New brake pads and discs for Fiat Stilo Abarth 2.4

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Just had two quotes to replace the pads and discs on a fiat Stilo. Both are around the CHF1300 mark, which I thought was daft money. So, does anyone know:

1. Is this expensive even for Switzerland (probably not I am guessing)?

2. Will it be substancially cheaper to have them done over the border in Germany and does anyone have any recommendations?

3. Is it difficult to do yourself? (Pretty handy at doing things myself but not sure if this would be one step too far having not done it before).

Any help/advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Chuffy

2
super easy, look on youtube for detailed instructions.

I was quoted 2k so ill be doing it myself soon.

http://www.123piecesderechange.ch/cg...26&FZGNR=16477

(this is for a jeep but they might have fiat also)

3
Sounds like a fair swap

4
Are you sure it needs new discs?

5
If I wasn't so nice you'd get a groan for that Dodgyken!

Had two mechanics look at it. First chap said it needed 4 new discs, second man said just 2 needed changed. I guess I could change the pads and see how we go as we don't use the thing that much anyway. And if the pads on their own are easy enough to change then maybe its the best solution.

Chuffy

6
try getting a quote if you supply the garage the parts, then get the parts from the net. Just make sure they are proper fiat parts.

We supply our local garage with the bits usually and just get them to fit them. Get them from the UK, just don't foget to add the import duty.

7
Chuffy - What is the lip on the edge of the disc like? IE if you run your finger across the disc is their a big lip at the edge? If there is then you probably should change them.

Additionally, how does the car feel when braking? Light braking? Heavy braking?

8
Dodgyken,

I will check the lip on the discs tonight - thanks for the info.

No entirely sure how the car is driving at the moment as it has been the wife that has been using it. She reported a grinding sound yesterday so immediately took it to two local garages for the checkover and quotes discussed above.

Cheers everyone for all the help and info.

Chuffy

9
The metal backing of the pad has touched the disk, this will have caused damage, which will affect the car, and braking may not be in a straight line any more.

Don't you need a hub puller to get the disk off? Disks must always be changed in pairs.

Why not phone this garage for a quote? It wll be around 50% cheaper?

Schaufelberger Automobile GmbH

Wallbrunnstr. 45 - 49

79539 Lörrach

Telefon: 07621 92 410

http://www.schaufelberger-auto.de/fi...muellheim.html

There is a train every hour from Basel SBB, Lörrach is about the 3rd stop.

The garage is about 200 meters from the station.

10
In Murten near Fribourg, I paid CHF 680,-- about 10 years ago for 2 disks and pads on an old Mercedes.

11
If you are down the back-plate on the pads you may not need to replace the disks - depends on how much grinding went on. The problem is that I don't know anywhere that will take the car in - do the pads - and get the discs skimmed and refitted in a day.

Brake pads are fairly easy to do - as long as you lever back the piston before removing the old pads. I can do both axles in 45mins - doing 1 wheel at a time

12
I had my front pads and discs replaced when I was back in the UK in Feb. It cost me £120 including fitting for my Alfa Romeo 147. Seemed pretty cheap.... up north prices maybe?! I guess they're not Alfa OEM parts, but does it matter for things like brakes? Do you think for such you'll have issues with the MFK?

A few years back I had some work done again in the UK to the rear arms (supporting the rear wheels) and had the bushes replaced. As the bushes were not Alfa OEM parts I contacted a Powerflex (manufacturer of the bushes) reseller in Switzerland. They sent me documents from TUV saying that these were not "type approved" and should pass such tests and also sent me an "Eingungserklaerung" specifically for the Swiss MFK.

13
All I know is that you can forget about the concept of "quotes" here: You hand over your car and in less than two hours, the mech will call you with a list of things that sum up to 4-5k CHF which "I would exchange if I was you"...

If you are looking for cheap but good, I made good experiences with "free" garages instead of the brand dealer like those guys. I used them in Germany before where they were good value and got my "Abgastest" done by them in Dietikon which was half the price of some quotes on the EF.

14

I always believed the squeeling was build in to the pads, so you know when to replace them, shouldnt have grinded into anything yet. It is just the metal pieces in the brake pads warning you

15
Went to "those guys" for a quote at got a nice surprise - less than CHF800 all in. Seems very reasonable considering the other quotes.

16
Makes no difference at all, brakes are one of the least important parts on a car, you can even use the covers of hardback books if you want !

Of course it makes a difference, if you have an accident and your car is subsequently inspected and found to have non authorised brake pads, the insurance may be invalidated, the manufacturer will step right out of the room and it leaves you all alone, hopefully not having to face the future in a wheelchair or the thought of having put somebody else in a wheelchair.

17
Changing Pads and Discs is very easy.

Most of the time the discs don't really need changing.

I would just change the pads yourself (30 - 60 mins).

That should give you another 20,000 miles of braking in a Fiat; something else is bound to drop off before then.

18
A) Yes, brakes are important.

B) No, brakes are not made by Alfa... or BMW or any other manufacturer.

They are made by suppliers as Brembo, Bosch and many others. The parts that you do not buy from your Alfa dealer, but a reputable independent garage do not drop off a truck or are made in Eastern European back yards - they are typically from the same supplier, but instead of Alfa, it will say Bosch on the box. They warrant the same quality as OEM. In writing. If you get your repairs at a real garage with trained staff you will not have any insurance issues or safety issue at all: They document what parts they have and where they come from.

I for example drive an A4. As all VW group cars does it hardly have any "unique" parts, they are used in many models within the seven brands of the group. My mechanic in Germany regularly did not order me the Audi air filter, but the exact same part from the VW parts list... guess what is cheaper...

However: Yes, go ahead and pay twice as much. If it makes you feel safe, it is money well spend.

19
I just ordered mine from the UK. Quoted 1850 here paid 450 there 500 shipped.

20
Yes, use only OEM if it makes you feel better.

The rest of us will look for Reg 90 approval.