Brera - any advice please

[ColinM50]

Buddy's looking at an 07 2.2 litre Brera with 133k on the clock at what looks like a good price, just under £4k.

Anyone got any pointers or things he should be aware of? Reviews say they're heavy on fuel but since he only does about 400 miles a month that's not a major considerations.

Any real info would help

[jith]

Lovely car but... I put a steering rack on one around 6 months ago and we had to buy it from Alfa. Could not get one anywhere else and nobody could repair it.

£1200.00

Ouch!

J

[arguti]

Try reading through the basics

http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_brera_guide.sht...

there are loads of threads of alfaowner.com etc.

[V6Alfisti]

jith said:

Lovely car but... I put a steering rack on one around 6 months ago and we had to buy it from Alfa. Could not get one anywhere else and nobody could repair it.

£1200.00

Ouch!

J

If the ends of the rack have play, these can be replaced e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-BRERA-2-2-PET...

and there are repair kits (although I dont know offhand who/if anyone uses them in UK)

http://www.pstservice.sk/en/maintkit/alfa-romeo/br...

Update Western Power Steering apparently do it for about £130 odd, although not listed.

http://www.westernpowersteering.co.uk/

Edited by V6Alfisti on Wednesday 22 May 19:27

[jith]

V6Alfisti said:

jith said:

Lovely car but... I put a steering rack on one around 6 months ago and we had to buy it from Alfa. Could not get one anywhere else and nobody could repair it.

£1200.00

Ouch!

J

If the ends of the rack have play, these can be replaced e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-BRERA-2-2-PET...

and there are repair kits (although I dont know offhand who/if anyone uses them in UK)

http://www.pstservice.sk/en/maintkit/alfa-romeo/br...

Update Western Power Steering apparently do it for about £130 odd, although not listed.

http://www.westernpowersteering.co.uk/

Edited by V6Alfisti on Wednesday 22 May 19:27

All of the rack specialists can only recon the old unit. At the time I did this car they had no exchanges.

The problem with these is water ingress from failure of the gaiter. It quickly enters the rack tube and corrodes it to the point where it cannot be repaired. It is a known fault on the Brera.

J

[Ginge R]

Just read this, I have just posted a request in a similar vein. The gaiters of mine have gone too so I will check those links with interest. For the record, mine has done nearly 135,000 miles so I'm not too dismayed that it *has* happened, but if it costs £1200 to fix..

[V6Alfisti]

Ginge R said:

Just read this, I have just posted a request in a similar vein. The gaiters of mine have gone too so I will check those links with interest. For the record, mine has done nearly 135,000 miles so I'm not too dismayed that it *has* happened, but if it costs £1200 to fix..

Unsure what version yours is, but if you can't get your rack off for repair. £626 inc vat

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Det...

[Ginge R]

Cheers V6; its the 2.4.

[V6Alfisti]

Ginge R said:

Cheers V6; its the 2.4.

Same price and probably the same rack £626 inc vat

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Det...

Obviously plus labour charges...

If you are a fiatforum member you also get an additional 10% off with those guys.

[Ginge R]

Thanks, I will take a look.