General Warranty and brakes upgrade

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General Warranty and brakes upgrade

goddolo

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Hi folks, just wondering, if I want to upgrade discs and pads I'm going to lose the warranty? My 500s 1.2 8v sucks with factory brakes and my idea was something like Brembo or tar-ox set on the front.
 
Hi folks, just wondering, if I want to upgrade discs and pads I'm going to lose the warranty? My 500s 1.2 8v sucks with factory brakes and my idea was something like Brembo or tar-ox set on the front.

Hi,
You could certainly have difficulties if you tried to make any claim related to steering, wheel bearings, suspension or brakes. You would need to read the small print of your warranty, but normally they have a clause saying any modification would invalidate the whole warranty. Is it a new car or used?
You do of course have some protection as a consumer regardless of any warranty.


Robert G8RPI.
 
The car is a used 15 plate with 17800 on the clock.

Read this thread.

The overwhelming probability is that they just need to be properly cleaned and lubricated.

Fitting track grade pads & discs will make your braking performance worse in everyday driving as they won't work properly until they've been warmed up.

Rear brake performance is most likely a red herring; on a small FWD car, the rears won't be able to contribute more than about 20% to overall braking performance before the rear wheels start to lock & trigger ABS operation; less than that if the rear seats & boot are empty.
 
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Rear brake performance is most likely a red herring; on a small FWD car, the rears won't be able to contribute more than about 20% to overall braking performance, and less than that if the rear seats & boot are empty.

I would contend that a lack of rear adjustment can lead to a long pedal definitely affecting front braking performance.

D
 
I would contend that a lack of rear adjustment can lead to a long pedal definitely affecting front braking performance.

D

The rear brakes are self adjusting - if you get a long pedal, then there's definitely something wrong, you either have adjuster failure (not that common on an 18 month old car), an incorrect handbrake cable setting (if it's too tight, the self adjusters won't work properly) or air in the system.

OTOH, sticking front pads are very common on the 500.
 
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We've had discussions a few times about 500 brake performance.
Our 500TA brakes are very good indeed, and have been since we bought her at 13,000miles.

I changed the pads last year, but that's all I've done, and the brakes are still very good indeed. She's done close on 30,000miles now.

I reckon if the brakes aren't good, there's something wrong.

Good luck,
Mick.
 
The rear brakes are self adjusting - if you get a long pedal, then there's definitely something wrong, you either have adjuster failure (not that common on an 18 month old car), an incorrect handbrake cable setting (if it's too tight, the self adjusters won't work properly) or air in the system.

OTOH, sticking front pads are very common on the 500.

You are very lucky, I have had an 18 month old 500 with delaminated shoes and sticking rear adjusters, and that at a much lower mileage than mine.

Whatever the case, the OP needs a brake service/check (actually taking the wheels off, not just peering in with a torch) and appropriate action taken.

D
 
If you have drums on the rear check these first, stuck or broken self adjusters can give you a very long pedal and way up handbrake, as I know, now sorted though I'm not convinced the auto adjusters are working properly, also put copper slip on the hub mating faces and file the lip off on the inside of the drum.

Remove or replace your front pads ensuring they are a "slack fit" in the caliper bracket, IE. you don't have to tap them in place(copper slip), clean all the rust from any mating surface and check the caliper freely slides on its pins.

If your issue is overheating of them then there's not a lot you can do whilst under warranty ?
 
I've booked a check up in Fiat for friday and I let you know any update guys!
 
well, the response from Wessex Garage in Cardiff was that the mechanic can't find any fault with brakes.
 
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