Your car needs discs and pads sir...
Discussion
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
Fronts are easy, I agree, but this was for rears with a EPB on a leased car. Not quite so straightforward!Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
Mammasaid said:
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
Fronts are easy, I agree, but this was for rears with a EPB on a leased car. Not quite so straightforward!Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
I expect for stuff a few years old there will be tools for doing this available cheaply, like Forscan, VCDS etc.
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
And the reality of changing your own barkes is it probably takes less time to diy than it does to book someone else to do it, then get your car to them and get it back again. It's a simple job, if nothing is stuck or broken.Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
I can't say I agree. Some people will drop their car off, get a courtesy car or walk to work, reverse on the way home and go home happy. Someone else is accountable if it goes wrong, they know the job is done properly, they carry on working and enjoy their weekends and don't have an immobile car at 6pm on a Sunday because they've broken something or come across an unexpected problem they can't repair. With the aptitude of most people in the UK, I wouldn't want any old Joe changing their brakes. I've met people who can't plug an HDMI cable in the right way. By the time you add up the cost of consumables, time, parts, tools and everything else, it soon becomes more expensive in the short term. Obviously, the long term savings for those who can do it are substantial. Everyone would have to decide what their time is worth. Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
RazerSauber said:
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
I can't say I agree. Some people will drop their car off, get a courtesy car or walk to work, reverse on the way home and go home happy. Someone else is accountable if it goes wrong, they know the job is done properly, they carry on working and enjoy their weekends and don't have an immobile car at 6pm on a Sunday because they've broken something or come across an unexpected problem they can't repair. With the aptitude of most people in the UK, I wouldn't want any old Joe changing their brakes. I've met people who can't plug an HDMI cable in the right way. By the time you add up the cost of consumables, time, parts, tools and everything else, it soon becomes more expensive in the short term. Obviously, the long term savings for those who can do it are substantial. Everyone would have to decide what their time is worth. Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
Tools wise, car comes with a jack, axle stands are say £30 or borrow some, most brakes only need a socket set, maybe some larger allen keys.
Like I said, it isnt for everybody but I think more could do it if they put their mind to it, saving £200 is quite compelling, and even if you bought all the tools needs from scratch would still be in pocket.
If the money doesnt matter then thats fine, but my middle sons GF took her Polo in for disks and pads, best part of £300, wish they had asked me as could have bough the bits and fitted them and saved them £300.
RazerSauber said:
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
I can't say I agree. Some people will drop their car off, get a courtesy car or walk to work, reverse on the way home and go home happy. Someone else is accountable if it goes wrong, they know the job is done properly, they carry on working and enjoy their weekends and don't have an immobile car at 6pm on a Sunday because they've broken something or come across an unexpected problem they can't repair. With the aptitude of most people in the UK, I wouldn't want any old Joe changing their brakes. I've met people who can't plug an HDMI cable in the right way. By the time you add up the cost of consumables, time, parts, tools and everything else, it soon becomes more expensive in the short term. Obviously, the long term savings for those who can do it are substantial. Everyone would have to decide what their time is worth. Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
On the other hand, I have learnt to lime plaster, and saved a lot of money because it is labour intensive to do a good job. Each to their own.
Pica-Pica said:
RazerSauber said:
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
I can't say I agree. Some people will drop their car off, get a courtesy car or walk to work, reverse on the way home and go home happy. Someone else is accountable if it goes wrong, they know the job is done properly, they carry on working and enjoy their weekends and don't have an immobile car at 6pm on a Sunday because they've broken something or come across an unexpected problem they can't repair. With the aptitude of most people in the UK, I wouldn't want any old Joe changing their brakes. I've met people who can't plug an HDMI cable in the right way. By the time you add up the cost of consumables, time, parts, tools and everything else, it soon becomes more expensive in the short term. Obviously, the long term savings for those who can do it are substantial. Everyone would have to decide what their time is worth. Local fast fit place wanted £270 to change disks and pads on my wifes car when it was in for MOT, I already had the parts, £50 and an hour of my time.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
I save a fortune, well until I stuck a big brake kit from EBC on my car a couple of weeks back of course, still, was cheaper than paying for someone else to fit it, probably £300 I reckon.
On the other hand, I have learnt to lime plaster, and saved a lot of money because it is labour intensive to do a good job. Each to their own.
With doing track days, think need to be able to do pads asap but its fair enough if someone doesn't want to, just trying to stress its actually pretty easy for those with half a brain but like you said that does rule out swathes of the public.
ARHarh said:
And the reality of changing your own barkes is it probably takes less time to diy than it does to book someone else to do it, then get your car to them and get it back again. It's a simple job, if nothing is stuck or broken.
You (as in people in general) have to know your own strengths. I can change brakes, but I’m terrible at (for example) coding. There’s probably a coding forum where people take the mick out of people who pay to have a simple website built. You’re conflating members of a car enthusiast forum with the general population, most of whom I wouldn’t let anywhere near such a critical safety part.ChevronB19 said:
ARHarh said:
And the reality of changing your own barkes is it probably takes less time to diy than it does to book someone else to do it, then get your car to them and get it back again. It's a simple job, if nothing is stuck or broken.
You (as in people in general) have to know your own strengths. I can change brakes, but I’m terrible at (for example) coding. There’s probably a coding forum where people take the mick out of people who pay to have a simple website built. You’re conflating members of a car enthusiast forum with the general population, most of whom I wouldn’t let anywhere near such a critical safety part.
