Technical Marea FAILED MOT

[vmaxzile]

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.

 

[01marea16v]

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

 

[Pete W]

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

 

[hagar]

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

 

[vmaxzile]

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

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

 

[tinytim]

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

 

[vmaxzile]

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.

 

[johnson550]

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

 

[Hellcat]

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.

 

[vmaxzile]

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.