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Brake service advice (Honda Civic)

RNMRNM
edited June 2010 in Local discussion
Hello

Sorry if this is really, really boring but I live in Stroud Green and am none the wiser about which garages in the area are any good.

The brakes on my 2004 Honda Civic 5-door make a terrible racket and are getting increasingly sluggish. At my last MOT (passed fine) the notes did tell me that the brakes were pitted.

Kwik-Fit on Tottenham Lane has quoted me:

115.80 for two brake discs
4.95 for brake consumables
74.80 for a brake pad set
106.20 for another brake disc set
50.70 for a brake pad set

Unfortunately, I'm just 8 months pregnant and working 14 hour days so I don't have the time or ability to sort this out myself or spend hours taking the car round different garages to get quotes. What I'd love to know is:

1. Are all these elements necessary to sort out the brakes or is the p*** being taken anywhere?
2. Are these fair prices for each of the elements?
3. Does anyone have any local garage inspiration for how I can save myself money?
4. Any really practical advice for someone who is not a total idiot about cars but needs to get this fixed ASAP?

Thank you for any help in advance. Sorry if this isn't a very exciting question about Stroud Green but I just can't tell which garages round here are fair and might offer me good prices......
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Comments

  • ColetteColette
    edited 1:52PM
    Not sure about local garages, but we've got a Honda and I know they have set prices for fixing stuff if you take it to your local Honda garage. We took ours to the one on the Great Cambridge Road. They changed a couple of our brake pads, think it cost about £100, can't remember exactly I'm afraid. They definitely didn't try and rip us off as we thought we had a slow puncture so asked them to check it, but they said it was fine. There are a few threads on here about local garages if you do a search.
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  • andyandy
    edited June 2010
    Try Ali on Evershot Road. He went through my brakes recently and replaced two but reckoned two were still fine. Labour and parts costs will be cheaper than Kwik fit. Parts prices seem about right, though.
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  • AliAli
    edited 1:52PM
    Kwik Fit I think will guarantee the brakes for the life of the car. I wouldn’t skimp on brakes as they do stop the car!
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  • andyandy
    edited 1:52PM
    Anything kwik fit guarantee is something that you will pay for. Parts are parts. They all work if they are fitted right.

    There are a million ways to spend money you don't need to on your car.
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  • BrodiejBrodiej
    edited 1:52PM
    Hi RNM,
    I've got a 2006 Civic and have just gone through the same process. I changed all discs and pads and i did it through Kwik Fit because you then get free pads for life. Its probably a gimmick, but they were still cheaper than a Honda dealer and a big enough brand to not risk doing a good job for you. The big advantage is they'll do it without appointment whereas a dealer you may not be able to. Of course, take a recommendation from users of this site for a local garage, but if all else fails i think the Kwik Fit quote is ok. Before a big 3500 mile road trip recently i got a full service (honda dealer quote - £380, Kwik Fit - £180)......tells a story, and its a myth that dealers know the cars best, they use a lot of apprentices too.
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  • sg_mikesg_mike
    edited 1:52PM
    I know this isn't the advice you'd want, but I'd take the car to a local garage (not a dealer) to get it double checked. I don't know that much about cars, but having to replace all the brake *discs* after six years is a bit surprising. It may be that there's something else wrong as well - a local garage is more likely to spot whether there's an underlying problem.

    The prices they're quoting seem about right (sorry!)

    I take my car up to Southgate to get it serviced and mot'd, at White Rose Motors, and would recommend them a lot - but it's a bit far from SG ...
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  • RNMRNM
    edited 1:52PM
    ThAnks everyone for the feedback. Really helpful. Will try to post something slightly less dull next time.....
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  • ActionVerbActionVerb
    edited 1:52PM
    continuing the theme, can anyone recommend a garage where I can get my 52 reg VW serviced? at the minimum the alternator is dying and there may be a bunch of other stuff. thanks.
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  • IanIan
    edited July 2010
    @Actionverb I always go to Kelvin Motor Wagons on Brownswood Road. He is a VW specialist, really nice guy and I have had nothing but good experience with my 10 years of VWs in N4. He has helped out a couple of times with minor things for free and have no problems recommending him. His name's not Kelvin though - his first garage was on Kelvin Road so don't make that mistake...
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  • ActionVerbActionVerb
    edited 1:52PM
    thank you Ian, I will give them a call tomorrow.
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