Dealing with garages that cant fix a problem?

FlamBango · 23 Nov 2023 at 15:13

Ok so im getting a very loud noise when i press the brake pedal. I assumed it was the calipers sticking. The discs and pads are 2 weeks old. The old ones were warped to hell and juddering badly when braking , so put new ones in. Im assuming that the vibrations knackered something else around the brakes over time.

Fast forward to now. I have taken the car to a garage regarding the noise when braking. They think its the discs and want to replace them at quite a cost, the fronts. I'm not convinced this will fix the issue as the discs are new and there is no new juddering, still cutting them in and driving very carefully! So my question is what comeback do i have if the noise is still there after the work is done. Get my money back? Get them to fix it properly and take the cost of the new set of brakes off? I'm not an overly confrontational person so its not too easy to stand there and argue

Up until now ive been really happy over the years with the garage, so its frustrating that they cant diagnose this issue right away.

lordrobs · 23 Nov 2023 at 15:31

All you can do is ask them why they think that the discs are the problem and give your opinion that they most likely aren't using the justification you've just given here. Then based on what they say it is either a case of letting them get on with it, if you think their justification is valid, or get a second opinion.

I've had a garage fit a part unnecessarily (an alternator to fix an issue with the lights dipping periodically) and then managed to get them to refund the full cost of the works. Its a PITA you want to avoid if at all possible. In my case I'd explained what I thought the problem might be related to and also explained to them why I didn't think that a new alternator would fix it but also explained that I'm not a mechanic and if they were confident that would resolve the problem to go ahead. With that set out they didn't really have too much of an argument against my request for a refund when I was able to demonstrate the problem was still there within 30 seconds of starting the car up.

Mysterae_ · 23 Nov 2023 at 15:41

That's annoying, a lot of garages employ the "swap it and see" mentality rather than spend time diagnosing the issue.

sigma · 23 Nov 2023 at 18:05

If they can prove there is a problem with the 2 week old discs then surely you will get a refund form the manufacturer? Assuming it's a manufacturing fault, if it isn't then they need to fix what's causing the fault to occur.

Diagro · 23 Nov 2023 at 18:11

Mysterae_ said:
That's annoying, a lot of garages employ the "swap it and see" mentality rather than spend time diagnosing the issue.

At the customers expense too. Criminal

FlamBango · 23 Nov 2023 at 18:25

sigma said:
If they can prove there is a problem with the 2 week old discs then surely you will get a refund form the manufacturer? Assuming it's a manufacturing fault, if it isn't then they need to fix what's causing the fault to occur.

yeah thats fair enough. If the new discs are fine with a couple of days driving then i will assume they were the issue. I dont know how they would provide evidence though. This whole area is quite grey and trading standards dont really say a lot about this sort of situation. I know theyve done good work for me before so no reason to think they wont now, they just dont seem 100% it will solve things. Ive always assume replacing discs / pads was one of the easiest jobs that could be done so struggle to see how a new set could make this noise when you brake. Anyway, fingers crossed it will be solved.

BUDFORCE · 23 Nov 2023 at 18:47

Have you had a look yourself?

What kind of noise, high pitched squeezing I assume?

Garages don't like it when you DIY stuff that goes wrong then want them to fix it. I would only be taking that as a last resort, then I'd probably lie and say it was another garage or a "mate" that did it.

If it was just squealing but otherwise operating fine, just at take the brake assembly, pads, disc off, give everything a really good clean, give the caliper a good clean, use plenty of brake cleaner.

Grease the back of the pads and other contact points with copper grease, and the piston and other moving parts in red silicon grease, grease in between the hub and wheel before you replace. I'd be amazed if that doesn't sort it.

Rroff · 23 Nov 2023 at 18:53

Mysterae_ said:
That's annoying, a lot of garages employ the "swap it and see" mentality rather than spend time diagnosing the issue.

