Binding disk brake, 150 miles after MOT :(

Lobster · 2012-08-20T10:20:23+00:00

Had my Vauxhall Zafira serviced and MOTed about 6 weeks ago. I don't do many miles in it, only 150 since then in fact.At the weekend I was on the motorway when I noticed a whistling sound from the back; when I stopped I discovered one of the rear disk brakes was binding and very hot. I called Autoaid out and the guy who attended examined the calliper and disk and recommended trailering the car home. I asked whether he thought this imminent failure should have been picked up at the service/MOT and he said 'I'd have thought so, yes'.He also said that the wheel nuts weren't tight enough; furthermore when he drove the vehicle up the ramp on to his truck he had a hell of a job getting the handbrake to stick and said that was wrong too.So I'm just back from a return visit to the garage, and the conversation went exactly as I could have predicted.1. "Absolutely no way you could tell in advance that the brake was about to bind. More likely to happen given your low mileage"2. "The wheel nuts would have been tightened to the manufacturer's specs, no more, no less"3. "Well the brakes were buggered having binded, so not surprising"In other words, one mechanic's view against another; and no-nothing me caught in the middle.I don't know whether to take the view of the garage (a local independent, apparently well-respected I think) or the recovery guy. I've only used the garage a couple of times before (and they were apparently fine), after my previous (excellent) independent garage relocated, and I don't know of anywhere else 'better' to try; ie I don't want to leave this place if criticism is actually unfair. In the meantime I took the vehicle away and am considering my optionsAny thoughts?ThanksDavid

Aug 20, 2012 20 Replies

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Lobster 14 years ago

Ended up going back; they stripped it down and cleaned it all up (without taking the opportunity to replace everything, which they warned might be necessary) for £36, which I thought was a pretty good result, and we're all friends again...

Thanks again all for the advice

David

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