Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Radar on 15 July 2008, 21:01:16

Title: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Radar on 15 July 2008, 21:01:16
Wanted to share my experience of yesterday (apologies if this is common knowledge)

Apparently vauxhall offer 2 qualities of discs (one as part of the disc/pad set (non german) and discs only (german made).
 
As an experiment I called up Vauxhall for front discs only. They refused to offer saying that the only ones they do come as part of the set and were about £80 with TC. Handed phone to my mechanic (ex- Vauxhall) who was offered the german made discs for about £160!!

He advises he has had too many comebacks with sticking issues on the vauxhall disc/pad sets and instead recommends a german made brand (maybe Lucas? can't remember)

Just wanted to share this and wondered what discs others have found good? I understand most people will not pay for the german made discs but there is a principle involved. I wondered if others think it is not always best to fit genuine parts?

I have 77K on the clock so hopefully still lots of miles still left in the miggy!!
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: tunnie on 15 July 2008, 21:21:47
fitted the disc set (£80) here to mine about 2 years ago, still going strong!

With pads, it puts the total cost to around £200 for the 'german' set?

Can't see them lasting twice as long as the £80 set.
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Radar on 15 July 2008, 21:39:27
Quote
fitted the disc set (£80) here to mine about 2 years ago, still going strong!

With pads, it puts the total cost to around £200 for the 'german' set?

Can't see them lasting twice as long as the £80 set.


Cheers for sharing your experience and happy to hear your set has given you no probs. This is all I want from my new set.

Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: tunnie on 15 July 2008, 21:41:29
Quote
Quote
fitted the disc set (£80) here to mine about 2 years ago, still going strong!

With pads, it puts the total cost to around £200 for the 'german' set?

Can't see them lasting twice as long as the £80 set.


Cheers for sharing your experience and happy to hear your set has given you no probs. This is all I want from my new set.


I have fitted the same set to my dads 2.2, again, no issues there.

Got a box in the boot of mine, yup you guessed it the set. Going on my mums 3.0 Elite Estate...

Must say never really heard of any problems with them, it tends to be when they are fitted wrong you get issues.

We have a guide here on how to do it  :y
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Big_Roger on 15 July 2008, 21:49:39
Hi All,
Just a bit peeved to find out from Radar,s thread about different versions of brake discs from different countries. Do they have different part numbers???

About 3 or 4 weeks ago I bought special clearance offer disc and pad set £50 from ebay, to keep for if / when I ever need them.
To check they were the bargain that they claimed them to be, I checked local Vx dealer, and like your friend, was quoted £155

Arrived OK and yes were genuine GM. surprised to find that Discs made in Czechoslovakia, and Pads in India. So what, global manufacturing.

I'm sure they will be OK if and when I do come to use them, but very dissappointed that my price comparison was not from a level playing field, and that no comment about cheaper or different versions of parts available.

Do I understand right that GM now have "genuine" and "more genuine" parts ??

Roger
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Radar on 15 July 2008, 22:05:56
Quote
Hi All,
Just a bit peeved to find out from Radar,s thread about different versions of brake discs from different countries. Do they have different part numbers???

About 3 or 4 weeks ago I bought special clearance offer disc and pad set £50 from ebay, to keep for if / when I ever need them.
To check they were the bargain that they claimed them to be, I checked local Vx dealer, and like your friend, was quoted £155

Arrived OK and yes were genuine GM. surprised to find that Discs made in Czechoslovakia, and Pads in India. So what, global manufacturing.

I'm sure they will be OK if and when I do come to use them, but very dissappointed that my price comparison was not from a level playing field, and that no comment about cheaper or different versions of parts available.

Do I understand right that GM now have "genuine" and "more genuine" parts ??

Roger
Apparently so for the discs, but they will never admit it to the likes of you and me. I suppose the decision you need to make is whether to go for genunie parts made in czech/india or for non gen. german made. Obviously Tunnie's experience shows there are no issues with the disc/pad set. It makes no sense for the stealer to promote the more expensive discs if their standard ones give them equal/more profit. Also as cars get older you are less likely to pay that top dollar price.
  
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: davlad22 on 16 July 2008, 02:09:19
Don't understand the "handed phone to my mechanic" bit!?! Probably in it for a bit of profit!  ;D
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 16 July 2008, 09:02:57
Right, time to set things straight.

If you buy discs seperatly from the kits, they are same as those supplied with the kits. IF you buy original fit discs then they are more expensive but, made to the same specs and made in germany.

The reason being is that if you are running 200-300K cars off a production line, it makes sense to have local supply and not ship heavy items half way across the planet.

For the aftermarket, where the volumes will be lower and the vehicles are now spread across the globe, it makes sense to move the production to a lower cost site and take the hit on the transportation costs and hence why they are made outside of germany (which is a very expensive place to make anything!)

However, Gm still offer these Original fit parts at massive cost (because they are now small production runs in a high cost environment) yet, the quality is not better than the kits!

