Brake for Rover 218SD - Page 2

They really screwed up there, didn't they.

Sack all the Taunton staff, move to the Midlands where employment is
high and discover that you can't hire 500 experienced
warehouse/distribution staff at the drop of a hat when unemployment is
near zero in that area.
Unlike Taunton - where by chance there happen to be 500 experienced
warehouse/distribution staff looking for jobs.

--
Skipweasel.
In the beginning was the word.
And the word was Aardvark.

Thought the new warehouse was to be largely automated - but of course has
software bugs.

Would they also get cheaper transport costs being more in the centre of
the country?

--
*How do you tell when you run out of invisible ink? *

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

<Screwifx>

Almost certainly - but these big warehouse moves do seem prone to
failure - particularly big automated ones. Penguin have recently done
something similar.

--
Skipweasel.
In the beginning was the word.
And the word was Aardvark.

Mine works (on a disposable bottle) in the complete reverse to the arrows
on it - and the instructions. To cut off the gas, you open it fully anti-
clockwise. Ie, the reverse of most taps. Didn't find this out until I'd
wasted many quids worth of gas. An expert might have known right away. I'm
anything but. ;-)

--
*Taxation WITH representation ain't much fun, either.  

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I think I mentioned this before.
The self sealing bottle valve needs to be depressed to release the gas.
The regulator has a right hand thread, so turning clockwise opens the bottle
valve, using a pin on the end of the threaded shaft. Anticlockwise closes
it. Hence the reverse action.
They could have avoided the siiuation by using a left hand thread, but that
might have added to the manufacturing costs.
In engineering it's quite common for regulators, for speed, flow, whatever,
to work in this way. Clockwise for more, anti for less, so it never struck
me as being anything unusual, but I see the anomaly now you've pointed it
out.

Didn't find this out until I'd

Did you ever follow upon that american welding video, book, whatever I gave
the URL of?
Mike.

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 19:37:46 +0000, hairy.biker@spamcop.net (Andy
Hewitt) wrote:


I believe Vauxhall realised that many folk were buying aftermarket
parts like disks and pads and not theirs, so reduced them to the same
or lower price! Makes you wonder why they couldn't do that in the
first place?

My Niece was quoted 250 for front disks and pads at a quick fit type
place .. I did them for her in a morning (and oil, filter and air
filter) and the (genuine) parts (inc new pins, clips etc) came to 50
quid (trade) ;-)

I'm glad the job was done by me .. we own the car now!

All the best ..

T i m

p.s To the OP. Brakes aren't a good place to start diy wrenching ..
;-)

You'll find that the cheaper parts they supply are also of inferior
quality, Ford do the same thing too.


Yes, that's my point.


--
Andy Hewitt **  FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com

On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 00:46:16 +0000, hairy.biker@spamcop.net (Andy
Hewitt) wrote:


So are you suggesting that they simply 'degrade' their parts quality
to compete? I wasn't given the choice of 'Top' or 'Good' quality parts
.. it was just a pair of GM stamped disks in GM marked box ..

What, that a 'quick fit' place would supply better quality parts for a
Vauxhall than Vaughall themselves (or am I confused)?  AFAIK, it was
the same stock I could have bought a week earlier for twice as much?
I have been told that (for example) a water pump sold by BMW *could*
come from exactly the same factory, using exactly the same components
/ materials as an aftermarket part,  yet the aftermarket part (without
the letters 'BMW' (or whatever) in the casting) would be a fraction of
the price?

I *know* this is the case with the water pump on our AEG washing
machine ...  I had the choice of an *AEG one" at 40 quid or a "Zanusi
one" (that was identical) for 20 quid?

Can it also be a spinoff of the changing attitudes to pollution etc?

In the good ole 'blow yer asbestos brake dust out with the airline'
days (not) a pair of disks would seem to last forever (and were very
expensive items to replace). Now 'new disks and pads' seems an
everyday phrase? Higher mileage, harder pads, higher speeds ... ? In
the old days you could drive 300 miles and hardly use the brakes at
all .. now 300 yards without is 'making progress'!

All the best ..

T i m

Correct. I know for a fact that Ford do this. If you check you'll find
there are the genuine GM parts and cheaper 'Masterfit' one's. Ford have
the genuine Ford stuff or the cheaper MotorCraft stuff.


No, that you can get the genuine parts just as cheaply as a 'quick-fit'
garage. I'll guess you didn't check how much the dealer would have
charged to fit them?

I would have done them a lot cheaper on a Honda!


Of course, that is possible. However, they may not have passed such
tight tolerances.


Right, but that's not pattern, that just two manufacturers deciding on a
different pricing policy.


Huh?


No, I think they are simply using crap materials. Combined with heavier
cars, better braking systems and as you say, poor traffic conditions,
the braking materials are also softer, giving a more abrasive contact.

FWIW, we seem to fit more rear brake disks due to excessive corrosion
than we do for wear.

--
Andy Hewitt **  FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 16:20:36 +0000, hairy.biker@spamcop.net (Andy
Hewitt) wrote:



Didn't consider it for one second. Never had a dealer touch anything
yet .. ;-)

Hmmm handy .. when I need new disks n pads on my Honda, Pug, Rover
218SD ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

Right, so why copmpare a fitted price to a non-fitted price?


My example was to show that the price on a so called 'expensive to
maintain' car, actually isn't!

Not only that, but the Honda is somewhat similar to the Rover, no?

--
Andy Hewitt **  FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 18:55:14 +0000, hairy.biker@spamcop.net (Andy
Hewitt) wrote:


I'm not suggesing here that I have anything against dealers (in case
it came over that way) ..  just I (generally) only trust one person
(me) and can only afford one person (me) ? ;-)

Erm .. 50 for disks, pads and basic service components / oil, all done
in a couple of hours, V 250 for just disks pads and fitting .. and the
difference is labour? So they were charging 100+ / hour for labour
(and we aren't talking BMW / Merc here), (or and to my point)
'overcharging' for the parts? And I know they add a 'bit' on to cover
their overheads ..  *I* just can't afford to be charged retail + for
them walking to the stores or one phone call to a parts supplier for
their hourly free delivery...? If you haven't got the skilll, time,
interest, tools or facilities you don't have a choice though do you?

I thought some of the running gear on my 218SD *was* 'Honda' (not any
particular Honda and hence the light hearted comment ..) or are you
saying they are similar .. (I'm confused) ;-(

All the best ..

T i m

<Snipped Text>


That is very fair enough. I am the same. Mind you, working in a
dealership I can also get to know who I *can* trust, and often let that
one work on my car. I'm lucky enough to be working with a group of techs
that have good product knowledge and also have a conscience about their
work too.


They may also not have checked, but the genuine parts could actually
have been cheaper than the pattern ones anyway.


They were actually made on the same production line at Cowley, only the
engine and gearbox changed. In some models even the engine was shared.

--
Andy Hewitt **  FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com  - now online

Some months ago I fitted pattern vented front discs and new pads to my
bosses '99 3 series BMW. Around £80 parts and around 2hrs work. I'm a fussy
worker. :-)
IIRC BMW wanted near £200 for the parts alone.
For the few thousand miles he drove it before it got stolen, he said the
brakes were fine.
IME pattern discs from a reputable manufacturer seem as good as OEM ones.
I have pattern front discs on my Celica GT4 turbo. Around £15 each, as
opposed to the £66 each Toyota were asking.
Mike.