Hi there,

I'm new to the forum. We have just taken our 2009 fiat 500 in for it's 28,000 mile major service. As we have just got the car we decided to maintain with the fiat dealer service. We have just had a call to say the pads and discs need replacing front and rear at a cost of £662!!!!

The whole point of getting this car was to downsize from an expensive to run and maintain Renault Scenic and this seems very expensive. I've just been on to Euro Car Partsvand can get OEM equivalent pads and discs front and rear for £120.

Is the dealer trying to rip me off?

seems unlikely that you would need discs and pads so early, if the pads have not been replaced before then it is probably about time for a change but my punto is on its original discs at 82,000 miles (though they now need changing)

in any case at £662 i would expect a full carbon ceramic set up for your little 500, that said main dealer parts and labour costs i wouldn't be surprised by that figure

Take it to a local reputable garage

You can get reasonable brakes from local auto factors

Fereodo
Mintex
GreenStuff pads are all good pads

And Probably for about £200 in all inc labour if you provide parts i would have thought been a reasonable price

Fiat are such rip offs
i dont think the rears will be gone - since they do very little braking compared to fronts


Ziggy

Add Dunlop to that list. Easy peasy DIY job, though.

Thanks a lot for the feedback. We told the garage not to bother and fed back (they advertise on the local radio as being competitive) that they were way too expensive.

We had a quote from our local garage at £240 + vat which was better. I've decided toget the parts and do it myself. Should be easy enough.

Thanks again for all your help

Pjeffe9172 said:

pads and discs need replacing front and rear at a cost of £662!!!!

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do you have this in writing or the name of the garage as I find this hard to believe?

Pjeffe9172 said:

Should be easy enough.

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Yep, it's straightforward with no nasty surprises.

You might want to have a look at this thread if you haven't already done so.

chaps is it possible there are front brake pads that are (low dust)??
as some of you know I have a 500 by Gucci and beautiful (when clean) diamond cut alloys
alas I didn't know as per JK these alloys are not very good in our climate
and boy do I know about it now!!! my rims are disgusting right now an the pattern of the alloy does not allow for easy access to the inside....


I even struggle with a powerful jet washer the only real way for a good old clean is wheel off not practical!!
ive tried the armarol stuff that protects for 4 weeks (1 week in the rain)!


its mainly brake dust... does anyone know of any brand that does low dust? ive been on fleabay but cant seem to find any? it may be that ill have to live with it....and just accept that my wheels need more work than most (why did I get a car with white alloys)

Try Mintex?
You "can" get shields, essentially a disc that goes between the disc hub and wheel to prevent the brake dust getting on the wheels?

Look at the inside shields I made for my vintage rims because of exactly the same problem. They do work fine - 1st summer passed with very little dust.

https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/464560-meet-gina.html?p=4518716

Not sure you can buy them ready made, though. It is not really difficult to make them, on the other hand. Sheet metal (aluminium) cutting and drilling is required which you will manage easily with your can do approach

Sort of like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2Pcs-Gol...424057?hash=item2cbf7123f9:g:bhkAAOSwjXVexQDF

Baglady1990 said:

chaps is it possible there are front brake pads that are (low dust)??
as some of you know I have a 500 by Gucci

and beautiful (when clean) diamond cut alloys
alas I didn't know as per JK these alloys are not very good in our climate
and boy do I know about it now!!! my rims are disgusting right now an the pattern of the alloy does not allow for easy access to the inside....


I even struggle with a powerful jet washer

the only real way for a good old clean is wheel off

not practical!!
ive tried the armarol stuff that protects for 4 weeks (1 week in the rain)!


its mainly brake dust... does anyone know of any brand that does low dust? ive been on fleabay but cant seem to find any? it may be that ill have to live with it....and just accept that my wheels need more work than most (why did I get a car with white alloys)

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Look at Ferodo DS2500 if they make them for your car. You'll need to warm them up with a good dab before they really wake up.. but once they're on duty, they'll stay fierce.

They contain sintered metal and ceramic .. so they don't wear out too quickly (hence less dust) but the discs will get more wear. Since discs these days are cheaper than the pads that's not as bad as it sounds. Buy "value" (cheap) discs since they're usually made with a milder grade steel, so will be softer and will respond better to the more aggressive pads .. and it won't hurt your pocket as much when they do wear out.

Your brakes will be pretty formidable too. DS2500 are a bit dear is the only down-side.


Ralf S.

Pjeffe9172 said:

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum. We have just taken our 2009 fiat 500 in for it's 28,000 mile major service. As we have just got the car we decided to maintain with the fiat dealer service. We have just had a call to say the pads and discs need replacing front and rear at a cost of £662!!!!

The whole point of getting this car was to downsize from an expensive to run and maintain Renault Scenic and this seems very expensive. I've just been on to Euro Car Partsvand can get OEM equivalent pads and discs front and rear for £120.

Is the dealer trying to rip me off?

Click to expand...

It could be that the discs are just a bit corroded/grooved as happens when they don't do too much mileage. The discs should otherwise be good for 60k plus on such a light car.

Fiat dealers don't shop around for the cheapest parts.. they ought to be using Fiat original parts, which seem to have a Fiat margin on top of the price an auto factor would charge you... and you'll "benefit" from the main dealer labour rates. Fiat isn't particularly expensive compared to other dealers but if they want to change all the discs and pads there's probably several hours labour in there too.

A "Kwick Fit" (if you brave it) or a regular / sensible garage would be able to do it much less.. they'll order generic parts which will be cheaper and not much worse than the Fiat ones... but in my experience, very cheap items won't fit and won't last as well as better ones (including Fiat).

Buy the cheapest discs you can find that are not made in a shed in China.. and spend extra to get Brembo pads.. if you shop around you'll find someone selling them cheaply on eBay. These fit into the calipers without being tight, so they won't jam in 6 months' time and give you uneven wear.


Ralf S.

You're replying to a post that was made in 2012!

That said, the key point is still just as valid - taking any car to a franchised dealer for brake friction material replacement will likely result in an unnecessarily large bill.

John202020 said:

Sort of like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2Pcs-Gol...424057?hash=item2cbf7123f9:g:bhkAAOSwjXVexQDF

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Is this the correct place for these metal covers? The instructions are sketch at best!

Baglady1990 said:

Is this the correct place for these metal covers? The instructions are sketch at best!

Click to expand...

Looks like it
Certainly looks the same as the ones I fitted to my Tipo

You can soon rack up a big bill at the main dealers. Nearest Fiat dealer to me is too far away to visit, but my other car Volvo XC60, the main dealer on Anglesey charges £ 108 per hour plus VAT. That's close to robbery.

Baglady1990 said:

Is this the correct place for these metal covers? The instructions are sketch at best!

Click to expand...

Did the Shims come with the pads?

John202020 said:

Did the Shims come with the pads?

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Yes came with em what are they?

Baglady1990 said:

Yes came with em what are they?

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Hi,

The thin metal plates that fit on back of pad. They are intended to reduce squeaking from brakes.

Will you be replacing discs at same time as the pads?

If you end up hating mintex try pagid.

Cheers Jack