Squealing brakes.

[Issi]

Just after a bit of advice.

Brakes on my Citroen (I Know!!), started to squeal, so took it into local Citroen and they inspected it, informed me that the pads need refacing, carried this out which cost me £90.

1 day later, the squealing started again, took it back and they stated that it was now the discs that need doing, I kicked up a bit of a fuss because of their poor initial diagnosis and they subsequently reduced the price from £125 to £80.

2 days later, squealing is back and worse than ever, and also it sounds like there's a slight noise when not braking.

Can I just live with the noise?, I'm a bit loath to take it back for the third time, only for them to discover 'another' problem and charge me again.
So far I feel like I've just wasted £170 for nothing!

any thoughts?

[djdestiny]

You could of fitted brand new discs and pads for that sort of money!!!

[Classic Grad 98]

Properly fitted pads and discs, with anti-rattle springs fitted and coppaslip on the back of the pads have never given me any squeal. You've been shafted.

[PhillipM]

Classic Grad 98 said:

Properly fitted pads and discs, with anti-rattle springs fitted and coppaslip on the back of the pads have never given me any squeal. You've been shafted.

This.

You could have had brand new discs and pads for that cash.

[Mastodon2]

Sounds like OP has been shafted. I've got a bit of squeal in the rear passenger side brake on my CTR, which only appears under very light braking loads but it is annoying. I'll be taking the wheels off, checking the pads have some life left in them, cleaning the calipers and putting a bit of copper grease on etc, which should sort it.

Unless I had no mechanical knowledge at all, I'd do a little bit of investigation myself before heading to a garage, let alone a main dealer.

[A.C.E]

is it a c4?

if it is, its a known fault that the brakes (for some reason) bind causing a squeal, new pads should of sorted it unless you have a warped disc which the garage should of picked up on.
also, if it is a c4,another known fault is the windscreen unbonding itself from the plastic scuttle leaving a humungous gap to let water in your fuses and abs ecu.

you can't beat the french on knowing how NOT to build a car properly.

[Issi]

Thanks again for the replies, it's a Xsara Picasso on a 05 plate, I just wish I'd never bloody bothered now.

I would have attempted to do it myself, after doing the same on previous Fords, but I was a bit worried that I would take the brakes to pieces and then myself missing some bizarre french tool.

Might try taking the wheels off and having a look, don't really want to take it back to the garage yet.

[Janosh]

Classic Grad 98 said:

Properly fitted pads and discs, with anti-rattle springs fitted and coppaslip on the back of the pads have never given me any squeal. You've been shafted.

+1 I'm afraid

I wouldn't be going back to that garage any time soon!

[AngryPartsBloke]

If i was you i would go back and go bloody mental in the middle of the service dept. Refacing pads? Not even checking the Discs? Thats all basic things. They have shafted you and if you kick up a fuss you will get a refund and the problem fixed for free. just dont leave untill they do.

[Issi]

A big thank you to APB, for recommending that I complain to the garage.

Just phoned them and explained the situation and they have agreed to take the car in tomorrow and rectify the problem 'free of charge'

Result!

Cheers all for your helpful advice.
Si

[AngryPartsBloke]

Glad you got a good result OP! Im sure it was just a mistake on thier part but it always good to call them on it, all but the worse garages will do the right thing given the chance as long as you let them know.