Technical Just failed the MOT

Currently reading:
Technical Just failed the MOT

Cinq999

Established member
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Messages
425
Points
226
I took my 2010 1.2 Pop for its MOT, it needed a few bits which they sorted out during the test, but it failed on the rear brake mechanical mechanism...sounds like the brake is seized. They said either it needs stripping and cleaning, or a new wheel cylinder.

I've read a few threads on here and it seems to be a common problem.

The garage said they'll look at it first thing Monday....how likely is it to be the cylinder? More likely to be the slide needs cleaning and lubing?

They said it will be a 48hr part....and I really need the car back ASAP.
 
I took my 2010 1.2 Pop for its MOT, it needed a few bits which they sorted out during the test, but it failed on the rear brake mechanical mechanism...sounds like the brake is seized. They said either it needs stripping and cleaning, or a new wheel cylinder.

I've read a few threads on here and it seems to be a common problem.

The garage said they'll look at it first thing Monday....how likely is it to be the cylinder? More likely to be the slide needs cleaning and lubing?

They said it will be a 48hr part....and I really need the car back ASAP.

Sorry to hear your car has failed its MOT.

Seized rear brakes are quite common on any car, of any marque, after five UK winters. The rear brakes do so little work in normal driving that most folks wouldn't notice anything is amiss until the car is either properly inspected at service time or (more usually) the fault shows up on an MOT tester's brake machine.

Sometimes they can be freed off, sometimes the wheel cylinder needs replacing, but if you are being told there's a 48hr wait for parts, your biggest problem is your choice of garage.

Pagid rear wheel cylinders for the 1.2 pop are kept in stock by EuroCarParts for (depending on exact fitment; there's more than one type) between £10 and £15 each. They can probably be had off the shelf from most any other motor factor. With those prices and availability, no one in their right mind is going to mess around trying to free a stuck cylinder.

Where are you taking it? Please don't tell me it's a Fiat franchised dealer; for a job like this, that's a one-way ticket to a ripoff. This is bread and butter work for any independent garage and the parts can be bought for peanuts.
 

Attachments

  • Brakes.JPG
    Brakes.JPG
    134.8 KB · Views: 45
Last edited:
Yes, it is at a Fiat dealer....but that's purely because the the company I work for has the franchise....so I get a big discount....had a service done and £29 for the MOT, labour £28/hr.

I've just given them a ring, and I'm going to collect a 500L courtesy car to use until its done....hopefully by Monday night, as if needed they do have a wheel cylinder in stock.

It did also "fail" on both headlamps incorrectly aligned, battery bracket missing, reg plate bulb blown, reg plate insecure, and leaking exhaust gasket....but they fixed all those while they were doing the test for nothing, they ran out of time to sort the brakes.

All being well they said they'll drop it back to my house Monday evening.

Thanks for the help.
 
Last edited:
£28 per hour is after a big discount? Wow!

Gave up on Fiat dealers ages ago. Mine has only ever gone back for warranty work. They are totally incapable of have parts in stock, even when your car's booked in for the work.
 
£28 per hour is after a big discount? Wow!

Normally £70/hr.....we also used to have a Range Rover dealership.....£150/hr :eek:

But round here even a man with a van mobile mechanic charges at least £30-35/hr

The garage in the village charges £45/hr, and that's the cheapest I've come across anywhere locally.
 
Those prices are silly I presume your down south somewhere, I know this wont be popular amongst you 500s crowd but they're crap cars not made to last at all, my 04 doblo passed without advisories again in April, im sure they're better made.
 
Neighbour has a 2008 pop 1.2. Never had trouble with it. Apart from needing to replace coolant hose and breather pipe. Car has done 160,000 kms. Obviously it's been taken good care of.

We don't really have harsh winters here in Australia. Just hot summers.
 
Yes, it is at a Fiat dealer....but that's purely because the the company I work for has the franchise....so I get a big discount....had a service done and £29 for the MOT, labour £28/hr.

I've just given them a ring, and I'm going to collect a 500L courtesy car to use until its done....hopefully by Monday night, as if needed they do have a wheel cylinder in stock.

It did also "fail" on both headlamps incorrectly aligned, battery bracket missing, reg plate bulb blown, reg plate insecure, and leaking exhaust gasket....but they fixed all those while they were doing the test for nothing, they ran out of time to sort the brakes.

All being well they said they'll drop it back to my house Monday evening.

Thanks for the help.

That puts a different slant on it!

Those prices and support levels are very different from those which most retail cutomers can get from their franchised dealer. I can understand you not wanting to take it elsewhere when you have access to that kind of service.
 
Just had an update from the garage. One side the wheel cylinder is leaking, and the mechanism in the drum is pretty rusted. The other side, the backing plate has cracked and a couple of the lugs inside are broken.

So, they're going to completely replace both rear brakes, new backing plates, drums, shoes, springs, cylinders, everything up to the main handbrake cable both sides, so all will be as good as new.

Charging me £160 genuine parts and labour, which I think is pretty good.
 
Just had an update from the garage. One side the wheel cylinder is leaking, and the mechanism in the drum is pretty rusted. The other side, the backing plate has cracked and a couple of the lugs inside are broken.

So, they're going to completely replace both rear brakes, new backing plates, drums, shoes, springs, cylinders, everything up to the main handbrake cable both sides, so all will be as good as new.

Charging me £160 genuine parts and labour, which I think is pretty good.

what kind of mileage has the car covered..? :confused:
our 11 year old panda ( same parts) has needed NONE of this..,80K miles
 
what kind of mileage has the car covered..? :confused:
our 11 year old panda ( same parts) has needed NONE of this..,80K miles

I'd say it's more about the conditions under which the car was used. One good soaking inside the drum with salty water and it won't take long before this kind of damage occurs. All that takes is to drive through a deep puddle in winter.

Regular inspection of the rear brake internals (it's not hard to get the drums off) would at least pick up this sort of thing before it gets to the point when everything needs replacing. If the rear brakes are regularly stripped, cleaned and lubricated when necessary, they'll likely last the life of the car.

My R5 did over 218k on the original rear brake parts, but I must have stripped them down at least half a dozen times in the 13yrs I had it.

Service plans need to take account of the climate in which a car will be used. 36k is far too long to leave it before pulling the rear drums on a car used through the UK winters.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top