Plastering as mentioned and I would pay someone to do that. But yes there are plenty of people i would not let near brakes or any part of a car.
otolith said:
I can change brake discs and pads and have done in the past, but I'm just not interested in doing it now.
Same here.I did learn the hard way changing a front disc though, when the rusty philips-head grub screw wouldn't come out and got chewed up trying. Thankfully a friend with an impact driver managed to save the day.
Back on topic, I've used the local Honda dealer for probably 15 years, know them all on first-name terms and never get any upsell - often as not the opposite "this part looks barely worn / filter looks in good condition, I'd leave it another year or two". The VW garage that my wife has been using for probably a similar amount of time has by contrast gone through more service staff than a struggling premiership football team has gone through managers. And she regularly gets upsell, although in fairness never to the point of being crooked.
J4CKO said:
The time is a moot point as it invariably involves taking it to a garage, waiting, picking it up and the money to pay for it takes time to earn. I can do pads on mine in 5 mins per corner. Wheel off, allen bolt to release pads, remove spring, remove pads, push pistons back, slot new pads in and put the spring and allen bolt back, wheel back on.
It probably took less time than that to change the pads on the Fords I grew up with. As long as you don’t flip a seal in the master cylinder while pushing the pistons back!Do you not clean the calipers, grease the sliders etc?
otolith said:
I can change brake discs and pads and have done in the past, but I'm just not interested in doing it now.
The last time I did it, a couple of months later the right front caliper fell off. Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
havoc said:
Back on topic, I've used the local Honda dealer for probably 15 years, know them all on first-name terms and never get any upsell - often as not the opposite "this part looks barely worn / filter looks in good condition, I'd leave it another year or two". The VW garage that my wife has been using for probably a similar amount of time has by contrast gone through more service staff than a struggling premiership football team has gone through managers. And she regularly gets upsell, although in fairness never to the point of being crooked.
At BMW, I always get sent the video of the ‘health check’ and it shows them measuring all the tyres and discs, and showing the readings and stating the percentage wear of tyres, discs and pads.Pica-Pica said:
havoc said:
Back on topic, I've used the local Honda dealer for probably 15 years, know them all on first-name terms and never get any upsell - often as not the opposite "this part looks barely worn / filter looks in good condition, I'd leave it another year or two". The VW garage that my wife has been using for probably a similar amount of time has by contrast gone through more service staff than a struggling premiership football team has gone through managers. And she regularly gets upsell, although in fairness never to the point of being crooked.
At BMW, I always get sent the video of the ‘health check’ and it shows them measuring all the tyres and discs, and showing the readings and stating the percentage wear of tyres, discs and pads.QBee said:
The last time I did it, a couple of months later the right front caliper fell off.
Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
A colleague had that, well the other side, happen on his Alfa that had just had the brakes done at a dealer. He was doing 40 at the time.Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
Sheepshanks said:
QBee said:
The last time I did it, a couple of months later the right front caliper fell off.
Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
A colleague had that, well the other side, happen on his Alfa that had just had the brakes done at a dealer. He was doing 40 at the time.Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
Twice I've forgotten to prime the pedal after doing brakes. First time I rolled into the garage door, luckily no damage. Second time I was luckily not to hit a neighbours car as I pulled it off the drive. A few panic stamps on the pedal had it stopped.
Bet it happens a lot at garages that are rushing to do the job as fast as possible and get the next one in.
ChocolateFrog said:
Sheepshanks said:
QBee said:
The last time I did it, a couple of months later the right front caliper fell off.
Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
A colleague had that, well the other side, happen on his Alfa that had just had the brakes done at a dealer. He was doing 40 at the time.Fortunately, just as I was turning into my drive at 5 mph.
But I have never touched brakes since.
Twice I've forgotten to prime the pedal after doing brakes. First time I rolled into the garage door, luckily no damage. Second time I was luckily not to hit a neighbours car as I pulled it off the drive. A few panic stamps on the pedal had it stopped.
Bet it happens a lot at garages that are rushing to do the job as fast as possible and get the next one in.
The pads I had him put in were Carbon Lorraine, so pretty agressive.
We talked about them, but he never once suggested changing the fluid as well, despite 50 years in the motor trade and 30 years drag racing.
Mid morning on the airfield track day I finally got past a well driven 5 litre TVR Griffith after some pretty spirited driving, and hit the brakes hard at 120 mph for a 90 left onto the main runway. No brakes
I had boiled the fluid. Good job it was the runway - I managed to spin to a halt without going off into the scenery.Quick change of underwear, and a friend who knew what he was doing took pity and swapped my old pads back in for me.
I had taken them with me just in case I didn't like the new ones.....as well as the right tools for the job.
J4CKO said:
Worth learning to diy brakes, they are a piece of piss, and the savings are huge.
Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
...
^ Yes on many cars, and I have done brakes on a few of ours.Its not for everyone but if you have a driveway, a jack, axle stands, some mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools then you can do it. There is always a YouTube video to show you the process and the tools/parts you will need.
...
But worth pointing out that on some cars the disk is integral with the hub and needs the nut removed and a puller. Real pain. But on some the disk just slots onto the hub, retained by one bolt.
Rear pads on my last Jap car were ok in theory but the hex bolt was stuck, and rounded by the previous owner, so I had to take the calliper off, and fit a new mounting bracket. Felt pleased though, as the garage would have charged even more for that.
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