Had discs and pads done today at West 3 Garage (Parts supplied by me). Seemed a pretty good setup with lots of BMWs of various ages coming through and friendly staff. Better price than my nearest Indy, but still smarts a bit at £95 + v.a.t. per hour when a job quoted at 2 3/4 hours is completed in well under 2… At least wait to let me know it’s done and we can both pretend it was worth the money! I’d still make the trip to Ross @ RBM for bigger work but would happily use again for regular servicing/ emergency
West3Garage Acton
- Thread starter veryverydarkblue
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Other way round, surely :lol:SonnyA85 said:
Attleborough, Norfolk
Given that you have to first remove the pads, then the calliper, then the calliper carrier, then hope the retaining screw isn't seized, how in (insert preferred deity here)'s name do you find the discs easier than pads???SonnyA85 said:
Methinks 'your mechanic' could have found himself a little goldmine. :wink:
SonnyA85 said:
Driveways, convenient garages and competent mechanics are in short supply in these parts. Money less so. Thanks for your contribution :wink:
North West Surrey
You guys clearly have never used a piston winder tool before when doing brake pads. Not the hardest job but I'd say a smidge harder than removing a bolt or two and swapping over new discs.
The last time I did brakes was on the Lexus and I never had the tool and had to go buy one luckily had 2 other cars to hand otherwise I would have been stuffed. Was impossible to wind it back fully using pliers and Various other tools I tried before deciding a trip to get one was required. I could have done it by taking the nipple off and letting some brake fluid come out but that wouldn't have been ideal.
Least I know now that it's a completely different brake setup on the hybrids and they never need changing regularly. 150k miles can be done on a set of pads because of regenerative braking if you drive carefully. The pads only get used under emergency and hard braking.
The last time I did brakes was on the Lexus and I never had the tool and had to go buy one luckily had 2 other cars to hand otherwise I would have been stuffed. Was impossible to wind it back fully using pliers and Various other tools I tried before deciding a trip to get one was required. I could have done it by taking the nipple off and letting some brake fluid come out but that wouldn't have been ideal.
Least I know now that it's a completely different brake setup on the hybrids and they never need changing regularly. 150k miles can be done on a set of pads because of regenerative braking if you drive carefully. The pads only get used under emergency and hard braking.
:? regenerative braking has nothing to do with brake pads does it? .. thought its your vehicle storing kinetic energy.. edit.. it appears it does on hybrids.. thats something new learnt 
Yes, but you still have to get the pads backed out for both jobs! Easier task but more effort overall :lol:SonnyA85 said:
It doesn't have anything to do with the pads directly, i.e. the energy isn't recovered from them. Same stopping force requires less brake pad force so they wear less.mr.tourette said::? regenerative braking has nothing to do with brake pads does it? .. thought its your vehicle storing kinetic energy.. edit.. it appears it does on hybrids.. thats something new learnt
I am now at the point where I have to ask. Are you simply trolling us?SonnyA85 said:
Do you even remotely understand anything mechanical?
I'm keen to see you 'remove a bolt or two' and change a disc without removing anything else first, including the pads.
If I need advice on landscaping I'll get back to you, but car stuff??? Nah.
Scooba_Steve said:It doesn't have anything to do with the pads directly, i.e. the energy isn't recovered from them. Same stopping force requires less brake pad force so they wear less.mr.tourette said::? regenerative braking has nothing to do with brake pads does it? .. thought its your vehicle storing kinetic energy.. edit.. it appears it does on hybrids.. thats something new learnt
Which is a good thing. I hopefully won't need to do them ever again because they wear so little. Depends on how you drive but the wife is the main driver on that car so they should last unless a caliper seizes but I plan on changing the brake fluid yearly rather than the 4 years lexus recommends.