the condition so you got a good service and were not bound to use them for the follow up work. No issues there IMO.
I will agree that they were taking the piss with the quote of 219 for front pads

donegalgirl28

dzer2 wrote: »

Front pads 30 euro back shoes 40 euro fitting 100 euro should change the fluid but if the brakes just went you might have burst a pipe as the car is 14 yrs old. with a car that age you might have needed to change the brake discs as well as the pads.

How much would the total cost be?

If anyone knows of a local mechanic/garage based in North City Dublin, PM me thanks.

McP2011

Could be the master cylinder, they are around 80-100 plus fitting.

Also that was a serious price for fitting pads, 80 quid would be about right including the focus front pads.

mhigh86

front pads dont fall out and you stopped using back brakes, i bet all ur pads are fine, probably have a leak and master cylinder ran dry. 180 is robbery. go to local independent garage.

donegalgirl28

It was a local independent garage! One that was recommended on here before.

TheBody

Front passenger brake pad fell out of my ford focus last year while I was driving to Monaghan. Cost me €80 to get the front pads replaced in an indy garage. (Also had to replace my underpants!! :pac:)

The Pontiac

€180 for a pair of front break pads is scandalous. I've a bill here from 2011, for front brakes on a 2000 Focus (previous car).

Set of Brake Bads (Front) €30.83 inc. vat

Not sure what the labour cost was as I got a few more jobs done at the same time. But it'd be an hour max. My mechanic charges €35 per hour. So that would be €70 inc, vat for the complete job.

Are you sure this figure (€180) didn't include a set of discs as well? My discs were €47.58. But a lot of the time discs would not be required.

Check your bill, and consider looking for a new mechanic.

The Pontiac

TheBody wrote: »

Front passenger brake pad fell out of my ford focus last year while I was driving to Monaghan. Cost me €80 to get the front pads replaced in an indy garage. (Also had to replace my underpants!! :pac:)

Almost the same cost as mine in 2011 (see above post). €180 is crazy!