jack1988 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Had to replace rear discs on sport garage wanted £160, which i didn't have..... got new discs and pads for £40, apart from forgeting the rear calipers needed reseting which i got a universal reset tool from halfords for £20, was an easy job defo worth doing to save 100 quid.Front lower rear bushes need replacing sometime, any idea of what that involves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmcd Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 If you are talking about the front lower arm bushes it is fairly simple. It would be a lot easier if you got new lower arms as it is probs a cheaper option as well. Once the wheel is removed you have to remove the 3 bolts from the lower ball joint which is the part of the arm that goes into the bottom of the hub. Then remove the 2 other bolts from the front and rear of the arm that hold it onto the underside of the vehicle. Then just rebuild as you removed. Hope that helps you a little! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpo Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Always worth doing as much as you can yourself, makes you feel good and saves you money.Always upsets me paying for the stamp in the service book, when you know you can do it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallika_Fan Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 When my MOT was due last month i knew that something was going to be said about the rear brakes, so i bought new standard ebc discs and blackstuff pads. Which worked out to £72, then i bought a Draper or Laser wind back tool which cost about £8 whichi itself is more like a cube with different spaced nobbles, this was a bit awkward to use as using a 3/8" ratchet i couldn't get the pressure to wind back the piston, it'd turn quite happily though. In then end i used this in conjunction with a cleverly placed screwdriver levering against the caliper.Anyway, in the end i managed to save myself a considerable amount of money by doing this myself. It wasn't easy as everything had decided to seize up on me, so everything took longer to do, though it's made the world of difference.As Simpo states about the stamp, it'd be nice to get the stamp though it's not the end of the world. Plus i keep a spreadsheet with work done/money spent anyway, that's my stamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardaft Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I always service my own cars, when cars get older i dont think its improtant to have a stamp as long as it is written in the service book what has been done and when. I do mine about every 8-10 months or 6K miles with genuine parts, depends what comes round first, usually mileage. If you dont write in the service book when you do work yourself then its pointless and your car has no history. Although i do stamp mine, we still have a service stamp from when my dad had a Citroen specialist business, so thats pretty handy.Brakes are easy to do really, some are more complicated, but lupos seem very simple. Would never attempt a cambelt change though, i always get bigger jobs done by a garage. I hate dealers, have had so many bad experiences i am not willing to go back, finding a good reliable indy is the best bet imo. Although atleast doing it yourself you know exactly what has been done!Not to mention it feels good to do something yourself with your own car. I have just been getting a car ready for its MOT after 3 years of being stood in a garage, needed quite a bit of servicing etc and cleaning as you can imagine - its away getting a cambelt kit and water pump this morning then im taking it for its MOT later today, fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmcd Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Yea i agree it is defo worth doing it yourself i am a mechanic and just been made redundant so now i just do alot of homers. Anyone can work on a car you just need to have a good memory for remembering what goes where and the correct tools which always helps. People have also got sites like this to ask advice of other members with more technical situations. I also agree you do not need a stamp, you are pritty much just paying for that! I can happily say garages are a complete rip off and treat your car like crap, i will never take my cars to one, only when its MOT time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardaft Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I could write a book with my dealer experiences, one bad dealer experience landed my Arosa with a new engine - yes some people may think that is a good thing, but its not, it had only done 25K miles at the time! Luckily it runs like a dream now, but its small problem could have been cured very easily had the dealer listened to me and had a tiny bit of knowledge. Not to mention the 3 months that they had my car in, the damage they caused to it and the inconvenience of it all. Total idiots, dont have a clue what they are doing. Much prefer doing things myself as you say, i also dont like other people driving my car, so im not going to give someone who couldnt care less about my car the keys! Rant over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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