Reply to: At the garage...

[VectraMan]

At a major junction I go through every day, there was a large chunk of brake disc lying in the fourth lane one day - just under half the disc. Could only have got there through a disc shattering as somebody came to a halt at the lights

I cracked both front disks on a trackday once. It made a horrible vibration when you braked, but they still worked. I think you'd have to go a long way ignoring vibrations before they'd actually break in two.

[NickFitz]

Because they can break.

At a major junction I go through every day, there was a large chunk of brake disc lying in the fourth lane one day - just under half the disc. Could only have got there through a disc shattering as somebody came to a halt at the lights

[Scruff]

Disks wear to the pads and both are sacrificial these days. They are designed to do this, since asbestos was removed from the brake pads. The steel that they use now for the disks is softer to account for this. In the past you could have the disks skimmed, but this is no longer feasible.

They are cheap if you buy non-OEM. I have an aforementioned German car and had them all replaced using Pagid disks and brakes and the parts were less than £260 all round. £70 labour to have them done at my house by a local Polish mechanic.

Win win. Next time you need work done on your car 'Skipper, let me know, since you are local to me?

Posted & Edited from Gili Trawangal, Indonesia...🌏

[SpontaneousOrder]

Do kwikfit still do breaks for the life of the car?

If so even if you are being ripped off, keep going back to them and in the long run it won't be too bad.

I know I probably pay a little over the odds for work on my car, but its a tool of the trade, so I would rather that then take the risk that I am laid up at the side of the road one day missing a days billing

Kwik Fit managed, when changing pads & discs on my car, to put two left hand pads in a single calliper. Other half didn't notice enough to think of it and very next mot needed new pads and discs again.

Apart from the fact it could of killed someone.

[SueEllen]

For new tyres.

They tell me the discs and pads need doing too.

Why do discs need to be replaced? Am I being ripped off?

You are being ripped off.

Standard trick by those chain tyre places.

Independent places will refuse to change tyres that they think don't need changing even if you know they only have a few 100 miles left on them and don't have time 2 weeks later to get them changed when you know you have done the miles. You actually have to beg them to change them.

[FatLazyContractor]

Why do discs need to be replaced?

Because they can break.

Am I being ripped off?

Depends. What did you wear to the garage?

[PurpleGorilla]

EXACTLY my point. But cheap tulip trying to stop a big heavy old car like a SEdona 7 seater will warp!

Kia Sedona [emoji102]

[psychocandy]

Discs don't warp. They just don't.

EXACTLY my point. But cheap tulip trying to stop a big heavy old car like a SEdona 7 seater will warp!

[VectraMan]

I knew I recognised your sig but it took me a couple of moments to get it.

You must be almost as old as I am. I bought it when it came out, and I still have it.

Sorry to tell you that it came out three years before I was born.

[expat]

I knew I recognised your sig but it took me a couple of moments to get it.

You must be almost as old as I am. I bought it when it came out, and I still have it.

[VectraMan]

I'd have waited to see if it fails the MOT before replacing disks. It's pretty unlikely anything bad will happen. Pads usually have an audible warning that they're on their last legs; you'll know by the horrendous scraping noise the car is making before they stop working, and you won't ignore that. The likes of KwikFit will tell you they need replacing when they're 60% worn, if they're being honest, knowing full well that most people go "oooh brakes! Oooh must replace those!", whereas it's not dangerous to let them get 99.9% worn.

[vwdan]

The pads are lifetime guaranteed - but each time you go in they'll tell you that your disks need replacing.

Yeah, the Kwik Fit brakes for life is a huge con. And from what I recall they're shockingly expensive for pads, anyway.

There's something in the small print that basically says they'll only honour the free pads if you have any other brake work they recommend anyway.

[Ticktock]

Do kwikfit still do breaks for the life of the car?

The pads are lifetime guaranteed - but each time you go in they'll tell you that your disks need replacing.

[SimonMac]

Do kwikfit still do breaks for the life of the car?

If so even if you are being ripped off, keep going back to them and in the long run it won't be too bad.

I know I probably pay a little over the odds for work on my car, but its a tool of the trade, so I would rather that then take the risk that I am laid up at the side of the road one day missing a days billing

[Support Monkey]

just something else to think about, your average tyre place will get his parts from the local motor factors, they won't be OEM (origional equipment)

Chances are they go for the cheapest part with the biggest markup, they may not last as long as your origional disks\pads