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[Vamps]

Hmmmm, my discs struggle with 40k on most cars I've had

Same here, pads lasted around 35k but discs buggered now, really should replace.

But blimey, £300 for a set of discs for a Punto

Thats some profit for discs and pads at trade price what about £30 or less.
My local garage puts the parts replaced in your boot to prove whats been done and it saves him paying for disposal

I use a local independent for all our cars, same guy for years and I knew him when he was a youngster.... Not the cheapest, but fair, reliable and always shows you the old part...........

[spin]

i took a transit van to a local garage for an exhaust when the tech called me over and said that he had measured my front discs and that they were worn to excess so i told him to replace them it was about £150 fitted, six weeks later i took the same van in for a rear tyre And was told by the same tech that my front discs were worn to excess, i said well they dont last long then do they, he said what do you mean his boss was listening and said that the tech hadnt calibrated the vernier caliper proper and had made a mistake, so i told him i was going to trading standards, he gave me a free tyre and my money back for the earlier exhaust as a way of an apology.

[Markjay]

1. Dealers will quote for new discs/pads if the deem that the current ones will not last until the next scheduled service. And with service schedules on modern cars seriously stretched, that means that even discs/pads that have quite some life left in them will be recommended for renewal.

2. 38k does not say much... brakes are like clutches, their life depends on the way they are used and not on mileage. My elderly father gets 100k out of his clutch, my wife gets around 20k. But my father does motorway driving while my wife does the school run... with traffic lights and speed bumps everywhere. So I don't think you can conclude much from this figure alone without knowing how the car has been driven.

3. Said that, it only implies that from the information provided in the post it is not possible to tell that the dealer was dishonest. But it does not necessarily mean that the work was actually needed either... As some of the replies highlight there are quite a few rogue ones out there.

4. In summary I think that if the dealer contacted the car owner, explained the situation, quoted a price, and received approval, he acted according to accepted standards and it will be impossible now to prove any wrong doing.

Hope this helps....

[eddie]

Find out how much the parts are to buy.

Write to your main dealer quoting the parts price and complain bitterly about the excessive cost of getting those parts fitted.
And then go elsewhere in future.

eddie

[Squealey]

I actually had the complete opposite problem with the pads on my 56 plate Corolla Verso.

Went in for its service one week, 9 days later was coming off the A1/M and had a grinding noise coming from the front. It was 4:45am and I had to get to Liverpool so drove it there straight to a Toyota dealer, they told me the pads were metal to metal and I had ruined the discs by getting it to them (honestly, at that time in the morning I had very little choice). Ended up getting the lease company who owned the car involved who then instructed all their Toyota owners not to use my branch under any circumstances. Didn't take the dealer long to stump up for new discs and pads, and i always got a better service and courtesy car from that point on

Wayne

[Shackeng]

Reminds me of a story I heard from someone who went to ATS for a new tyre. Got it done and then told that the car needed new discs and pads on the fronts (was a front tyre that needed replacing) due to excesive wear on them.

He answer was 'I do not think so'
Reply 'Yes they are near the minimum'
'Can not be as they were replaced at the dealers 1 month ago and its only done 200miles since then'
He only paid for a tyre.

A tip I use when getting a car serviced is to mark the parts to be changed with an ultraviolet pen in a hidden type place. Then when rung to say its ready to collect go to the reception, sit and read the reciept with all the work carried out and then ask to see the car before paying.

Then, in full view of the reception, look at all the parts changed with the relevant torch. If the maqrks are gone then you know they have done the job, if they are still there then you know somethings screwy. I always say that I want to see all the replaced parts before paying the bill. Means I can check to see if the mark is on them as well.

Have got a free service this way as I made a complaint as they had not replaced 3 of the parts on a service but asked me to pay for it. Having the office full of potental new buyers/service customers worked very well.

Citroen GS in the late 70's ., put new front pads on,put the box in the boot, MOT the next day, FAIL on front pads worn!!! Much embarrassment, and free MOT

[2woody]

there's a couple of issues here....

the driver is responsible for the condition of his or her vehicle. Period. That means that the condition of wear components is the driver's responsibility, not the garage.

front pads must be able to be inspected without taking the wheel off BY LAW, so it's easy to do.

always, but always get the old parts back - that's the best way to make sure that they're changed.

make sure you get someone who knows what they're talking about to go to the dealers. Now I know that's a horrible thing to say and quite discriminatory, but it's true I'm afraid. Going to a garage and saying "change what you think" is hardly compatible with a small bill.

[2woody]

there's a couple of issues here....

the driver is responsible for the condition of his or her vehicle. Period. That means that the condition of wear components is the driver's responsibility, not the garage.

front pads must be able to be inspected without taking the wheel off BY LAW, so it's easy to do.

always, but always get the old parts back - that's the best way to make sure that they're changed.

make sure you get someone who knows what they're talking about to go to the dealers. Now I know that's a horrible thing to say and quite discriminatory, but it's true I'm afraid. Going to a garage and saying "change what you think" is hardly compatible with a small bill.

oh yes, and the brake discs on the track car are changed every 400 miles !

[Andy B]

.......

the driver is responsible for the condition of his or her vehicle. Period. That means that the condition of wear components is the driver's responsibility, not the garage. ......

I wish that applied at MOT time. 

PS I think you meant FULL STOP ..... Yanks have a 'period' 

[jonnycool]

I think most garages would fail to con most members on here, being quite savvy, but some of the more dodgy garages can spot potential victims a mile off. Most would pay and be quite relieved that a problem had been sorted out.
I personally like it when I get given the old parts back as proof of work done and the reason for it

[Kevin Wood]

make sure you get someone who knows what they're talking about to go to the dealers. Now I know that's a horrible thing to say and quite discriminatory, but it's true I'm afraid. Going to a garage and saying "change what you think" is hardly compatible with a small bill.

Precisely. And, if I were in a business of looking after people's cars and someone came in giving the impression that they know sweet F.A. I would service the car on the basis that it won't receive any attention in the next year unless it breaks down and stops moving of its' own accord. I would look at the brake pads and ask myself if they'll last another year and, if not, change them.

Kevin