Front Disk Rotors

Larso · 26-05-2011, 05:23 PM

Took the Mondeo in for its 45k service today and got the expected phone call early afternoon that something out of the ordinary needed to be done.( almost picked the right time half hour out ) Front rotors under size $600+ to replace. Quizzed about that happening at 45k and should it be done under warranty and was met with 40- 45k sounds about right. I didn't do it as I wanted to investigate further and I don't have any issues with the brakes whatsoever. I am sure i can get it done it cheaper, but does this sound right?

Mickmelb · 26-05-2011, 06:12 PM

Most Euro cars have soft discs these days that the price you pay for the stopping power often you will hear of a lot less km's with some makes. Even something like a Falcon will only get those km's if the driver is hard on brakes. Price sounds pretty high though if thats just for the rotors alone not pads etc.

XtRmn8 · 26-05-2011, 10:37 PM

Larso, do you do a lot of city driving where you have to use the break a lot?

Ours is at 87000kms now and fronts are still ok but I had to get the rear disks skimmed and put new pads on at 85000kms. Will do the same to the front at 90000kms.

We do a lot of freeway/highway driving. Last runabout, 2004 Fiesta, did 130000kms when we sold it and never had to touch the brakes.

Larso · 26-05-2011, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtRmn8

Larso, do you do a lot of city driving where you have to use the break a lot?

Ours is at 87000kms now and fronts are still ok but I had to get the rear disks skimmed and put new pads on at 85000kms. Will do the same to the front at 90000kms.

We do a lot of freeway/highway driving. Last runabout, 2004 Fiesta, did 130000kms when we sold it and never had to touch the brakes.

A lot of short trips i guess as it is my wife's car and is averaging 15,000km a year. As we bought it 2nd hand with 30,000 on the clock i don't really know the previous owners driving habits. I had heard that they are softer metal and they do stop extremely well but I just thought 45,000 was a bit to soon. I will get a second opinion as they can be a little keen to replace parts when you are paying but not as generous when pushing for warranty claims.

NZ XR6 · 26-05-2011, 11:51 PM

My front discs looked bad at 50,000 kms. To avoid the inevitable exorbitant cost of new rotors and pads, I traded my car on a new Mondeo.

Seriously, you've done well to get to 45,000 kms. It could be worth consulting a brake specialist - maybe you should replace the rotors and discs with after market products such as TRW.

DRU842 · 27-05-2011, 07:21 AM

Got 60,000km out of my XR5; disks & pads at the from & rear pads.

Dusty1 · 27-05-2011, 09:27 AM

Got me rears done at 45K or so. I'd say the fronts need to be done, but I'm a couple of weeks away from a new car, so the new owner can sort this.

AlanD · 01-06-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larso

Took the Mondeo in for its 45k service today and got the expected phone call early afternoon that something out of the ordinary needed to be done.( almost picked the right time half hour out ) Front rotors under size $600+ to replace. Quizzed about that happening at 45k and should it be done under warranty and was met with 40- 45k sounds about right. I didn't do it as I wanted to investigate further and I don't have any issues with the brakes whatsoever. I am sure i can get it done it cheaper, but does this sound right?

Hi Larso,

Car brakes are the one thing that I am prepared to do myself these days an the basis that I will do it properly and so I have a guarantee that when I want to stop there is an excellent chance that I will. If someone else makes a mistake often the first you know about it is when you are not stopping when you want to.

So far I have never had to spend more than a half hour per wheel to do the job (except I'm not looking forward to the Territory rears which have corroded onto the hubs.)

If you go here:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FORD-MOND...item5ae09c5cb4

These look remarkably similar to the rotors on the front of our car

You will see how we get ripped off with the cost of spare parts on imported vehicles. I'll bet if you ask you get a $400+ figure for the rotors - and if they say they are undersized then you will need new ones.

Not sure what the freight cost from the UK would be as they are heavy but it might be worth asking the question. If you do I'm guessing lots of us would like to know the answer.

Incidently, the reason for the thickness (Thin-ness?) limit has to do with avoiding the pistons popping out of the cylinders when the pads get very worn, so if you make sure that these get changed as soon as they get to 30 - 40% of the new thickness there isn't much chance of that happening. I seem to recall that the limit for the rotors is 26 mm (they are 28 when new) so you could get the service people to show you that they have reached the limit by demonstrating a measurement to you.

