Technical Work to be done - brakes, tyres, control arm bushes

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Technical Work to be done - brakes, tyres, control arm bushes

BadZen

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Apr 15, 2014
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Hello!
I have a bit of work that needs doing and am interested in suggestions

The car is a 2008 Ritmo (Bravo) 1.4 Tjet Sport. Has about 107000 on the odometer. Purchased April 2014...and loving the car!

I live near Samford, Queensland, Australia and the local garage has given me a list of jobs:
1 - Rear brake pads and rotors $770 S&F if aftermarket rotors fit $577
2 - Replace drive belt $150 S&F
3 - Brake fluid flush $85
4 - Rear of front control arm bushes $1256
5 - Requires front tyres suggest replacing all four Federal 595 $160 each
6 - Wheel alignment $85
7 - Air filter (have to order from Italy) $50
8 - Battery condition replace ....etc

The rear brake disc rotors were replaced at 85997klm in April 2014 by the previous owner just before I bought it at KMart Tyre and auto. They did the fronts and the front pads as well. I phoned Kmart and the guy I spoke to said that the rears shouldn't be worn out after 20000. But they didn't replace the rear pads so this might have something to do with it. The front rotors are fine. I'm wondering if it's worth chasing KMart to replace them, or should I just wear the cost of getting them done again?

No idea what the "rear of front control arm bushes" are, or why so expensive - found a USA site selling control arm bushes for around $20 and control arms for around $100 - or am I just looking at the wrong things altogether?

Tyre recommendations? The Federal 595 (225/45 R17) don't get consistently good reviews, mainly for poor noise/performance in the wet. I don't racetrack the car, but do tend to drive it at the edge at times...currently have Bridgestone Potenzas on it, they came with the car when I bought it.

Waddya reckon?

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
OK, so went to https://www.bestpartstore.co.uk and ordered all the bits except the tyres, air filter and battery for a grand total delivered to Australia of about $445 - about a quarter of the price quoted.

Air filter seems to be a hard one, Fiat part number is 71765803 apparently.

For tyres, am looking at Pirelli PZero or whatever they are called, about $235AUD each.
 
I had front and rear discs and pads done for way less than they are quoting you for only the rears. Are things that expensive in Australia?
 
Yes. Not a cheap place to live. European car importers charge rather more for factory parts than seems reasonable.
 
OK, so went to https://www.bestpartstore.co.uk and ordered all the bits except the tyres, air filter and battery for a grand total delivered to Australia of about $445 - about a quarter of the price quoted.

Air filter seems to be a hard one, Fiat part number is 71765803 apparently.

For tyres, am looking at Pirelli PZero or whatever they are called, about $235AUD each.

Get a K&N Air filter? You only have to pay once then. It's reusable. You clean it yourself about every 10k miles.

I guess the one from italy will be the standard paper one?
 
Yeah, thanks, saw the K&Ns ... but problem seems to be identifying the actual part...number might be wrong? Don't want to order the wrong type (1.4 TJet 150bhp engine)
 
Fiat all done, new parts installed yesterday:

Original quote:
1 - Rear brake pads and rotors $770 S&F if aftermarket rotors fit $577
2 - Replace drive belt $150 S&F
3 - Brake fluid flush $85
4 - Rear of front control arm bushes $1256
6 - Wheel alignment $85
7 - Air filter (have to order from Italy) $50

Total: (Australian) $2203

Ordered parts from UK/Germany (incl. Brembo discs and pads), and also got a K&N air filter:
Total incl delivery (arrived within 2 weeks): $533.89

The local mechanic wanted about $900 to put the parts in. So went somewhere else and paid $400.

Total paid: $933.89.

Oh yeah, love the 'net...
 
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