Thetownend.com

Right, I'm not particularly clued up on cars but I know enough to that garages are trying to grab more money out of you by coming up with issues:

Apparently my front brake pads and disks need doing as they are 90% worn. The price I've been quoted is £193 which is too expensive at the moment but may be able to get it done in August.

I've also had an issue with a knocking/clunking noise (not constant, just once when I accelerate/decelarate) which seems to come from the rear of the car on the drivers side. However outside the car my brother reckons it's nearer the front. The garage say I need a new steering arm as there is slight play in it and is the probable cause of this noise. Does this sound right?

This isn't an MOT, I had one in April and it passed with no advisories. I drive an Astra sri, 2001 model.

Well, im not going to lie im not a car boff but have you considered taking it to another garrage for a check? Might be worth knowing what somebody else thinks the problem is/would charge?

oops, I forgot to say that's sort of what I was getting at - where is a good place to go?

Wouldnt have a fucking clue mate. Don't have a car..  :)

I've always used PJS Auto's on River Ray industrial estate it's the long road behind the new B & Q and where the new Lidls is.

They've always done a good job on my car and been very helpful

Auto Engine Tune on St Phillips Road hav e always given me good advice instead of ripping me off.

Cross street garage is where I use.

Could possibly be the suspension arms? Does it happen when you've got full lock on?

Check this site for parts aswell: http://eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Car-Parts

It's not when I steer, I could be going in a straight line.

Might not be the Suspension arms then. If you don't trust your current garage, get it checked elsewhere.

Have you tried hitting it with a hammer?

Knocking could be anything; track rod ends, bushes, steering arm, suspension arm, driveshaft, engine mounts etc. etc.

I had a knocking noise on my old Megane when the pads got low. I replaced the pads myself and it cured the knocking - I reckon the pads got so low they were moving around in the caliper.

I dont come from Swindon, but my Grandad swears by this place in 'old town' thats out the back of a supermarket or shopping centre or something. Sorry if that doesnt mean anything.

You got a body in the boot ? Failing that Shrivenham Garage is pretty good for second opinion !

I remember similar on my first car. I was driving it with the brakes grinding for weeks. Once day i come to a stop at a t-junction and hear something sounding like it fell of my car.

I got out and had a look around, then found a brake pad underneath, because it had dropped out of the caliper. I then had to drive it home using the caliper piston to stop the car on my trashed disks. Needless to say i needed new disks, pads and calipers. Cheap as chips from the breakers yard though, and it was fun bleeding the brakes and what not.

could be anything.
as usual i will reccomend m+b on chapel street.been using them for years, as have all my family.
i first used them without any kinowledge of them to put right shit fits poor workmanship.
you will get fixed what needs fixing, and nothing more.honest and reliable

I always use Premier up on Station Rd Industrial Estate. Quick, honest, do a good job and just fix what needs fixing as cheap as possible.

Thanks for the suggestions chaps

is your car rear wheel drive si? what's the mileage on it?
 i'd be a bit dubious if you were told the discs needed replacing.they may well do, but usually the pads just need doing.

It's front wheel drive, Nearish 74000, 14k done in the last year. Apparently one disc is a bit warped.

They should be good for another 2-3 months I reckon but I do a fair bit of mileage so it's probably worth doing. A mate has kindly offered to help out so I will just get the parts in I think.

I'm more annoyed about the tyres. I think I must have hit some potholes because I have some lovely cuts in the sidewalls which I'd noticed happened after the MOT but left and forgot about. They'll need doing so I'm changing them. BUT the garage reckons I've worn through to the cords on one tyre. They were brand new in August (Pirelli's as well). Needless to say I don't trust them on anything because this sounds like bullshit.

Do you reckon I should ask to see said tyre? :)

By the way it's Skurrays, heard mixed things about them but the first time I've been there. Don't think I will go back if I find out they have been playing me along. Wasn't impressed when the bloke phoned me up and in talking about the brakes he asked if I had steel wheels with hupcaps or alloys. Ummmm, my car is there you fucking imbecile. That's why I said leave the rest of the work as it doesn't inspre confidence.

dealerships always try to get as much work out of you as possible.

take it to a reputable garage like the one i said, or another recomended to you.tell them everything that skurrays said and see the reaction you get.
that was how i discovered m+b.from that day on unless i can fix it myslef they have done everything on my car.servicing-mot's and repairs

Skurrays are notorious for ripping people off, myself included. Bastards.

I know a mechanic who works at Skurrays. He's a genuine fella, but admits they are "encouraged" to find additional work that needs doing.

Skurrays are a bunch of Arse bandits and I wouldn't let touch it if it was a recall (I have a Astra) They fucked my Sisters Saxo up on a service.

They put the wrong bolt back in when putting the wheels on, chewed the thread in the HUB and then decieded to tell me it was me that had fucked it up.   :cunt:

the moral of the story is to avoid dealerships, unless it's for warranty work.

I chose Skurrays because my workmates have said they were ok (but did warn me about them trying to do more than they should) and they are close to my work. Service price was alright and I get a nice little stamp in my log book (I'm kidding about the last point).

Thought I would get the service done and pay for nothing else. Just forgot about the tyres but I'm too lazy to arrange for e-tyres to sort them next week. Plus if one really is illegal I can bet a copper will bloody pull me over later because I'm unlucky like that :)

check the tyre yourself.you will be able to see if there is a problem with it

It's not just the legality though,it's safety. If you do a fair few miles you need to think of the effect of tyre failure either at high speed or far from home. A good look at it will make your decision easier.

Haha I only meant driving it to a cheaper garage, though in honesty I should have changed them sooner, I've just been too poor.

That C+B garages did alright for me when i needed something do. I condon arribas reccomendation

Skurrays are a total rip-off.  Once bought a cavalier from a place in purton (its houses now), guy said he would stand by the car and get anything repaired as it needed servicing and they hadn't done it.  Being a vauxhall I took it to Skurrays, by 9-15 they were on the phone to me with a list of jobs needing doing as long as your arm.  Rang the guy from Purton who told me to just have a straight service done and take it to S&T Motors in Ferndale Road for anything else that needed doing. Skurrays were not happy, but when I took the car to Dave at S&T he checked it over and came up with just new brake shoes needing doing.  The suspension was fine, the discs were fine and the handbrake just needed adjustment and not complete strip down and new parts.  I drove that car for five years with only minor repairs and servicing, and the only garage that does my work now is S&T.  Skurrays should be reported to trading standards if they are riping you off Si.