Technical Brake Drum Replacement on Punto Grande Eleganza

[andiebradley]

Hi All,

Just had a brake check prior to my MOT as wanted to know what to expect next week (seem to always get a hefty bill at the end)

Halfords said my brake drums have expanded to the maximum and will need a replacement fairly soon.

They estimated that the repair would cost £329

Can you please let me know if this sounds like a MOT failure and if the price is right?
I've looked for the parts on Euro Car Parts & Andrew Page but none have any drums in stock.

Cheers,
Andie

 

[jimboy]

Halfords eh! Not much better than kwik fart. If you're any good with the spanners I'd whip off the wheels & investigate yourself .....

 

[andiebradley]

Halfords eh! Not much better than kwik fart. If you're any good with the spanners I'd whip off the wheels & investigate yourself .....

I'm no good! But thank you anyway

 

[jimboy]

Get a second opinion.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi All,

Just had a brake check prior to my MOT as wanted to know what to expect next week (seem to always get a hefty bill at the end)

Halfords said my brake drums have expanded to the maximum and will need a replacement fairly soon.

They estimated that the repair would cost £329

Can you please let me know if this sounds like a MOT failure and if the price is right?
I've looked for the parts on Euro Car Parts & Andrew Page but none have any drums in stock.

Cheers,
Andie

MOT's have changed a bit recently so I feel a little unsure about this, but I think, as far as the brakes go, the MOT records braking effort and balance. To the best of my knowledge nothing is dismantled so the tester would not know the condition of the inside of the drums and linings, so as long as the braking effort was ok, it should pass in that respect. It's a little different with discs as the disc surface and pads can be viewed without dismantling anything so, under the new MOT regs a car with badly worn discs or very thin pads can now be failed even if it, technically, meets the braking effort required, and quite right too!

Hopefully Halfords would not have reported this to you if it wasn't concerning them but a quick check on the Shop4parts website (I'm a bit biased towards them as I have had good purchasing experiences with them) would seem to show - if I've identified the model correctly - the drums at around £20 each and a set of linings at approximately the same price. (Vat not included). If nothing else is needed them the price you've been quoted for the work seems a bit steep to me. I would definitely cast around for quotes from some of the independents near you, especially if there's one where a friend has had a good experience. Renewing brake linings, wheel cylinders (if needed) brake drums, etc, are absolutely every day bread and butter jobs to the typical garage. You don't need a specialist just a competent general mechanic. For me, in my driveway, it would be a Saturday afternoon's entertainment- unless something totally unexpected turned up.

Good luck, let us know how things turn out won't you?
Regards
Jock

 

[Ben D]

You'll be around £100 in parts, so the other £230 must be for labour which seems very pricey to me. It would take me about 45 minutes a side on the drive to do.

Price the bits and see if a local independent will fit them.

Cheers

Ben

 

[jimboy]

Actually & I've been banging on about this for years, the rear drum service/change if need be, is not all that hard a job. Grandads, uncles, or mates in the know could show you the ropes, even on interweb there are videos showing you the what for. At the end of the day, this will save you wonga loads of wonga, sorry got a bit carried away..... Night classes is not out of the question If you were anyway near me I would at least show you the fundamentals. Best of luck.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I just can't resist commenting on the statement "Halfords said my brake drums have expanded to the maximum"! Perhaps they could advise on the recommended proceedure to encourage them to contract?then you wouldn't need new ones!!!!

Sorry folks, really rather puerile of me, but I just couldn't resist it! Perhaps someone could invent self trueing drums for those of us with oval ones! Then again, - No. stop it!

I once saw a film about reclaiming crankshaft journals by metal spraying. Very interesting and visually exciting.

 

[jimboy]

Come on Jock, lets face it, Hellfrauds are a business to make money, there I've said it....:devil:

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Come on Jock, lets face it, Hellfrauds are a business to make money, there I've said it....:devil:

Actually, jimboy, I have never needed to avail myself of a Halfords workshop services but I should imagine they would be no better and no worse than any other multi brand repair facility. Our Ibiza Estate is still under warranty and "Uncle Arnold" is looking after it's servicing to preserve warranty - year 3 is up in March. Took a service pack which included its first MOT free and a reasonable saving on the service cost but it still seems a lot of money for what gets done. Until you start to think about the capitol tied up in premises, business rates, staff salaries, and so on. I've only ever bought a new car once before, 1970's it must have been, so for many years now it's been me doing the "fixing" and I've just got used to labour free costs and parts at big discounts. Hurts when you are faced with the bills most other people have to pay! This dealership is a multifranchised outlet with the one workshop (from what I can see) I do wonder how much dedicated training each technician receives and whether it's always a SEAT trained man who works on the SEATs or do they all "muck in" when it gets too busy?

I have to say that our !ocal Halfords (Seafield Edinburgh) are very helpful and I find it useful that they are open at weekends when factors are closed. I am lucky enough to have one of their trade cards which gets quite good prices. Best prices are to be had on Halfords branded goods. I also have a small selection of some of their "Advance" and "Professional" branded tools which are pretty good - don't hold a light to my old ('60's) Britool and Kampfman tools though.

 

[jimboy]

Ah Jock, Halfords tools aside, of which I have several types, here in Inverness or where ever!!! there is no doubt to doubt our doubt, but in all honesty those in the know that these places do indeed work/exist on car owners who are not up to knowledge shall we say. Todays car owners are somewhat far removed from years back when a wee bit of knowledge did exist, sadly puting the fear of god into the pot can lead to £££££ being spent when not needed.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Jim, I think you'll like this. There is a wee family garage about half a mile up the road from me. I love the place - it has that proper old garage smell about it! - Grubby reception counter which you would not lean against in good clothes, equally grubby workshop - no fancy painted floors etc, old Michelin, champion plugs, lodge plugs etc signs and a suitably "gruff" character who owns it. There are a couple of these "rapid" fit workshops quite near and he collects a fair number of their customers for second opinions. A number of years ago he got so fed up with the way they overquoted (his description - quite polite for him!) He started collecting the quotes and marking up his equivalent prices on the sheets with comments as to the tasks that really didn't need to be done. Then displaying them in his reception area! I used to go in just to read them. The local paper even got hold of it and I think it all got to hot and frantic then because I notice he doesn't do it any more. Worth mentioning he also does tyres more cheaply than them and throws in the valve and balance at the price quoted. - A pet hate of mine, when you get a price and , after agreeing, you're then "conned" with the extra price of the valve and balance. Probably the tyre side of things is a bit of a thorn in their side too.

 

[andiebradley]

Hi All,

Thank you for all your input and help, it's appreciated.

I just wanted to keep you updated and let you know that my car has successfully passed it's MOT today!

No mention of the brakes, just says to repair the nearside front and offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover, it says they are severely deteriorated.

Extremely happy that the brakes were fine

Thanks Again all!
Andie

 

[Bernievarian]

Thanks for the update Andie, and congrats for the MOT !

BRs, Bernie