(T) Marea FAILED MOT

Bought my Marea yesterday with 2 months mot still left, it looks immaculate, so I thought I would see if it could pass the mot. It failed on the offside rear brakes. I took off the wheel to have a look and the wheel cylinder is shot along with the contaminated brake shoes. Parts at a local motor factors totals at £56.55 the garage where I did the Mot wants £220 with labour. I paid £797.77 for the car and it looks really nice its a 1600 16v sx metalic grey and it has 106000 miles but in its favour it has had a cam belt and water pump change according to a reciept i have from13/01/09. I would attempt to do it myself but the shoe 's look a bit tricky. Does £220 sound expensive? At least if I do it there it will pass its MOT. What do you chaps think? Thanks for reading this far kind regards Paul.

Are they going to replace just the one side or do both sides for the £220.00 ?

To me that sounds a bit expensive, but, it really depends how eager you are to shop around for a better deal price wise

Just had mine done on both sides, with new cylinders, and shoes, and it cost me £140.00 all in.

ive just changed the rear brakes on my marea 1.8 the full set of brake shoes were £27 and last year when i done brake cyclinder they we £13 each took me about 30 minutes each side to change

That is both wheel cyclinders plus shoes. I am in London so maybe that would explain the high price?

changes shoes AND wheel cylinders BOTH sides and check wear on drums; check handbrake cable sleeve and if looks iffy replace that as well as the cable has to be disconnected to replace the brake shoes; straightforward DIY so shop around for better price

Thanks all, the finished job came to £175.55 included were both cylinders and the shoes. Now I have 12mths MOT!!! yipeee!!

One question though,....my handbrake has play from side to side is this normal? cheers.

I would check bolts underneath you may have a one loose or lost one

For the future - never get work done at the same place as you get the MOT.

I always get MOTs done at places that do MOT only.

Thanks for the response I have had so far.
@ Johnson550, I checked the bolts and they seem to be attached from underneath, I can see them move with the sideway movement of the handbrake I will get under it to see if I can tighten them up.
Today I went for a drive in the car,the first since I had it MOT'D. There are a few problems that have arisen.....I think this car is gonna work out expensive in the end!!
To start with I noticed the ABS light and also the red brake light come on and stay on whilst driving. I stopped the car and switched it off then started it again and it went out. But later on it came back on again. Any ideas? Also this morning when I tried to lockthe car with the central locking it would lock, then almost instantly it would open up again, on its own?!! I have been having to go round the car closing the doors manualy. Then I realised the boot would not lock so I locked it with the key and now I can't open it!!! God this is starting to irritate me, and I have only used the car once!!! Help please!! cheer chaps.