Good Luck

Larso · 01-06-2011, 10:24 PM

Hi AlanD,
You are not wrong about getting ripped for these parts. I have had stuff shipped in from FordParts UK in the past and even with shipping I was still better off. I will start looking shortly for the parts and get them done. The pads appear to have plenty of meat on them still but I wont let it go to long.

apstar · 02-06-2011, 10:54 AM

This is a money spinner for the service departments when I done my 30k service I got the call that the rear pads needs replacing and won't last to the next service

NZ XR6 · 02-06-2011, 05:43 PM

The front rotors on mine were shot when I traded it. I'd guess at least 1 mm of wear on each side of the rotor. Having steel wheels certainly didn't help as I had smoke coming off the front brakes more than once after "brisk" driving on back roads.

The rear brakes are tiny, must be the smallest discs I've ever seen on a car. Probably keeps the unsprung weight down.

I'm hoping the diesel will be easier on the brakes than the petrol as the auto changes down to give you engine braking.

apstar · 02-06-2011, 07:26 PM

I was told the rear pads wear faster because they also are the handbrake!

mondo_broady · 02-06-2011, 11:07 PM

i just had my 45k service on the XR5. my rotors are worn a little, but still ok for a while yet. most surprising was the meat left in my pads. only barely 50% used...

DRU842 · 03-06-2011, 07:19 AM

The rear pads wear faster due to the anti-dive system as part of the braking system; my Volvo V40 had this as well.

Scaffy · 04-06-2011, 01:09 AM

Our XR5 is due for new rotors and pads all round and it's done 55,000km city driving. I got a quote on genuine parts yesterday that came up to $1221! After a search tonight, I came across a UK site where a set of stock EBC rotors and OEM type EBC pads came up to the equivalent of $360 or there-abouts. I emailed them to see if they'll ship here and asked for a quote if they do. If I have any luck, I'll post it up.

BTW, those rears are 11mm thick with a minimum of 9mm.

Scaffy · 07-06-2011, 11:21 AM

A quick update. I got a shipping quote back, so for plain EBC rotors and OEM type EBC pads, you'll be looking at $640 to your door and if you wanted to step up to EBC Ultimax rotors and Green Stuff pads, you'd be looking at around $840 to your door.

http://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap...scs/d1500.html

Dusty1 · 08-06-2011, 04:55 PM

Mine will be needing to be done. But with the new Territory coming soon, I won't be paying.

Scaffy · 24-06-2011, 07:52 PM

Update...

I just placed an order the other day with DC Performance out of the UK. EBC Ultimax discs all 'round and EBC Green Stuff to grab them. The grand total, including shipping has come to around $780. Bloody bargain, if you ask me. The prices on their website includes VAT (value added tax = 20%!) however, as insternational purchasers, we don't pay the VAT and with the purchase being under $1000, don't pay GST either. Woot!

Once I get it all on, I'll throw another update up and let you know how I go. I found DC Performance great to deal with.

mondo_broady · 25-06-2011, 05:38 PM

nice work scaffy...

walschaert · 04-07-2011, 10:11 PM

I have done 150K on my 2008 Mondeo and had two new pairs of rotors on the front and one set on the back. Mostly highway driving so I agree the rotors are very soft. Last new set on front were only about a month ago and I'm sure the bill was about $360, not from a dealer but a repairer near work who used non OEM discs. If anyone is still interested I will find out where he's getting them.

Having said that the last ones had to be machined after installation, they were 0.003 thou out causing pedal and steering wheel shimmy, so maybe that's why they were a bit cheaper - they're no good. The other ones I've had put on have been good out of the box. Didn't get charged for the machining, dunno how he sorted it out with the supplier. Fine now.

XtRmn8 · 06-07-2011, 02:44 PM

I dropped the car in for its 90000kms service this morning and got a call with the usual "you only have 1000kms" left on your front brakes. Ford is giving me a quote to supply and fit new front disks and pads, both OEM and after market.

In the mean time I have sent an email to dcperformance to get a price on their OEM EBC discs and pads delivered to Perth. The parts alone are about 122 pounds without VAT so that is only about $185.

I am going to take a guess and say that the cheapest Ford option will be well over $500

XtRmn8 · 19-01-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtRmn8

I dropped the car in for its 90000kms service this morning and got a call with the usual "you only have 1000kms" left on your front brakes. Ford is giving me a quote to supply and fit new front disks and pads, both OEM and after market.