Problem I've been having a lot in recent years - few places want to do an actual diagnostic job any more and even when they do they just stop at the first possible cause and want to replace that to see if the problem goes away

radderfire · 23 Nov 2023 at 18:55

FlamBango said:
Ok so im getting a very loud noise when i press the brake pedal. I assumed it was the calipers sticking. The discs and pads are 2 weeks old. The old ones were warped to hell and juddering badly when braking , so put new ones in. Im assuming that the vibrations knackered something else around the brakes over time.

Out of interest what is the model and age of the car?

gc123 · 23 Nov 2023 at 19:23

Rroff said:
Problem I've been having a lot in recent years - few places want to do an actual diagnostic job any more and even when they do they just stop at the first possible cause and want to replace that to see if the problem goes away

hehe when i was running the garage we had a old part timer working for us ..his favourite saying was but why... but why did it stop working etc.
like me he would take stuff apart to try and find a fault. one night we had a problem with a old fiesta xr2 , engine fault intermittent.
basically customer wanted it fixed fast so as luck i had a part harness which we fitted. next morning the old guy came in with the old harness we had swapped completely stripped even the connectors removed (and i mean not cut but un picked so as to be used again if needed) and showed me several corroded /broken cables that were just making contact....
god i miss the talks i had with that guy...
nowadays folk dont want to pay for in depth fault finding its often quicker to just keep replacing parts unfortunatly,

on a similar vein i just purchased and fitted some pir lights on my garage, one of them turns out to have a fault, so i contacted the seller and explained and he send me a massage saying no worries he will replace the light foc.

so i took the old one apart and it was a transistor not soldered ,one leg just touching causing the problem, anyways messages him to tell him i repaired it and not to worry with the replacement ,and he tells me no bother hes already dispatched it and i can keep it as a spare??.

todays society...

Gaygle · 23 Nov 2023 at 19:37

FlamBango said:
Ok so im getting a very loud noise when i press the brake pedal. I assumed it was the calipers sticking. The discs and pads are 2 weeks old. The old ones were warped to hell and juddering badly when braking , so put new ones in. Im assuming that the vibrations knackered something else around the brakes over time.

Fast forward to now. I have taken the car to a garage regarding the noise when braking. They think its the discs and want to replace them at quite a cost, the fronts. I'm not convinced this will fix the issue as the discs are new and there is no new juddering, still cutting them in and driving very carefully! So my question is what comeback do i have if the noise is still there after the work is done. Get my money back? Get them to fix it properly and take the cost of the new set of brakes off? I'm not an overly confrontational person so its not too easy to stand there and argue Up until now ive been really happy over the years with the garage, so its frustrating that they cant diagnose this issue right away.

Back up...

Firstly what "very loud noise" are you getting? Describe it if you can. Do you get it when you brake or do you get it all the time? Does is it louder when you are braking at higher speeds?

Secondly, did you fit the parts? If so, what brand parts did you fit? Are they the correct parts?

Thirdly, what make/model/year car is it?

Fourth, are you getting juddering from braking or just "very loud noise"?

Rroff · 23 Nov 2023 at 19:40

gc123 said:
nowadays folk dont want to pay for in depth fault finding its often quicker to just keep replacing parts unfortunatly,

That is true, but personally I don't mind paying, but even then it is hard to find someone who'll do a proper job on it.

sigma · 23 Nov 2023 at 19:42

gc123 said:
hehe when i was running the garage we had a old part timer working for us ..his favourite saying was but why... but why did it stop working etc.
like me he would take stuff apart to try and find a fault. one night we had a problem with a old fiesta xr2 , engine fault intermittent.
basically customer wanted it fixed fast so as luck i had a part harness which we fitted. next morning the old guy came in with the old harness we had swapped completely stripped even the connectors removed (and i mean not cut but un picked so as to be used again if needed) and showed me several corroded /broken cables that were just making contact....
god i miss the talks i had with that guy...
nowadays folk dont want to pay for in depth fault finding its often quicker to just keep replacing parts unfortunatly,

on a similar vein i just purchased and fitted some pir lights on my garage, one of them turns out to have a fault, so i contacted the seller and explained and he send me a massage saying no worries he will replace the light foc.

so i took the old one apart and it was a transistor not soldered ,one leg just touching causing the problem, anyways messages him to tell him i repaired it and not to worry with the replacement ,and he tells me no bother hes already dispatched it and i can keep it as a spare??.

todays society...

