Brakes

[Gordo]

Despite not having had my Freelander all that long, and buying it from a main dealer, it seems my front pads are dead and have taken the discs with them - one of them has a lovely deep groove all around it.

I sort of assumed that a dealer wouldn't allow a car off the forecourt with pads worn to the point where they wouldn't make the next service... 

On phoning them, apparently the car was not serviced before I got it in April because it had been done only three months previously (January). The brakes then had an estimated 3k miles left on them, so no advisory  (service intervals are 12,500 IIRC).

I'm told that there is a warning light that should light-up when the brake fluid level drops, but I've not had a warning light.

So how exactly is a non-technical person supposed to know that their brakes need replacing if they're not told about it and there's no warning light?

OK, I am reasonably familiar with vehicle maintenance and the reason I went to look was the odd feeling / scraping noises when braking.

I'm not impressed. 

And the (st|d)ealer has quoted around £130 for new discs and pads.

Who's the preferred supplier of brake components?

[pondy653]

Hi
've had paddocks cheapies on with mintex pads for last year and had no probs at all, Discs about 15 quid each and pads the same ish.

www.paddockspares.com

Tony

[mill2020]

If your talking stopping power go for Bearmach slotted/grooved discs as upgrade with EBC Greenstuff pads & a good quality brake fluid. 1800 miles later i can highly recommend them.

£120 for the lot - not cheap -but you'll be stationary before you know it.

[V8MoneyPit]

I'm told that there is a warning light that should light-up when the brake fluid level drops, but I've not had a warning light.

So how exactly is a non-technical person supposed to know that their brakes need replacing if they're not told about it and there's no warning light?

The low fluid light will not tell you when the pads are worn, only if the fluid is low which indicates a leak. Although the fluid will drop a little as pads wear, it is something you should be checking regularly anyway, so it should never get to the low level warning in normal use.

Some vehicles have a pad wear indicator. Not all Freelanders have this. IIRC, our 2001 doesn't.

[origional badboy]

If your talking stopping power go for Bearmach slotted/grooved discs as upgrade with EBC Greenstuff pads & a good quality brake fluid. 1800 miles later i can highly recommend them.

£120 for the lot - not cheap -but you'll be stationary before you know it.

stopping power??? on a freebie? geez you got v8 stashed under the bonnet? i find that opening the drivers door and placing ones heel on the tarmac is suffice enough

[mill2020]

JAG V12, but whos countin eh!

[carbore]

JAG V12, but whos countin eh!

Iv got a 1.8 K Series, not under the bonnet though under the boot lid, in my Elise, and that thing stops like an absolute ******* probly weighs as much as that V12 engine!

[andyhubbard]

Do you have to remove the hub to change the discs or are they held in place with the small screw as mine are ready for changing,cheers guys.I'm thinking of the slotted/drilled discs with ebc greenstuff pads as replacement.

[DoubleTop]

no you don't need to remove the hub, it's a pretty easy job to do.

Remove the 2 bolts holding the caliper to the hub, release the caliper and then secure it using bungees/ratchet strap to prevent pulling on the brake lines.  Remove the two screws and then give it a gentle tap from behind to knock the disc off.  the screws can be quite tight and it is very possible to take the head off them (yes I did), so worth at the point a squirt of wd40 and go get a cuppa :D

When changing the pads, remember to undo the little bleed screw when you push the piston back in, other than that once you've the caliper in your hand it's pretty obvious what you need to undo etc.

hth,

DT.

[mill2020]

I have to recommend EBC discs & pads, very effective over the standard setup.

Try   http://www.powerstop.co.uk/

[si-freelander]

duckworts did me a deal on front disc and pads for 77.00 including del.were with me next day. easy job to do takes about 45 min.

[andyhubbard]

Thanks for the reply guys-thats a job for me to do this weekend then,rain permiting  :doh:.

[andyhubbard]

Well to keep upto date i've fitted Britpart performance grooved and drilled discs with Mintex pads,and i must admit there is deffinately and improvement :). I well impressed.