Mot Brake Fail Advise

[Putrats]

Hi all, my c3 1.4 hdi (52) failed its mot yesterday on brakes. The rear brakes were only working at 46%, mr clutch, maidstone told my wife they could do a free brake test to diagnose the problem which she agreed with, turns out it needs break shoes both sides, new brake cylinders both sides and new rear wheel bearings as these have to be changed the same time,

My question is: why do they have to change the bearings when changing the brakes! The bearings are fine and passed mot!

When my wife took the car in the man behind the desk said that all the workers had nothing to do so car won't be long, so thought they might have been lying to get some work,

Thanks in advance

I havnt had work done yet was going to do it myself

[Johndouglas]

I can't help you with your specific problem but two years ago when I took my Saxo for its MOT, it got an advisory that the parking brake was almost at the fail level. Before the next MOT I removed the brake drums - which was the first time they had been off in 13 years - then just cleaned out all the dust, checked the cylinders for leakage, applied grease in the appropriate places, then put it all back together. On its recent MOT the parking brake passed without any comment. Although the car is 16 years old, the shoes, the wheel cylinders and hoses are all original. Having said that, the Pug 306 which is the same age needed new hoses and a wheel cylinder three years ago.

[Putrats]

Thanks, will give it a go tomorrow, I hate MOT's

[paul.h]

I think you may be being had about the hub bearings and possibly the other work needed. They are fastened to the drum (unless you have rear discs) and come off with the drum. If they do charge you for new bearings make sure you get the old ones back and from memory they are part of the abs system so may be expensive. The drum should be cleaned out to scrape off the brake dust and I usually use some fine emery paper to remove the glaze that builds up, followed by a wipe with brake cleaner.

 

How did they know it needed new brake shoes and cylinders (unless fluid could be seen on the back of the brake cover) only way to check would be to remove the drums (with the bearing attached - with their idea it needed new bearings then you must have had to leave the car there until the new ones were installed) ? Also the drum retaining nuts and bearing covers have to be renewed since both are damaged when being removed. On the brake shoes, note that one is thinner than the other when new and gives the impression that it has worn down when the drum is removed, even though it has not. So make sure you ask for the old bits - shoes, bearings (they may also want to replace the drums), oil seals, cylinders, hub nuts and hub covers.

 

Personally, I avoid these fast fit type of places and use a garage that you think you can trust but since we have been using Citroens, fortunately this has also been the dealer.

 

We had a 2003 C3 1.4 petrol sx and every 2 years I cleaned out the rear brakes, last done 2013, and in that time I only replaced the brakes shoes by mistake since I thought they were worn due to them having a thinner shoe than the other. Each time though needed the new hub nuts and hub covers.