Similarily I couldn't find a mechanic who would refurbish some brake calipers for me. Why bother when you can earn the same by charging people the same hourly rate to change some discs?

FlamBango · 23 Nov 2023 at 21:27

Gaygle said:
Back up...

Firstly what "very loud noise" are you getting? Describe it if you can. Do you get it when you brake or do you get it all the time? Does is it louder when you are braking at higher speeds?

Secondly, did you fit the parts? If so, what brand parts did you fit? Are they the correct parts?

Thirdly, what make/model/year car is it?

Fourth, are you getting juddering from braking or just "very loud noise"?

2008 honda CRV
I haven't touched it.
It's a metallic whine, loud, when you softly apply the brakes, stays noisy briefly when you lift off which made me think of sticky callipers. They think the disk is warped but I don't feel any judder at all.

Semple · 23 Nov 2023 at 21:40

Rroff said:
That is true, but personally I don't mind paying, but even then it is hard to find someone who'll do a proper job on it.

Are you sure? What happens if a few hours of diagnostics doesn't bear any fruit?

Most people don't mind paying for a bit of diagnostics if it's guaranteed to solve the issue, but people get pretty upset after a garage has spent hours troubleshooting and still can't find the issue, but still require the bill to be settled.

radderfire · 23 Nov 2023 at 21:52

I suggest also asking your question on an owners' club website, I found:

New brakes squealing since day after replacement.

Hello, I had my front rotors and pads replaced, calipers inspected and slider pins lubed three weeks ago on my D-Tec 2012. About a day or or two after the service i started hearing a faint squeal coming when moderately braking (this noise is not present when lightly or highly pressing the...

www.crvownersclub.com

Also, Google "Honda CRV noisy brakes" and look at some of the many results.

Nasher · 23 Nov 2023 at 21:53

Most garages just seem to swap out parts now, not actually investigate and fix things thoroughly.

If you need a part refurbishing etc, you'll probably have to send it off somewhere. Even a garage I used did it with some brakes, they didn't have anyone who could do it :/

In the IT world that was known as a swap-out engineer. Don't really know why something has gone wrong or how to fix complex problems.

bobuk · 24 Nov 2023 at 10:39

Who replaced the pads and disc's? Could be a carrier not torqued up pad incorrectly fitted shim left out for the pads, cannt see it being the ciscs through. Might be nothing to do with the brakes has you had the noise before replacing the brakes.

red eye · 25 Nov 2023 at 02:50

FlamBango said:
Ok so im getting a very loud noise when i press the brake pedal. I assumed it was the calipers sticking. The discs and pads are 2 weeks old. The old ones were warped to hell and juddering badly when braking , so put new ones in. Im assuming that the vibrations knackered something else around the brakes over time.

Fast forward to now. I have taken the car to a garage regarding the noise when braking. They think its the discs and want to replace them at quite a cost, the fronts. I'm not convinced this will fix the issue as the discs are new and there is no new juddering, still cutting them in and driving very carefully! So my question is what comeback do i have if the noise is still there after the work is done. Get my money back? Get them to fix it properly and take the cost of the new set of brakes off? I'm not an overly confrontational person so its not too easy to stand there and argue Up until now ive been really happy over the years with the garage, so its frustrating that they cant diagnose this issue right away.

What kind of noise? Squealing would be the pad vibrating, maybe anti rattle shims missing, a loud clunk could be loose pad carrier bolts but this will only happen once when applying brakes. You Dont want to leave them bolts loose.
Some cheap pads like to squeal.

G J · 25 Nov 2023 at 23:31

Take the car back to the place who did the discs and pads two weeks ago if the noise was not there before they replaced the discs and pads then its something they did when installing the new ones, maybe something they overlooked.

If the calipers where an issue I would have thought they would have checked the condition of the them and tested if needed before fitting the new discs and pads otherwise give it time and they will need to be changed again.