Good to hear. Perhaps a sign that they are struggling a bit with online competition?
I've always avoided discount places; a mate of mine charges me full price, but he's quite creative with his "advisories" (because of course he knows that I won't ignore them).
I was pleasantly surprised - they had a free MOT offer on with any purchase from the shops. A bit of trepidation knowing the usual MO of these places, but I thought it was worth a try before taking it to my usual place. Anyway, I bought a 50p lightbulb to qualify for the free MOT. Car failed with, ironically, a lightbulb that had to be replaced (evidently I hadn't spotted it on pre-checks). Cost of them to fit lightbulb 8.99. So the whole MOT was 9.49.
They were quite thorough on the advisories, and of course they also quoted me 300 pounds for new pads and discs, but the car has electric braking so the discs are almost never used. Maybe I'll need them in another 100K miles.
By this, do you mean 'Regenerative braking', which would indeed reduce the use of discs, or braking by means of electric actuation of a conventional system, which would surely make no difference?
If the latest electric leaf can be driven and (check) braked without touching the brake pedal, pad life is going to be extended quite dramatically, but corrosion of the disks will be more of a problem - surely ?.
And that makes them a "clip joint" just as bad as all the other brake/suspension/tyre MOT shops. Using FUD to make a quick buck from the customer that lacks the knowledge to avoid the wallet emptying.
Quite a bit different to the Burton on Trent Halfords.
Mate took a low mileage 53 plate Fiesta MKVI in. They failed it for a broken front n/s spring and rear n/s trailing arm bush, declared it "too dangerous to move" and refused to complete the test. That included not doing the emissions test which doesn't require the vehicle to move. I could maybe understand not doing the brake test with an unbalanced car. About 1/2 the bottom coil had broken off the front spring but the spring was still sat securely on the lower perch. The trailing arm wasn't going anywhere as there is a big bolt though the eye and most of the rubber was still there, just knocked a bit now and then (as it had been doing when tested by the same Halfords the year before).
They quoted £150 a side for new front springs. Anyone with eyes would have seen that the o/s was nearly new. They failed it for that the year before. I hadn't got around to fitting the n/s of the £40 pair he got the year before and he couldn't tell that the n/s had gone. I can only assume they were too incompetent to replace the rear trailing arm bush or rear suspension beam as they declined to quote for that job "prive (sic) not available at present time".
NEW MOT rules show that these are both "major" and not the "dangerous" vehicle that shouldn't be used that they bigged it up to be.
Cost about £175 to have bushes fixed as the tool to do the rear bushes was the same price as having it done and the place he used charged internet price for the bushes. They also fitted the spare n/s spring for £25. Then as it failed emissions, it cost a £100 more for a new lambda sensor and he had to pay for 3rd MOT test.
If you go to a Halfords MOT autocenter for 2 new front springs it will cost you £300 for what should be a £100 job (£50 for springs £25 a side to fit). Daylight robbery or what?
+1 - been using them for 10 years, and no complaints.
An issue I have is that when I arrive and drop off the keys they try to sell me something - screenwash, petrol additive, whatever. It's just undignified. And almost without fail a quote for new pads/disks.
And corrosion of the calipers? It's the constant use of the brakes that possibly keeps them in good order by lubricating pistons and removing rust and crud from disk surfaces.
I appreciate that you can extrapolate the likely wear, but look at the OP's wording: "It's not uncommon to get..." That clearly implies real real life experience.
I accept that it was probably just slightly poor wording, but this is Pedantnet, so there'll always be someone to pick up any minor inexactness. Today, it was my turn. Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be yours? Or are you far too sensible?
I didn't say 'electric car', I said regenerative braking. That has been in operation on production hybrid cars for 20 years. See priuschat.com for maintenance stories.
I don't know the Leaf, but usually the last few mph are done on the friction brakes because the motor isn't generating much back-EMF at that point so regen braking force is quite weak. I suppose it could use reverse-torque, but the friction brakes are there as a failsafe and it might as well use them.
If you are concerned by rusty discs, occasional heavy braking (which is friction plus regen) will keep them clean.
I drive 35 miles just to use a MOT which I have been used over all the past years.But now this is a worry if the car fails as not-to-be-driven. I wonder if RAC will then consider this a break-down?
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