Help for Tadz0rz Mum

[tadz0rz]

Hey guys

Looking for a bit of info on some trouble we are having with my mums 2006 Ford Fiesta.

We are getting a metal grinding sound from the front right of the car, now many of you would straight away think, brake pads are low, replace them. But, this grinding sound appears not just when your braking, but when your doing slow monouver turns and when you arnt braking at all. Could be going 40kph and its still making the noise. I was starting to think it could have something to do with the power steering. but i aint no mechanic so i dont know.

Mum took it to ford and got them to have a quick look at it, and they also said it was the brakes and rotors! And they told her it was due for a major service, and that her last service was long over due for the scheduled service period. We had the car serviced by my mums partners friend who is a mechanic.

Only reason why im sus about this dealer is because Mumz0rz is well, a woman. And you know how dealerships can screw people over, i dont want that to happen to mum. Coz mum cant really front up $600 to get it fixed.

Which is also another thing....The car has 60,000kms on it....Could it really be time for the brake pads to be changed? Let alone the rotors? I know if you run on no brake pads you can damge your rotors leading them to getting replaced but, this issue came up about 2 weeks ago, and the car has hardley been driven since. Less than 100kms.

Could it really be the brakes? Coz its making noises even when i havnt got my foot on the brake going 40kph.

On sunday i might chuck the fiesta in the garage and take off the wheel and see if there is something wrong...But in the meantime..

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Oh and one last thing, I got my car serviced (15,000km) for under $100 through a mate who works at mitsubishi, What sort of figure do you rekon i would be looking at for a major service for my mums car because i might as well take it to my mitsu dealer because he looked after my car so well. 15,000km serviced and he fully detailed inside and out. For under $100. If thats not a good mechanic, i dont know what is...

So guys, what do you rekon?

Sorry about novel of a post lol

[Deano1964]

well on my old car, 4 bendix pads and an machined rotors cost me around $150-$200...around that...was bout 2 yrs ago...so can't remember exactly...but $600 is heaps! they replacing rotors or just machining them?

[DJBOOBY]

sounds like brake check left hand front it the side that wear the most.
Some brake pad have a small tab of steel on pad that make a noise before you ware brake down to metal

Or check for stones between caliper and disc
I know ford 4x4 courier have this problem alot
Try reversing car then slamming on brakes a couple of times if stone

[Deano1964]

Some brake pad have a small tab of steel on pad that make a noise before you ware brake down to metal

Thats true! and it quite a distinct noise

[M@verik]

Sounds like brake pads to me. Also 60K Km is a lot on 1 pair of pads... So well done lol. However if its not the pads, check the CV joint and the wheel bearing.

[ofey]

If it is brake pads and rotors, we could get them very cheap from RDA, remember our rotors and brakes group buy? I could push them for a set on the cheap. No need to get anything like what we got but just straight forward RDA rotors and RDA pads.

I just need to know the exact model of the Ford Fiesta.

[Bandit]

Could be brakes, as even when the foot pedal isn't depressed, the pad is always slightly touching the rotor.

Be hopeful it is pads/rotors and not part of the drive train - CV malfunction (often characterised by a grinding sound) will cost more than pads/rotors fo' sho' - but then again, maybe there's still some warranty for the car if it's only done 60,000km.

[infinite]

My old Prelude has exactly the same problem, the metallic scraping is there all the time regardless of braking or not, and turned up to be brakes + rotors.

[tadz0rz]

Sweet thanks for the advice guys

Should this be fixed under warranty? Is there anyway we could claim it? likie premature wear or something like that?

Because 60,000kms for brake pads? I thought they would of lasted longer...I mean, im no expert but i thought longer...

[Bandit]

No wear and tear is usually covered by warranty - it is only if there's a manufacturing or installation fault - which I would say there isn't considering they've lasted this long.

[ofey]

Well RDA has responded.

The basic Rotor is A$45 each while the brake pads are A$28 for the set of four.

They will need you to measure the diameter of the rotor to make certain.

[tadz0rz]

alright cool thanks guys

Honestly probley wont be getting them installed by bayford, probley just get our mechanic friend to install them

Any sort of price range we should be looking at for labor on installation of new pads and rotors?

edit: Thanks for that ofey, ill get back to you if we go ahead with that

[lancerx]

New pads are quite possible, but the rotors shouldnt need anything more than machining, I highly doubt your mother drives the car hard enough to have wrecked the rotors.

Pad and rotor life varies alot based on the driver, the environment you are driving in (urban driving will generally wear the pads more quickly than someone doing extra-urban driving such as freeway) and the other big one is whether its auto or manual. Manual dirvers tend to use the gears a bit for engine braking so there pads will generally last longer...

Brake pads and rotors aren't a warrantable item given they have lasted this long. I'd go to an independent brake specialist or mechanic and get them to do the work, just cut the dealer out.

1-2 hours maximum for labour. Pads on cars are quick to change and unless the bearings are pressed into the rotors )not likely on that car) then the rotors are simple to change aswell. Also a good idea to make sure the brake lines are bled and new fluid put in...

[tadz0rz]

Sweet +1 for that lancerx

Ever since the car has started making the noise we havnt driven it as much and i extremely doubt the rotors will need to be changed, but ill take the wheel off on the weekend and ill take pictures and you guys can tell me if there is something else aswell. What should i be looking for if it is the rotors? Will there be an obvious mark on the rotor?

Thanks for this guys helping out heaps

[tadz0rz]

Thanks for the support guys

Im gunna take ofey's offer up and get the new pads and rotors just to be safe. Dont really wanna go through the hassle of getting them machined n all that junk if they are shown to have problems

Theres no evidence of the brakes making vibrations or anything like that so i can only assume the disc isnt warped or anything

I might actually stop by ford tomorrow and question them a little bit on the quotation that they gave my mum. Sly dogs, trying to rip my mother off. Not a chance round here!!

Thanks again guys