Just an update. 6 months and 20000kms later the front brakes are still ok. Car is up to 110000kms now, still on the original factory front brakes and no issues.

I took the front wheels off last weekend to have a look and pads are pretty low, so will be fitting new rotors and pads in the next couple of weeks.

I am waiting on a shipping quote from FordPartUK. Parts are approx $168.

Best quote I got from Ford is $750 to supply and fit genuine disks and pads. From independents I got a quote for $525 to supply and fit non genuine parts.

Dusty1 · 06-07-2011, 03:18 PM

I sold my Mondeo MA to my brother's fiancée. They needed a roadworthy, and I said that Ford told me the fronts needed to be done before 60K.

The guy who did the roadworthy was a brake specialist and said they were fine, that car had done just under 65K. Most of the driving when I had it was stop start city.

XtRmn8 · 06-07-2011, 10:04 PM

Ok so I got a price from Fraud.

Genuine pads and rotors - $1032 fitted
After-market pads and rotors - $700 fitted

I had a good laugh when they told me the price.

Anyway I rang a couple of local brake suppliers in Perth and I can but after-market (RDA) rotors and pads for $330.

I will see what price dcperformance give me to see how it compares.

Also had a quick look and without pulling the wheels off the front pads have about 3mm meat left on them. I'll take the wheel off and have a better look over the weekend.

NZ XR6 · 13-07-2011, 01:08 AM

http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/ford...discs_1408.htm

That must be about AU $100 at current exchange rates?

I'd guess it would take about an hour for a mechanic to change the pads and rotors.

yelpir · 14-07-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ XR6

http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/ford...discs_1408.htm

That must be about AU $100 at current exchange rates?

I'd guess it would take about an hour for a mechanic to change the pads and rotors.

Rip off, Ford Australia!

XtRmn8 · 14-07-2011, 02:00 PM

NZ XR6, Thanks for the link. I will email them for a shipping cost.

yelpir, it is not only Ford Australia. All manufacturers are the same, they put massive markups on parts and servicing. In fact this is where they make most of their money from. Dealers make more money servings cars and selling parts than what they do selling actual cars I reckon.

NZ XR6 · 20-07-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtRmn8

NZ XR6, Thanks for the link. I will email them for a shipping cost.

yelpir, it is not only Ford Australia. All manufacturers are the same, they put massive markups on parts and servicing. In fact this is where they make most of their money from. Dealers make more money servings cars and selling parts than what they do selling actual cars I reckon.

Absolutely correct. But they will lose customers - after $900 for a 40,000 km service, I'll never go back to my local Ford dealer for servicing.

I buy almost all of the parts for my motorbike overseas (US and UK) now - even with shipping, I can usually save at least 33%. Most of the big online stores in Europe will deduct the VAT, which often just about pays the shipping costs. I certainly won't be buying brake parts from my Ford dealer again!

yelpir · 15-08-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ XR6

Absolutely correct. But they will lose customers - after $900 for a 40,000 km service, I'll never go back to my local Ford dealer for servicing.

I buy almost all of the parts for my motorbike overseas (US and UK) now - even with shipping, I can usually save at least 33%.

Might be going down that route myself now as I have been told that I need new front disc rotors and brake pads (Done 72,000 km on the original). However, I am willing to explore the aftermarket option and any additional suggestions would be appreciated. (A 2008 2.3l Mondeo Sedan).

XtRmn8 · 02-02-2012, 07:48 PM

Quick update for anyone that may need to source brake parts in the future and does not want to get ripped by Ford.

FordPartUK turned out to be a no go as the shipping quote alone was $280 so all up parts and shipping were going to cost approx $480 posted to Perth. The parts were more than what is listed on their site as well.

I sourced some cheap RDA rotors and RDA Extreme pads from a brake place in Victoria. A set of rotors and pads cost me $225 and I was able to collect from a local brake distributor in Perth.

So in the end the best quotes I got from Ford was $750 to supply and fit genuine parts or $575 to supply and fit after-market parts (I confirmed they use RDA).

I got a quote from an independent brake specialist to supply and fit RDA rotors and pads for $525.

In the end I bought the same parts (after-market) that ford fit to these cars for $225 and fitted them myself.

For anyone who would need fitting it should not take any more than 1.5 hours labour to fit the rotors and pads and take the car around the block to bed them in for a few kms. I am not a mechanic but have been working on cars for years and it only took me over an hour to change them over.