Replacing rear brake pads

wonder_lander · 16 Jul 2008 at 10:39

Cars now on 57k miles and the rear pads are ready for their first replacement.

Alfa Dealer wants £184....what do you think of this price? Car is an 06 GT 1.9JTDm

Car is still under warranty and has FASH and I certainly don't have the time or inclination to DIY! If the price is too high what else should I consider, Kwik fit, nationwide, a.n.other?!

I live in Stone, Staffs and work in Warrington so either of these places are good for alternatives!

Reality Bites · 16 Jul 2008 at 10:48

£184 for rear pads.....jesus!

are they carbon or ceramic or something? I'd phone some places like you've mentioned for quotes if you don't want to do it yourself. I'm not mechanic, but i'd have a go myself as they are easy to do.

blueboy2001 · 16 Jul 2008 at 11:01

Is that for just pads or does it include replacing the discs as well?

The pads will cost no more than £25+VAT from a motor factor and it's no more than an hours labour.

Take it to an independant garage - it should cost no more than £80 really.

AmDaMan · 16 Jul 2008 at 11:16

hopefully it's discs too at that price.

They shouldn't need changing yet though if it's the 1st pad change?

wonder_lander · 16 Jul 2008 at 11:54

Nope, pads only....tried to two Alfa dealers near home and work.

Pads look to be about £45 for OEM

AmDaMan · 16 Jul 2008 at 11:56

So £140 for labour?

They are having your pants down. Pads on the rear take about 1hour max if it's your 1st go.

It's not a specialist job, any garage could do it an they'd probably charge you no more than 1hours labour.

Scottland · 16 Jul 2008 at 11:59

Any competant mechanic should be able to change them and charge an hours labour (£40?), £140 is taking the (!)

wonder_lander · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:07

Do you think it will effect the service history and therefore resale value if I don't get the Stealer to do them?

monkeyspank · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:21

wonder_lander said:
Do you think it will effect the service history and therefore resale value if I don't get the Stealer to do them?

It wouldn't bother me if I was looking at the car.

a1ex2001 · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:30

wonder_lander said:
Do you think it will effect the service history and therefore resale value if I don't get the Stealer to do them?

It would bother some people but equally others wouldn't care or wouldn't notice, personally I can't see it knocking that much off the sale price and if you have to have similar stuff done the cost of the Alfa Steeler will soon out weight the benefits of a full history. Just make sure you get some reciepts etc to show a potential purchaser that you did have it done and I'd probably go for a reputable indy garage rather than quick fit type places as some people have an aversion to them.

wonder_lander · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:34

Cheers for confirming my suspisions

I will ring an alfa indy and see what they quote

Dogbreath · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:41

Scottland said:
Any competant mechanic should be able to change them and charge an hours labour (£40?), £140 is taking the (!)

I don't know of any main dealers charging only £40/hour for labour (probably well over twice that in practice), though £140 is excessive.

IAmATeaf · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:52

Only recently found this out but Honda will do a front or rear pad change for around 80 notes so 184 does sound like a complete rip-off.

Also I personally don't think that getting an indy to replace the pads would affect it's resale value? I mean you certainly don't get your tyres replaced by the main dealer (do you?) and that doesn't seem have a bearing on the resale price.

Scottland · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:54

Dogbreath said:
I don't know of any main dealers charging only £40/hour for labour (probably well over twice that in practice), though £140 is excessive.

Sorry, I should have said - I was reffering to independants. Not familiar with Alfa/Fiat - but I think my local Renault charge £56 an hour. But in practice they most likely quote 2 hours labour

Will having the pads changed at an indy affect his warranty if they're OE pads?

wonder_lander · 16 Jul 2008 at 12:58

Indy has come in at £75+VAT!

dalin80 · 16 Jul 2008 at 13:19

Just done a quick price up and we would charge you £101 inc, thats for ferodo rear pads.

Gaygle · 16 Jul 2008 at 16:21

I seriously can't believe people pay £100 for a brake pad change. For a job like this, there is absolutely no reason to go to an Alfa Romeo independent/dealer. Just a nice independent garage will do it just fine.

Archibald0 · 16 Jul 2008 at 17:05

Instead of making my own thread il post here

I will be changing my rear brake pads, and my front discs and pads. I have bought everything, then I read that apparantly when changing brakes I need new wheel bearings also. Can someone clarify whether it is when changing discs or pads i need new bearings?

SB118 · 16 Jul 2008 at 17:27

Archibald0 said:
Instead of making my own thread il post here

I will be changing my rear brake pads, and my front discs and pads. I have bought everything, then I read that apparantly when changing brakes I need new wheel bearings also. Can someone clarify whether it is when changing discs or pads i need new bearings?

NEVER heard of that one before. Did you hear it from the place that was supplying you with the discs & pads ....

Archibald0 · 16 Jul 2008 at 17:31

SB118 said:
NEVER heard of that one before. Did you hear it from the place that was supplying you with the discs & pads ....

nah i read it on a forum....something about you cant use the old bearing when changing brakes
Im as much as a mechanic as I am a brain surgeon, therefore I run to Ocuk

I have got front discs, pads, brake line, and rear pads. Take it I dont need anything else for them to be fitted?

Also I got quoted 225 for fitting all of that plus changing all my suspension springs for some eibach prolines. Is this a rip off? its with an independant garage