My car failed its MOT again last week and needs a few bits doing to it. Naturally, I'm hoping to get a better deal than what I was quoted so just wondered if anyone could recommend a decent garage in Hull? I've tried a few over the years and think they vary wildly on price and quality of work sometimes. Any tips would be much appreciated.
Both front lower suspension arm rubber bushes (?!?!) are deteriorated resulting in excessive movement. Near side front brake excessively fluctuating. And two bulbs, which obviously is minor. Been quoted £240 and £265 so far. This could be perfectly reasonable, I don't really know, but with Wembleycoming up and it needing to be done this week, I'm obviously keen to keep the pennies for more fun pursuits!
Try oxford motors mate. Oxford Motors 52 Oxford St, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU2 0QP Tel: 01482 217855 I couldn't rate them any higher, great service and good prices. Ring them up and see what quote they give you. Lewis
Very welcome mate, let me know how you get on and if the quote is reasonable, got a few more contacts. Lewis
A.B Abbey's on Hessle High Road. Ive been using them for 30 years, the family are City supporters also. 354166.
I use the one at the top of Clough Road, near the car wash - £25 for an MOT and a cheap and reliable garage
Just rang. If doesn't need to put new brake pads in then it'll be about £185. More obviously if they do. I'm booked in! Cheers for that.
****ing hell, get the socket set out you lazy ****. £40 and an hour and you'll have all that done, piece of piss. You don't need any mechanical nous to swap bushes or brakes.
£2.50 each for the bushes. £14.15 for the pads if they need doing £10 for the discs if they're warped. Bulbs are about 50p each (don't go to halfords they'll charge you about £5 - £10 per bulb!) So £30 max and between one and two hours work doing it. Save yourself an arm and a leg there. Plenty of guides on the internet to walk you through it, not that you really need one, it really is simple stuff.
Hark at Kevin Webster. Start titting about with stuff like this and it'll end in tears. Get it done by someone who knows what they're doing Party. In fact why doesn't Hat Webster do it for you?
Hope you all don't think I'm naive enough not to have checked the old motoring forums on this stuff?!? Bushes are tricky (apparently) and I may need new brake pads altogether. My car skills extend no further than topping up any of the following fluids - Water Oil Petrol Coolant I did change a bulb once after getting stopped and breathalised by a rozzer (innocent of course) but even then I was required to take it to a garage so they could confirm it was lined up correctly and could sign it off for me. Gotta be above board this stuff, I'm calling in the pros.
Wise words. I've changed a wheel and can top up the oil when needed but that's about it. I once tried changing my battery but I was way out of my depth, had to get one of my mates to do it. These things shouldn't be trifled with.
Party, minus taking your wheel off, getting the wishbone off is 3 bolts. The easiest method is just to buy a new wishbone, probably £10 - £20 each for an old fiesta (assume it's a mk4?). It's a piece of piss. If you just swap the bushes out of the wishbone and put new ones in, it's a little trickier, but only requires some elbow grease really. You just spray the bush in WD40, leave it 10 minutes to soak in, stick a socket over the rubber bush and smash it once or twice with a sledgehammer and it'll pop right out. Same method to get the new bush in. Changing brakes is even simpler. 2 bolts on the back of the calliper to open it, just wedge a screwdriver behind the old pads and they pop off, new ones will just slide straight in. Slap a little bit of grease on the runners and you're done. Even if you need to change the discs, they'll just slide off once you've opened the calliper up. Even my mrs could do it party, live a little and save a lotto.
Not quite as simple as Mr Hat makes out in my experience but if you have time and the tools and the inclination you CAN save money. If you dont have the tools you may spend as much on tools as a cheap garage would charge for half the labour, but at least you will be prepared to do future work.
JD Service & MOT Centre 31 St Mark Street, Cleveland Street, HU8 7ED Kingston upon Hull 01482 219555 or Contact Craig Dunn Email [email protected]
