Used to use this Autocentre but no more!
Last week my son was quoted £150 to adjust the handbrake of his Fiesta, expensive he thought so decided to do the job himself and found there is only one nut at the brake handle!
As this was following an MOT failure he replaced the rear brake shoes and brake fluid. But the Ferodo disbonded from one of the shoes on the way to the re-test leaving the car un-driveable. It was left for a quotation, £212 they said, at £76/hr for labour plus parts for replacement of both rear wheel cylinders, rear brake shoes and brake fluid.
Instead, we had the car recovered home, replaced the wheel cylinders (neither of which were actually damaged) and the brake shoes were replaced under warranty.
Whilst waiting another customer came in and had his car diagnosed with a broken front spring and bearing mount, his quote was about £180 which is probably fair but he should have been advised to change both front springs as a matched pair as a matter of safety and good practice. When I asked about this, I was told the 'company' did not want a reputation for advising people to spend money un-necessarily and so no longer made such recommendations. Many people regard Halfords as experts in their field and trust them to keep their families safe! Halfords, you should be ashamed of yourselves!
Far better to support your local 'man in a van' with a pre-MOT service, get the car tested, and if it fails, have it recovered to your man's workshop! Simple.....(?). read more
