V8 Vantage Clutch Replacement!
Discussion
sadlerj said:
My dealer quoted me £195 for rear and £205 for the front pads, plus VAT....is yours doing disks too...or is he taking the p1ss??? 3 hours for pads....now that is really taking the p1ss...!
No discs - price was just for new front pads, new rear pads, new handbrake pads plus some leads to do with the brakes - the ones that tell you if they've worn out maybe? This is my first AM and my first service, so I've no experience of dealer rates for work like this or any idea of what's considered reasonable. Having said that, 3hrs to change some pads does seem excessive. My dealer is Broughtons in Cheltenham - anybody had any dealings with them? I agreed the work over the phone, but do you think I should query this charge when I collect the car?mattrobinson said:
sadlerj said:
My dealer quoted me £195 for rear and £205 for the front pads, plus VAT....is yours doing disks too...or is he taking the p1ss??? 3 hours for pads....now that is really taking the p1ss...!
No discs - price was just for new front pads, new rear pads, new handbrake pads plus some leads to do with the brakes - the ones that tell you if they've worn out maybe? This is my first AM and my first service, so I've no experience of dealer rates for work like this or any idea of what's considered reasonable. Having said that, 3hrs to change some pads does seem excessive. My dealer is Broughtons in Cheltenham - anybody had any dealings with them? I agreed the work over the phone, but do you think I should query this charge when I collect the car?mattrobinson said:
No discs - price was just for new front pads, new rear pads, new handbrake pads plus some leads to do with the brakes - the ones that tell you if they've worn out maybe?
There's no way handbrake pads should require replacing - not for wear anyway. Sounds to me like someone's taking the ...sadlerj said:
Spoke to my service manager at Harwoods at Chichester and the book times for disks and pads are 1.15hrs front and 1.05 rears, so 3 hours for just disks is really excessive. The leads are £17 pins are £12. So £500 max for parts plus 1.5 hours labour is what they normally charge, so I would query it if I were you.
BobM said:
There's no way handbrake pads should require replacing - not for wear anyway. Sounds to me like someone's taking the ...
Part costs sound about the same as I was quoted which is ok, but if the book time should be 1.5hrs it looks like I'm being stuffed at 3hrs... I had the same initial thought about wear on the handbrake pads when they mentioned it, as they basically just clamp onto the disc when static, so surely no wear to speak of? From memory though, they weren't very expensive as a part cost and maybe it's just good practice to replace all the pads at the same time?Think I'll have a word about the labour charge on Saturday when I pick it up and ask why it's 3hrs at Broughtons to pop out some pins and switch pads compared to 1.5hrs elsewhere?
Dont get me started on V8 Clutches!! Mine is an 06 car and went in for what Aston refer to as "upgrades" and came out with a misfire!! This after 3 months with out the car resulted in a new engine! When they fitted this engine they refitted the original clutch and pressure plate as it showed 15% wear after 5K. 5K later it was burnt to bits!! No odea how. They fitted a new one. Not under warranty (A trend it would seem) and 3 weeks later I could not engage gear at all. The clutch and pressure plate assembly was pony and had to be replaced (free this time).
I am just in the process of selling it. As much as I love looking at it and and the soundtrack etc unless you have bottomless pockets and have Tosser stamped on your forehead you would have to be mad to own one. Cant speak for other models apart from the DB7 which is a barge at best.
Aston have almost got it licked, but until an Aston is assembled with 100% bespoke parts it wont be 100% reliable.
Sorry guys I wish you all the best.....I have felt and continue to feel your pain.
I am just in the process of selling it. As much as I love looking at it and and the soundtrack etc unless you have bottomless pockets and have Tosser stamped on your forehead you would have to be mad to own one. Cant speak for other models apart from the DB7 which is a barge at best.
Aston have almost got it licked, but until an Aston is assembled with 100% bespoke parts it wont be 100% reliable.
Sorry guys I wish you all the best.....I have felt and continue to feel your pain.
mattrobinson said:
I had the same initial thought about wear on the handbrake pads when they mentioned it, as they basically just clamp onto the disc when static, so surely no wear to speak of?
Correct.mattrobinson said:
From memory though, they weren't very expensive as a part cost and maybe it's just good practice to replace all the pads at the same time?
Nope, I've actually never heard of handbrake pads being replaced. They should never wear out (unless your name's Gronholm, Loeb or Solberg 
) and should conceivably only need replacing if they deteriorate through rust etc.Carl Hobson said:
...but until an Aston is assembled with 100% bespoke parts it wont be 100% reliable. ...
Not convinced.Low volume parts are less likely to get decent testing.
It should be easy to find an off the shelf clutch pack that can withstand abuse.
I wonder if the problem is down to the config of the car (transaxle) and I wonder if this is more tricky to align...
Murph7355 said:
Carl Hobson said:
...but until an Aston is assembled with 100% bespoke parts it wont be 100% reliable. ...
I wonder if the problem is down to the config of the car (transaxle) and I wonder if this is more tricky to align...Certaintly indicating the car has not had any abuse..!! I am still in talks with Aston's customer services regarding the warranty but from what you read on this forum there is a problem as i do not feel it is REASONABLE to need it's 3rd CLUTCH..!! It would be interesting to post on the AMOC forum just to see how many have had a problem..??
Edited by CRA1G on Sunday 24th February 13:53
[quote=Bemmer]A lad in the pub has just got a 56 reg V8, I was telling him about this forum, his car has done 8.000 miles and the sales man told him it had just had a new clutch! He thought great! but now thinks what about the next 8.000 miles! Funny how he drove off very slowly
Yes I think another example to prove the point that these clutch's are not up to REASONABLE standards,
why should the car be on it's 2nd clutch at 8,000 miles..?? The more I hear the more the determined I am to pursue the CASE..!! Watch this space..!!
Yes I think another example to prove the point that these clutch's are not up to REASONABLE standards,
why should the car be on it's 2nd clutch at 8,000 miles..?? The more I hear the more the determined I am to pursue the CASE..!! Watch this space..!!
Edited by CRA1G on Monday 25th February 16:48
Picked up my car yesterday from dealer and asked about what was wrong with the clutch. Service manager said that on inspection the lining material had bubbled up in a few places (hot-spots). Picture was sent to AM for approval to change under warranty and got the go-ahead as the damage was obviously down to a fault with the original part rather than driver abuse. BTW, I was quoted the wrong labour rate for the brakes after all that - ended up at just 1hr rather than 3hrs...
mattrobinson said:
Picked up my car yesterday from dealer and asked about what was wrong with the clutch. Service manager said that on inspection the lining material had bubbled up in a few places (hot-spots). Picture was sent to AM for approval to change under warranty and got the go-ahead as the damage was obviously down to a fault with the original part rather than driver abuse. BTW, I was quoted the wrong labour rate for the brakes after all that - ended up at just 1hr rather than 3hrs...
Sounds like the right result.Let's see how long this one lasts
just a thought, i guess the clutch is an ap racing or similar? i cant belive it is a bespoke part (allthough that might explain the problems)
does anyone know if it is available outside of the aston dealers for a lot less money?!
maybe its worth prining this forum off to show aston, many voices makes more noise! it might just make them listern and make them aware we do all talk!
Joe
does anyone know if it is available outside of the aston dealers for a lot less money?!
maybe its worth prining this forum off to show aston, many voices makes more noise! it might just make them listern and make them aware we do all talk!
Joe
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