Rear brake pads / discs - is main dealer best?

Rear brake pads / discs - is main dealer best?

Author
Discussion

gmtfd

Original Poster:

11 posts

80 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Hi all

My Ford needs new rear brake pads and possibly discs (they're 'pitted' or so I've been told). I'd like to save some money by going to Kwik Fit, Halfords etc., but because we're talking brakes (and rear brakes at that) I'm wondering whether I should get them done at a main dealer? I'd be grateful for any opinions / advice.

Cheers!

Gareth

GreenV8S

30,149 posts

283 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
This will be a very quick, cheap job and definitely not one that needs to to stump up main dealer rates unless the work is going to be covered by a dealer warranty.

I'd suggest going to a reliable independent local garage rather than one of those chains, but the parts and labour should both be cheap either way.

If the discs are pitted, it would be a good idea to flush the fluid and clean the calipers while you're at it, since the pitted discs suggest nobody has serviced the brakes recently.

gmtfd

Original Poster:

11 posts

80 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Thanks very much for the really helpful reply. So there would be no difference in quality between the parts an independent garage would use and the ones a main dealer would use?

The brake fluid has just been changed as part of a major service I had done at the main dealer (which is when I found out about the pads / discs). I don't know if they also cleaned the calipers, there is nothing about this on the service schedule. All it says is: "Brake system - With wheels off, check brake pads and discs for wear. Check rear brake linings for wear."

The car is a 2009 S-Max.

Gareth

Little Pete

1,513 posts

93 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
A good independent will use good quality parts so ask around. You could ask them to fit OE parts if that's what you wanted because the main saving for you would be in the labour cost.
Although if you are using a main dealer for servicing maybe cost isn't a factor.
Avoid the fast fits. They are not all bad but most are!

DuraAce

4,240 posts

159 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
gmtfd said:
Thanks very much for the really helpful reply. So there would be no difference in quality between the parts an independent garage would use and the ones a main dealer would use?
There could be a HUGE difference.

You need to make sure your indie garage uses a reliable/genuine brand.

The odd 'dodgy' garage will use el cheapo/fake stuff that won't last as long. It's rare but does happen.

GreenV8S

30,149 posts

283 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
gmtfd said:
Thanks very much for the really helpful reply. So there would be no difference in quality between the parts an independent garage would use and the ones a main dealer would use?
There are places that focus on turnover and costs rather than quality and you want to stay away from places like that. For example many of the big tyre/exhaust franchises save money by using inexperienced labour with minimal training and don't care that people only stay for a few months. I'm not saying the franchised service centers are the same, but they do have that reputation. This is why I mentioned using a local garage which was reliable. An independent local garage which relies on repeat business won't fit shoddy parts to save a few pence and will use experienced fitters. That's what you want.

Dave Brand

928 posts

267 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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How badly pitted are they? If they are performing satisfactorily there is no real reason to change them - dealers will, of course, recommend a change as they want your money.


steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
first thing - lots of serviceable rear brakes are pitted , you need to find out if theyre genuinely bad or just some light marks and the garage is looking for work

places like quick fit centers arent where you go to save money , find a no frills independent garage that will fit some while you wander around town for a couple of hours - if you need the loan car and posh coffee etc then stump up for a dealer to do it

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
Main dealer, Kwik Fit etc etc are probably the worst possible place you could go for such work, history seems to prove that is where they rob customers the most.

Just find a local garage, it will be a very simple task.

steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
take a photo through the wheel and post it...rears do very little work so can take alot of miles to clear the rust after being parked in the rain etc

DIYMechGuy

29 posts

103 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
gmtfd said:
The brake fluid has just been changed as part of a major service I had done at the main dealer (which is when I found out about the pads / discs). I don't know if they also cleaned the calipers, there is nothing about this on the service schedule. All it says is: "Brake system - With wheels off, check brake pads and discs for wear. Check rear brake linings for wear."

The car is a 2009 S-Max.

Gareth
Doubt they'll have cleaned the calipers, unless you instructed them to? Don't think any 'service schedule' would have that on?
Didn't you get some kind of receipt/breakdown of what they did?

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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And I'd be amazed if they did actually change the brake fluid ( or even know how lol )

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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steveo3002 said:
first thing - lots of serviceable rear brakes are pitted , you need to find out if theyre genuinely bad or just some light marks and the garage is looking for work
Commonly on the outer part of the disc. Due to brake balance as already said the rears do less work than the fronts.
If the normal swept area is shiny it indicates that the pads are being applied when braking.
In the absence of abnormal pitting or heavy ridges then measuring the remaining thickness of the disc & comparing it with the manufacturers minimum thickness - either from the manual or sometimes stamped on the outer edge of the disc - is the way to go to decide whether it needs discs and pads or just pads.


gmtfd

Original Poster:

11 posts

80 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice guys. Here's a couple of snaps of the rear discs:





Don't know how I would go about measuring the thickness of the discs? They both have a pronounced 'lip' around the edge (much more so than the front discs).

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
quotequote all
If there is a pronounced lip, they're probably worn quite a bit.

The rear side will almost always look much much worse than the front side.

Either way, discs etc are usually fairly cheap, if in doubt replace them

Dave Brand

928 posts

267 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Not pretty, but perfectly serviceable in my opinion!

Martin350

3,775 posts

194 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Personally, I wouldn't fit new pads with those discs.

I would have a phone aaround for parts prices, including from a main dealer, sometimes they are surprisingly reasonable.

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
quotequote all
gmtfd said:
Thanks for the advice guys.
Don't know how I would go about measuring the thickness of the discs? They both have a pronounced 'lip' around the edge (much more so than the front discs).
Micrometer.

Dave Brand

928 posts

267 months

Friday 28th July 2017
quotequote all
gmtfd said:
Don't know how I would go about measuring the thickness of the discs? They both have a pronounced 'lip' around the edge (much more so than the front discs).
Two small, reasonably parallel, pieces of metal*, measure their thickness (micrometer, vernier, whatever), place them one either side of the disc in contact with the friction faces, measure the thickness then subtract the thickness of the pieces of metal to get the disc thickness.

*I use nuts.

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Friday 28th July 2017
quotequote all
^^^^That works too.

Advantage of a micrometer is that they are usually of such a shape that the ridge isn't a problem, but digital ones aren't cheap.
Main factor for the vernier is they're cheap.

I have both - conventional micrometer & a digital Machine Mart vernier.

Edited by paintman on Friday 28th July 11:33