Good Indie in Manchester

[izzi613]

Hi guys

I have had a little search and Jberks recommends Dronsfields and someone else suggests (although not visited) thegarageuk.com though has anyone had personal experience that they would be confirdent in recommending a specialist.

My car says in the operating system "BRAKE WEAR VISIT WORKSHOP" would this be for pads or discs?

The funny thing is that in mid October a Main Dealer gave it a service and MOT and stated that front pads have 60% wear and rear pads 20% wear... Is it normal to use 40% of pads in 2,000 miles? (even with my driving)

If it is the discs the report says front discs are 23.8mm (min permissable 22.4mm) and rear discs are 9.6mm (min permissable 8.3mm) I have never had anything to do with disc thickness so would not know what this means. Does anyone know how thick they are to start with and what their ware rate is like?

Many thanks

 

[Blobcat]

Discs generally wear at half the rate of the pads. So if the pads last ~30K miles the pads should be good for ~60K miles. Or at least they are for my car. The inicator comes on when the pads are worn down, depending upong where you take it you may or may not be advised to replace the discs.

 

[television]

Hello Jacob.
First the visit workshop has nothing to do with disc, only the pads.
The minimum thickness means how much metal has worn off the disc, by looking at the lip on the edge is a handy indication, and thats what I use as a quick guide. The fronts will wear faster than the rear due to the 72% presure distribution. the 28% to the rear often means that they will rust or corrode before wearing out. As a rough guide 40k should be an average for the front and 50-60k rear.

Re the pads,they can be seen by putting the car on full lock and looking from the rear, the rear can be seen through the holes in most wheels. Most cars also only have wear indicators on the front, though the top of range models do have rear sensors,mine has and is the first one that I have seen with them.
I would have said that you only need new pads front, and that you have at least 15k left in the disc.

Malcolm

 

[daveenty]

Greenvale are an independant in Whitefield (Off Moss Lane somewhere, Google should find them).

There's also one I've been told about in Radcliffe, but I still can't find it. Not through lack of looking either

Will let you know when/if I come across it.

 

[izzi613]

Thanks Blobcat, Television and Daveentry by the way I do know where Ramsbottom is

Thing is Television I have had a look at the pads and they do not seem worn down. They were last changed at 43K (currently 81.7K) although it is likely they have been changed since by looking at the photos what do you think?

The discs however were also changed then so would be due for replacement, they do look quite worn, could a fault possibly be showing if the disc is badly worn so that it makes the pad look worn? If you see what i'm getting at...

Thanks again guys

 

[Blobcat]

Thanks Blobcat, Television and Daveentry by the way I do know where Ramsbottom is

There's a joke there somewhere, where is Barry when you need him

 

[izzi613]

no not a joke just pressed post quick reply by mistake

Full post to follow shortly SEE ABOVE

Sorry...

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Most cars also only have wear indicators on the front, though the top of range models do have rear sensors,mine has and is the first one that I have seen with them.

My van has (had) front and rear sensors but I whipped them off about 18 months ago due to false warnings especialy when damp.

Malcolm/television since posted an item about copperslip on the back of pads causing false readings due to electrolytic differences and I reckon this was my problem as all the wires and bits checked out ok. It doesn't matter to me as the pads last about 60k but the wheels are off about every 15k so I can easily monitor wear the old fashioned visual way.

Your pads look like they have plenty of life left so perhaps this is also your problem. A wheel off inspection would be sensible and then perhaps do away with the sensors if you are happy to do this (I left the plug in but cut the wire so as to avoid muck and corrosion in the connectors if I ever wanted to refit wear sensors)

Its good to know my van is classed as a top model by Malcolm

 

[izzi613]

Daveenty are Greenvale any good?

Thanks Sprint would replacing the sensors not sort the problem. I dont really fancy butchering my new car...

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Greenvale are pretty decent, I've used them a couple of times and they're pretty down to earth. They always have lots of nice old cars to gawp at Hourly rates are about £45 IIRC.

They're about a 2 minute walk from Whitefield Metrolink station so you can get a Tram into manchester and have a coffee and a newspaper - theres SFA in Whitefield.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Daveenty are Greenvale any good?

Thanks Sprint would replacing the sensors not sort the problem. I dont really fancy butchering my new car...

The sensors (and the wires attached to them that I cut) are disposable items that are usualy replaced with the pads. They only cost a pound or two and it doesn't mean butchering your car. you can always go back to having them if you wish.

 

[daveenty]

Daveenty are Greenvale any good?

Don't know m8, never used them, though I know POD has. They've got to be better than the place at Besses though.....(you know the one I mean, train the kids to be test pilots in customers cars) Mine's due a *B* service in a couple of thousand and I'll be taking it to Bolton for the last MB stamp for the warranty.

theres SFA in Whitefield.

Less than that now....They've just knocked more of it down. Bury's just down the road though
World famous market and all that

 

[izzi613]

Thanks POD I'll pop there shortly.

I only live about 5 mins drive away.

By the way do you think my pads look worn? Pictures above.

Cheers

 

[izzi613]

Thanks for the warning about Besses I expect you've had trouble there.

I must say the service team (currently in portacabins) have been quite helpful when I last popped in but over the phone I have had awful trouble trying to get a quote for Mercedes Service Plus! What about the one in Manchester Central, (behind city's ground) They're nearer to me than Bolton?

P.s. excuse my ignorance but what is an SFA?

 

[izzi613]

The sensors (and the wires attached to them that I cut) are disposable items that are usualy replaced with the pads. They only cost a pound or two and it doesn't mean butchering your car. you can always go back to having them if you wish.

Thanks Sprint, I'll take you advice and have a wheel off inspection first though. With the inclement weather I don't want to be taking any risks...

Cheers