451 Brakes

[nlel]

I sold my 451 to my niece and she says the brakes are shot so I got her a quote of £ 151.19 inc GST for a new set of front brake discs and pads.

I presume its most likely to be the front brakes at fault but is there any rear brake discs?

[dolphinfreindly]

There are drums on the rear.
When you say shot what is the symptom(s), noise, no pedal.....

[nlel]

There are drums on the rear.
When you say shot what is the symptom(s), noise, no pedal.....

Symptoms are a lot of travel in the brake pedal before stopping.

[nlel]

Found this which might explain it...

http://smartmaniacs.co.uk/forum/the-...dal-bite-point

It’s my nieces mum who has reported a lot of travel in the brake pedal but the post above suggests it might be normal. I never had any issues with it.

[Chopper]

What makes your Niece say that the brakes are shot? Is she an engineer? Has the car been examined by an engineer? Or is it simply different in feel to that which she is used, and she is making an unqualified assumption?

If the discs and pads are on their last knockings that should be visually apparent to you or I. Ditto if the fluid is low. You've owned the car previously, so you'll know if the brake fluid has been changed on spec or not. If all those items check out, then she just needs to learn that every car, often even identical models, feels different.

[nlel]

No she’s not, she just doesn’t like the feel of them. It’s booked in for a service on the 13th May so that should separate the wheat from the chaff.

[EmilysDad]

..... I got her a quote of £ 151.19 inc GST for a new set of front brake discs and pads. ....

I've just replaced them on my 451 .... £130 from Mercedes

[EmilysDad]

No she’s not, she just doesn’t like the feel of them. It’s booked in for a service on the 13th May so that should separate the wheat from the chaff.

IMHO .... as the pedal goes down through the floor rather than pivoting from higher up in the foot well Fortwo brakes just needs getting used to.

[nlel]

Well they’ve had the car serviced, it came to £ 177 in total and they now know there is nothing wrong with the brakes. A relief for both of us.

[Mr Gus]

christ, we had the brakes sorted & unsiezed, & serviced & pad replacement upon recent purchase via our agricultural engineering garage & it came to a lot less than that! ..ouch, hope she doesn't expect you to cover the costs.

We found the braking a "bit spongey" upon purchase but put that down in part to the nature of the smart & adjusted accordingly, after tweaking they are just fine, the nuances of different makes & designs.

Now the wife drives the Leaf mainly & hardly touches the brakes (energy regen set to high) that I have to nag her to take it off from time to time to clean the discs off properly.

considering she drives the 450 also she doesn't moan about anything other than the "supposedly" heavy steering (which makes me laugh).