"David Millen" <notdmillen@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> I think I'm a fairly sensitive driver, so when my Focus came
> back from the dealer with a new clutch and front discs (and
> a very large bill) I was surprised; it's done less than 80k km
> /50k miles from new. It had gone in because it was reluctant
> to start from cold, and the brakes were noisy. The pads seem
> to be lasting about 18k km/11k miles. So, two questions:
>
> Is that normal clutch, pad and disc life?
>
> I was billed a total of 6.2 hours for the work, and just under
> 1000 euros (700 quid) for the parts (clutch, flywheel, cylinder,
> discs, pads, consumables, etc) plus VAT.
Here in the States, *Consumer Reports* lists the brakes as the
most problem prone area of the Focus, along with electrical
problems. Wear problems began when Ford replaced banned
asbestos brakes with a softer compound. I use high quality
non-Ford replacement pads.
The discs (rotors) shouldn't have to be part of a brake job, but again
the OEM Ford parts are too cheap and thin to be machined. New
rotors can double the cost of new brakes. My Ford dealer charges
$140 for brake pads and $120 for the rotors (£144 including labor
and tax). [one pound = $1.97]
My wife isn't easy on the Focus and I replaced the pads and rotors
at 36,000 miles.
I've replaced clutches (although not in the last 30 years) and I don't
recall the flywheel as being part of a new clutch. The flywheel was
a major part of your bill.
Don
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