Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Pit Lane. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Any Tame Mechanics here?
Topic Started: Jan 2 2007, 01:55 PM (862 Views)
The STIG
Unregistered

mmm, Switch costs £30, fitting costs another £30...

On top of £70 odd for servicing.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Norbert
Member Avatar

Admin
£70 for a service? I'll just about get the oil, oil filter and air filter on my bike for that!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The STIG
Unregistered

Yeah, well all it needed was Oil and new filters...!
Quote Post Goto Top
 
The STIG
Unregistered

Right. I'm now getting a bit worried...

For... well more than a month, I've been hearing a sort of clicking sound as I release the brake pedal. since it didn't effect performance in any way, I ignored it.

a couple of weeks ago, I went into the back of another car...

And today I pick my car up from being repaired and I'm advised to get the brakes checked because they're inneffectual.

Checked them, they come and go in performance. one moment nowt, next minute really hard braking.

now I'm wondering if the clicking noise has anything to do with it, what it might be, and how can I fix it.

any ideas??
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Steelstallions
Member Avatar
Driver
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
The STIG,May 5 2007
08:36 PM
Right. I'm now getting a bit worried...

For... well more than a month, I've been hearing a sort of clicking sound as I release the brake pedal. since it didn't effect performance in any way, I ignored it.

a couple of weeks ago, I went into the back of another car...

And today I pick my car up from being repaired and I'm advised to get the brakes checked because they're inneffectual.

Checked them, they come and go in performance. one moment nowt, next minute really hard braking.

now I'm wondering if the clicking noise has anything to do with it, what it might be, and how can I fix it.

any ideas??

Master cylinder?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/master-brake.htm

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
wickedwitch
Member Avatar
Driver
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Steelstallions,May 5 2007
10:19 PM
The STIG,May 5 2007
08:36 PM
Right. I'm now getting a bit worried...

For... well more than a month, I've been hearing a sort of clicking sound as I release the brake pedal. since it didn't effect performance in any way, I ignored it.

a couple of weeks ago, I went into the back of another car...

And today I pick my car up from being repaired and I'm advised to get the brakes checked because they're inneffectual.

Checked them, they come and go in performance. one moment nowt, next minute really hard braking.

now I'm wondering if the clicking noise has anything to do with it, what it might be, and how can I fix it.

any ideas??

Master cylinder?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/master-brake.htm

New car? <whistle>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grandslammer
Member Avatar
Chief Engineer
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Don't offer me a lift Kev <unsure> <whistle>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
flood1
Chief Engineer
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Grandslammer,May 5 2007
10:28 PM
Don't offer me a lift Kev <unsure> <whistle>

<roflmao> <roflmao> <help> <please> <busted>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Norbert
Member Avatar

Admin
The STIG,May 5 2007
09:36 PM
And today I pick my car up from being repaired and I'm advised to get the brakes checked because they're inneffectual.

I've had that comment before, and my thought was "Well, why didn't you sort it?". You might find the calipers need to be rebuilt - one of the pistons may be sticky. The pads might be comtaminated with grot, might be worth taking them out and having a look at them for icky stuff or scoring. If you have drums, they might need adjusting or the shoes my need to be replaced. In extreme cases you might find the lining is knackered, in which case you'll have great fun.....

You say the brakes can be good, and can be crap. Do they get better or worse over distance travelled, or is it totally random?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Norbert
Member Avatar

Admin
The STIG,Jan 19 2007
03:04 PM
Yeah, well all it needed was Oil and new filters...!

Could be worse. My bike's had the following stuff done in recent months:

Full service, which is check anything that moves ie suspension, front end, wheels etc, change oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, coolant, balance carbs, and, the worst bit, check the valve clearances (which takes over half a day because it's a V4 engine and both cylinder heads are buried under everything else on the bike!). It also had the chain and sprockets replaced, a new rear tyre and the front calipers stripped and rebuilt. This cost £700, which sounds a lot, but the tyre/chain and sporckets would have been the best part of £200 and I was quoted £50 to do the brakes. Normally it costs about £600 for this service, but fortunately it only comes up about every other year. I also sourced some of the bits myself which (air filter, caliper seals, spark plugs, bleed nipples) between them cost about £140.

New front discs. Existing ones had covered in excess of 97000kms, including 3 winters and a sticky front caliper for a year or two too many. Discs were about £240 including post, new bolts to fix them were roughly £25, and mates rates from my mechanic were roughly £80 inc vat for two hours worth of removal/fitting. I think his normal rate is £45+ vat..... If you think that sounds bad, most car places are way more than that, another friend works for a Volvo dealership, and apparently they're £145+ vat...!!!

Oh well, all I need to do now is stick a new fairing on it to replace the combination of old fairing panels off eBay and duct tape that is the existing mess!! I'd rather make sure the mechanics are sound before the cosmetics....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grandslammer
Member Avatar
Chief Engineer
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Recently had an 'interim' service,series of checks and top ups (dubious ,battery still had untouched dust and grime on it <think> ),change of oil and filter and lashings of grease applied to components
MOT at the same time for £99
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grandslammer
Member Avatar
Chief Engineer
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Norbert,May 6 2007
11:54 AM

Could be worse.  My bike's had the following stuff done in recent months:

'Trigger's' broom comes to mind <whistle> <LOL>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The STIG
Unregistered

Norbert,May 6 2007
11:42 AM
The STIG,May 5 2007
09:36 PM
And today I pick my car up from being repaired and I'm advised to get the brakes checked because they're inneffectual.

I've had that comment before, and my thought was "Well, why didn't you sort it?"

it was a body shop, who don't do mechanical stuff.

Quote:
 

You say the brakes can be good, and can be crap.  Do they get better or worse over distance travelled, or is it totally random?

After a long period of not touching them (i.e. motorways) they are utterly useless. but a stop start journey is normally ok. Then they decide they're going to be arsey and throw up random results.

Normally respond to a couple of pumps as well.

Pads and Discs are 2 years old, drums had new cylinders at the same time, so the shoes could need doing.

Someone has suggested it may be the vacumm tube to the brake servo. could be, but no idea where to find it!
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Steelstallions
Member Avatar
Driver
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
The STIG,May 6 2007
12:28 PM
After a long period of not touching them (i.e. motorways) they are utterly useless. but a stop start journey is normally ok. Then they decide they're going to be arsey and throw up random results.

Normally respond to a couple of pumps as well.

Pads and Discs are 2 years old, drums had new cylinders at the same time, so the shoes could need doing.

Someone has suggested it may be the vacumm tube to the brake servo. could be, but no idea where to find it!

I hope your not still driving round in that car?
If you cannot fix it yourself or afford a reputable garage that can, it should stay off road until you can.
Otherwise instead of rear ending another car like you have already said as happened, the next accident, even at low speed, could be fatal i.e. such as not being able to stop for a pedestrian crossing full of people.


No one wants to be patronised, and i don't want to insult your intelligence, but take a look at these

http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=949

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4572919.stm

http://news.netscape.com/story/2007/04/02/...with-no-brakes/

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Norbert
Member Avatar

Admin
Grandslammer,May 6 2007
12:48 PM
Norbert,May 6 2007
11:54 AM

Could be worse.  My bike's had the following stuff done in recent months:

'Trigger's' broom comes to mind <whistle> <LOL>

Nah, there's still plenty of original bits left, honestly!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Road Cars · Next Topic »
Add Reply