Kwik Fit - Free Brake Check

[milly143]

I need my brakes done and my brothers friend who is a mechanic will be doing them for me, but I first need to find out exactly what needs replacing on which wheels (it's a bit of a pain for him to travel out to me just to look at them).

If I took it to Kwik Fit for the free brake check they do, can I trust they won't add a list of things that don't need doing?

I need to inform my mechaninc of what needs replacing so he can order the parts and do the work so I don't want him to show up with 4 brake pads that he didn't need.

[R1Geezer]

no chance they'll frighten you to death.

[bimbo123456]

ditto what he said...

[annie0000]

lol - it wont just be 4 brake pads, there would be pipes etc too and they would try to persuade you that it was too dangerous to take back on the road!!

[deggers316]

same with tyres they'll find al sorts of faults with them which you won't have any idea what there on about but you will be talked into a new set no doubt ,even though the ones that are on will be perfectly road worthy,
" nowts done for nowt"

[boxtops]

Reminds me of a full service I had at the Nissan dealer when my old Micra was just about to go out of warranty - they reported that the driver's door hinges were in a risky state and the door could fall off at any time. Twelve years later, the door was still there, no repairs necessary!

[derekpara]

I totally disagree with all the negative comments about KwikFit .

How many of you have been there for a brake check ? All they do is take off a front and back wheel and check the thickness of pads/linings and advise you whether they need replacing or not. I had this check last week and was told that nothing needed replacing but another check should be done in 3 months/3000 miles. No pressure was applied at all and I was invited to take a look for myself.

I have, however, been told by kwikFit that there are surface cracks on two tyres ( which there were ) but they were not dangerous or illegal BUT 'We've got a special offer on tyres at the moment ' etc... Fair enough ?

I can only speak from experience; perhaps I'm lucky with my local branch.

D

[vivandorron]

I have an 8/9yr old Seat Leon. 3yrs ago the Seat Dealership was withdrawn from my area of S.Wales, so I decided to go to Kwikfit for servicing and two yrs back told them that I was getting a sound of vibration from underneath the passenger seat. The car was examined and I was informed that an exhaust bracket had broken. However, as the bracket was an actual part of the exhaust pipe, I was given the choice of a new section of exhaust pipe or have it wired (at no cost) onto the sub-frame of my car. I asked the mechanic for his opinion and he said that, as the actual pipe was sound, a wired job was all that was necessary for it to pass an MOT and it could last for a twelvemonth or more. The MOT was passed in September 2009 and again in 2010 and this year I shall be taking the car again to Kwikfit with the exhaust still wired-up.

Consequently I cannot fault the firm and, compared to Seat Dealerships, the costs are considerably less. Furthermore, if the car is booked-in 'on-line' the savings are even more.

Ron.

[R1Geezer]

you two are lucky or connected. I've heard some right horror stories. I went there last about 6 years ago and told them to sod 0ff in the end. A mate of mine went for one tyre and they changed all his brakes! Fortunately he's savvy and refused to pay so they put all the old ones back, right sh0wer of sh1te

[sallybb]

Just as well their guarantees are more than a year, every exhaust they have fitted on any of our cars have only lasted a year and had to be replaced

[Maydup]

Sound to me like you're best asking your brothers friend Milly - I doubt he'd expect you to know what needs doing.

Can't her have a look, then go buy the parts and fit them another time?

[Maydup]

^ "he"

[welshlibranr]

I totally agree!.......they ar jackanory!.........

[derekpara]

Geezer. I can't believe KwikFit would 'change all brakes' without the customer's permission. In my long dealings with them they always describe what's wrong and quote a price - which you either accept or refuse. Secondly, all the KwikFit depots I know have a separate bay for fitting tyres, in which no repairs are carried out Perhaps you didn't get the whole story ?

Now just in case you thing I'm in cahoots with KF or vivandorron I must add that there have been the odd occasions when KF have been at fault, but they have always put things right and issued free vouchers in 'goodwill'

Why not give them another chance ? !!!

Cheers.

D

[milly143]

Thanks for all the answers. Some good and some bad - tough choice.

I suppose as I won't be paying them to do any work I could get them to check it and give my mechanic the list of what they say. I'm sure he'll let me know if he thinks it's bull.

Maidup - he works full time at the dealership and it's quite a journey to me just to have a look before he has done any work so he has asked to me find out what it needs so he can just come and do the job.