So, stick with the kits!
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Jimbob on 16 July 2008, 09:09:33
Quote
Right, time to set things straight.

If you buy discs seperatly from the kits, they are same as those supplied with the kits. IF you buy original fit discs then they are more expensive but, made to the same specs and made in germany.

The reason being is that if you are running 200-300K cars off a production line, it makes sense to have local supply and not ship heavy items half way across the planet.

For the aftermarket, where the volumes will be lower and the vehicles are now spread across the globe, it makes sense to move the production to a lower cost site and take the hit on the transportation costs and hence why they are made outside of germany (which is a very expensive place to make anything!)

However, Gm still offer these Original fit parts at massive cost (because they are now small production runs in a high cost environment) yet, the quality is not better than the kits!

So, stick with the kits!


Guessing that is the same when you commented on my new exhaust being a 'fully genuine one from Germany'
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Richard A on 16 July 2008, 09:43:21
Vauxhall introduced 'Trade Club' as to compete with independent motor factors, as stated the 'front dics and pad set' is a GM item but as Omega's are no longer in production they are replacement/spares only. If, for a laugh you take your car to a dealers for new 'discs and pads' they will fit the Trade Club set, no idea what they would charge for.
Fitted a'set' at 100,000 miles, 09/06, just fitted new pads at 145,000 miles (due to a fluid leak) pads only half worn.
regards
richard a  
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Radar on 16 July 2008, 13:46:36
Quote
Don't understand the "handed phone to my mechanic" bit!?! Probably in it for a bit of profit!  ;D

Hi There,

I handed the phone to my mechanic as the stealer said they do not sell the discs just by themselves. It was only after my mechanic spoke with the stealer that he did offer the discs on their own (albeit at a much higher price) HTH
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: tmx on 16 July 2008, 16:39:29
i got a set of MINTEX Extreme Discs & Pads for myn off a local top gear agent for £150 good price i thought!

fitted them as i had problems with my brakes and now my car stops properly!!!!

Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Pitchfork on 16 July 2008, 19:15:04
I was thinking Mintex as well because they appear competitively priced on e-bay.
Is there any advantage in fitting vented discs regardless of the manufacturer, as these too seen heavily promoted on e-bay?
I've acheived 140K out of the originals so I don't exactly break hard (it is a Traktor after all!)
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: psychnurse on 16 July 2008, 19:22:30
So.... how would you define the disks as needing replacing? Is it a visual thing or are there sympoms?
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Markie on 16 July 2008, 19:31:12
Quote
So.... how would you define the disks as needing replacing? Is it a visual thing or are there sympoms?


Deep scores, thinness of disc, judders and shudders under braking, thickness of pad themselves are all indicators of brake discs/ pads that have seen better days.

Kickback and heat may indicate sticky caliper / piston in the caliper...

Pulling to one side under braking may just may also indicate issues generally with brakes... As is the fact you may not stop... ;D
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: psychnurse on 16 July 2008, 19:32:59
Quote
Quote
So.... how would you define the disks as needing replacing? Is it a visual thing or are there sympoms?


Deep scores, thinness of disc, judders and shudders under braking, thickness of pad itself are all indicators of brakes that have seen better days.

As is the fact you may not stop... :(






Think mine are ok then! Despite appearing a little weared. Thanks for that Markie.  :y
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Richard A on 16 July 2008, 20:00:17
I must of missed something !! What made 'tmx' pay £150 for Mintex discs and pads when GM discs and pads are £90 (TC) ??? also for 'pitchfork' the GM discs and pads are 'vented'. I have bought several sets of GM discs and pads at Trade Club price for friends plus myself, they are of excellent qualityand no problems have ever been reported.
regards
richard a
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: LaserLance on 16 July 2008, 20:29:10
i fitted a set of mintex to me tractor about 2 months ago ,so far been fine but as i only do small amount off miles dont think  im are gonna worry to much over cost of them £70 4 a set ( got them through local factors via our workshop) mine were scored got a advissery from MOT so thought better change them before next time its . as its only got 40 k on clock still think wear is a bit bad ,either that i'll have to stop driving it like me 44t volvo truck  :)
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: tmx on 16 July 2008, 21:07:26
Richard they are mintex extreme ones drilled vented & grooved!
with mintex track extreme pads

signs of naffed discs on myn were shaking when brakeing and wineing from rear wheels and overheating problems

Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: psychnurse on 16 July 2008, 21:10:02
Quote
Richard they are mintex extreme ones drilled vented & grooved!
with mintex track extreme pads

signs of naffed discs on myn were shaking when brakeing and wineing from rear wheels and overheating problems




where locally wa that mate  :y ::) Might get some  ::)
Title: Re: VAUXHALL FRONT DISC AND PAD SETS
Post by: Richard A on 17 July 2008, 09:33:44
Sorry 'tmx' sound a good spec, you race do you !!  ;) ;)

regards
richard a