Any mechanics?

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StevepageStevepage Frets: 3038
edited October 2018 in Off Topic
Just had a new timing belt and water pump fitted on my 2012 Mondeo. Ford also did an all round check and have flagged that the rear trailing arm bushes need replacing.

I've seen getting the bushes out and new ones in, isn't that easy even with the specific tool.

How much  would a garage charge? Or are there any of you who have had that work done before?
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Comments

  • robgilmorobgilmo Frets: 3359
    Will the alignment need doing again afterwards? Also, do the bushes need a press to get them out and the new one back in? Do you have a spring compressor? How bad are they? Any shark toothing on the rear tyres? Uneven wear?
    A Deuce , a Tele and a cup of tea.
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  • robgilmorobgilmo Frets: 3359
    edited October 2018
    As for charges, an hours work , maybe 1.5 hours, then parts and vat, then 10 - 20 percent ontop of the parts costs. Factor in a re alignment if it needs it.
    A Deuce , a Tele and a cup of tea.
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  • BudgieBudgie Frets: 2099
    I’ve just had the front lower suspension arms on my Discovery replaced as the bushes were knackered. The cost was about £600 with laser alignment etc.

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  • StevepageStevepage Frets: 3038
    Just had a quote of 300 for both sides and alignment 
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  • prowlaprowla Frets: 4896
    Ah - cars, not a hit then.
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  • FosterFoster Frets: 1100


    To be fair it does look like a pig of a job, not impossible to do with jack stands but it'll be... entertaining
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  • menamestommenamestom Frets: 4641

    Note that Ford always do an all round check and always find something.  If you follow their replacement advice you would have a new car every 5 years, take what they say with a pinch of salt.

    They recently MOT’d my nephews fiesta ST, failed on brake pads and wouldn’t give him the car back unless he payed £200.

    When my brother demanded the pads back there was plenty of life on them, certainly in no way dangerous.  I have a Ford but wont touch them with a bargepole, my car has had its services to maintain warranty but as soon as it finishes I’ll be off to a specialist.

    Not saying the repair is not required, just worth checking.
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  • m_cm_c Frets: 1211


    They recently MOT’d my nephews fiesta ST, failed on brake pads and wouldn’t give him the car back unless he payed £200.
    As a mechanic, that kind of thing really pisses me of. A garage has no authority what so ever to keep your car. All they can do is advise you it's not roadworthy, and advise you not to drive it.
    And they could only fail it on pads if they can see they are worn to less than a mm (IIRC - it's a been a while since I actually had to read the testers manual!).

    I won't comment on unnecessary work, other than a lot of dealers have incentive schemes to get extra work, and there are a noticeable number of questionable mechanics with few morals.
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  • NiteflyNitefly Frets: 4902
    According to this, the rules have changed a bit this year:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mot-changes-20-may-2018

    So a "dangerous" fault means "do not drive the vehicle until it's been repaired".

    As to what constitutes "dangerous", I suppose there will be a list for testers?

    However I have also seen advice that you CAN drive it if the old MOT is still in force, i.e. you took it in before the last one expired.

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  • m_cm_c Frets: 1211
    There has always been an option for the tester to state the vehicle is dangerous to drive, it's just things have been reworded to minor, major, and dangerous categories (previously they were just advisory, and failure, with the option for the tester to advice the vehicle was dangerous to drive). The big change is certain failures now invalidate any remaining MOT, whereas before the old MOT was still technically valid, even though the vehicle might not of been fit to drive.

    Regardless, the garage has no authority to stop you driving the vehicle away, regardless of condition. You may be breaking the law and invalidating your insurance by doing so, but that is your choice.

    Besides, brake pads would have to be worn to metal, to be considered a dangerous failure, and even then they'd have to be at risk of causing sudden brake failure I.e. worn so much the remaining backing is likely to fall out the carrier.
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  • NikcNikc Frets: 627
    As an MOT tester I'd say go to the dvsa and put in a complaint (for the record the limit on brake pad frictional material is 1.5mm thats the thickness of a 5 pence piece). The new categories are quite clear and the statement is plain and simple DO NOT DRIVE - you could face up to a £3000 fine a 2 year ban and possibly 6 months free bed and board, but its up to you ;)

    For the record a refusal to issue (technical term) has invalidated an existing MOT for some time, just very few people were aware of it, although it is on the government website :)
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  • NiteflyNitefly Frets: 4902
    @m_c and @Nikc thanks for the clarification - it's a jungle out there!

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  • FuengiFuengi Frets: 2849
    Isn't 'mechanic' still code for a hitman? If so, I'm trying to decode the rest of the OP. 
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  • axisusaxisus Frets: 28280
    Get 2 or 3 quotes, that will tell you the going rate. I used to do stuff myself years ago, can't be arsed in my old age. 
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