Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Alex W on 11 September 2011, 15:36:25

Title: Difference between Vented and Solid Discs
Post by: Alex W on 11 September 2011, 15:36:25

My daugther's Fiat Grande Punto was suffering from overheating brakes firstly on the drivers side and then a couple of weeks later on the passenger side.

The first time I just freed the caliper and gave them a good clean and everthing seemed OK. The second time we decided to take the car to a local independant garage. They reported that the car was fitted with the wrong brake discs, solid instead of vented. They also said the brake pads were nearly falling out.

My daughter had been charged nearly £400 for new discs and pads only a year ago by the Fiat main stealer during a "free" service and so it was them that fitted the wrong parts.

So my question is, would the wrong discs cause the overheating/sticking brakes? Are there any other possible consequences

Thanks in advance for any advice

Title: Re: Difference between Vented and Solid Discs
Post by: Andy B on 11 September 2011, 15:50:27

Quote

... Are there any other possible consequences

Thanks in advance for any advice

Just complete failure of the brakes! :o As said, one of the pads on each side was ready for falling out because the pad was allowed to travel further than it was designed to do because the disc was half as thick as it should be. When that pad fell out, or probably before hand, the piston would be pushed out of its bore causing complete loss of brake fluid from that side of the system. How anyone can manage to fit the wrong discs like this without questioning the chasm that the new slim solid discs are now sitting amazes me. Mike Dundee had the same problem at the back of his car a few years ago at York.

I think that you should be parking said Punto in front of the main doors to the dealership tomorrow morning!  ::)

Title: Re: Difference between Vented and Solid Discs
Post by: Alex W on 11 September 2011, 16:22:11

Thanks Andy, this is more terrifying than I had realised. This was not the only incident with this stealer either, there have been a catalogue of problems over three years.

Title: Re: Difference between Vented and Solid Discs
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 September 2011, 16:54:40

A very dangerous practice, IMHO. Stand on the brakes and the extra clearance can cause a piston to pop out entirely, and then you're left with nothing. It's shocking that a main dealer can leave a car in such a dangerous state. :o

Title: Re: Difference between Vented and Solid Discs
Post by: Plomien on 11 September 2011, 17:12:39

I would ask the garage to do a report on it and take it back to the stealers asking the garage for the parts (and if not too late take photos) requesting for a refund+

Title: Re: Difference between Vented and Solid Discs
Post by: Alex W on 11 September 2011, 17:50:05

I got the independant to retian the incorrect discs so that should be evidence enough. I will definately be going for a refund from the stealer and I will be contacting trading standards and Fiat as well