S60 Disc and Pads Cost

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

I would say nearer £15 an hour... then then probably another £5 an hour for his pension, employers NI, uniforms, PPE etc.

He's probably had £10k to £20k of training courses. He will be in a modern building that cost millions and he will have every tool he could ever need at his disposal and has access to the full Volvo network. And you can have coffee and biscuits whilst you wait.

Does he need all that to do fast fit jobs like pads? No - but equally you would not want to pay £200 an hour for them to diagnose peculiar problems. They have to absorb their overheads across all jobs.

And I would trust the dealer any day to clean the calipers properly rather than hammer in the pads into a rusty, stuck caliper like Kwik Fit would probably do.

You pays your money and takes your choices...

It’s a pair of discs and pads! It needs a trolley jack, a socket set, flexible hose clamp, Allen key and not much else.

If I wanted to have software updates yes, but for discs and pads it’s crazy money. You could buy the parts from Volvo itself and all the tools for less than that then you have the tools for life!

Its a morning work on the drive with a cup of tea not pairing new loom parts.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

I would say nearer £15 an hour... then then probably another £5 an hour for his pension, employers NI, uniforms, PPE etc.

He's probably had £10k to £20k of training courses. He will be in a modern building that cost millions and he will have every tool he could ever need at his disposal and has access to the full Volvo network. And you can have coffee and biscuits whilst you wait.

Does he need all that to do fast fit jobs like pads? No - but equally you would not want to pay £200 an hour for them to diagnose peculiar problems. They have to absorb their overheads across all jobs.

And I would trust the dealer any day to clean the calipers properly rather than hammer in the pads into a rusty, stuck caliper like Kwik Fit would probably do.

You pays your money and takes your choices...

way out, although it should be the responsibility they have these days ..

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Clan

way out, although it should be the responsibility they have these days ..

Clan, I agree, very skilled work and risk to life. Should be well paid. In my experience ‘master techs’ etc are paid poorly and the training is generally on the job. Doubt they would receive anything like 20k training even if you take into account their salary whilst they are off work.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

Clan, I agree, very skilled work and risk to life. Should be well paid. In my experience ‘master techs’ etc are paid poorly and the training is generally on the job. Doubt they would receive anything like 20k training even if you take into account their salary whilst they are off work.

They will be on minimum wage in 2 or 3 years time … Generally there have been NO Pay rises in the last 10 years … training is on going throughout their career , five to 10 days a year , over 40 years that's way over £20,000 worth. Watched like a hawk regarding efficiency .

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Clan

They will be on minimum wage in 2 or 3 years time … Generally there have been NO Pay rises in the last 10 years … training is on going throughout their career , five to 10 days a year , over 40 years that's way over £20,000 worth. Watched like a hawk regarding efficiency .

20k over 40 years, I buy that yes, £500 quid a year! You would be mad to pay Volvo Main dealer prices for discs and pads. I paid £170 from caffyns Volvo for
. Volvo rear discs
. Volvo rear pads
. Volvo brake fluid
. Volvo hand brake shoes.
All genuine and on Volvo headed invoice for an xc90

Bled the brakes (didn’t need to remove front wheels).

2 hours work!

[paul chocks]

Get the parts department to price up the discs and pads - Volvo have an offer on brakes at the moment. Discs and pads alround for an XC60 about £360 from memory. I bet the service department charge RRP rather than the price you could buy the same parts.

If you insist on Volvo fitting, I'd buy the parts from the counter round the back then suck up the labour cost.

[paul chocks]

Just checked my notes. Discs and Pads all round for XC60 are £312 inc vat. Offer is Volvo wide until end of November.

RRP for same is £528 inc vat.

So now is time to buy brakes.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

It’s a pair of discs and pads! It needs a trolley jack, a socket set, flexible hose clamp, Allen key and not much else.

If I wanted to have software updates yes, but for discs and pads it’s crazy money. You could buy the parts from Volvo itself and all the tools for less than that then you have the tools for life!

Its a morning work on the drive with a cup of tea not pairing new loom parts.

You’re completely missing the point, and you have also missed axle stands off your list - I.e. health and safety....

The point is their overheads are absorbed in the labour rates, they’re not going to charge less for fast fit type jobs, they’re not going to charge more for master tech diagnostics....

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

You’re completely missing the point, and you have also missed axle stands off your list - I.e. health and safety....

The point is their overheads are absorbed in the labour rates, they’re not going to charge less for fast fit type jobs, they’re not going to charge more for master tech diagnostics....

I bought some Bahco top spec 3t axle stands for about 50 quid.

If you want to pay someone £100 an hour plus so that they can give to to one of their mechanics at 12 an hour then that’s fine.

Me, I bought discs, pads, shoes, top quality professional sockets, spanner’s, hex wrench, axle stands and a proper bleed kit with its own pump that relies on no external air pressure such as tyres all for the same price.

I hear of people paying 800 for the 6 year service. I just bought water pump, aux belt and odler, cam belt tensioner and idler kit, a 1000Nm top of the line dewalt impact driver, cam locking kit and 300Nm torque wrench all for way less than Volvo charge and I will be doing a proper job.

Some people have no idea of money.

[Tannaton]

I don't disagree with that but for some who are less mechanically minded and experienced, or who may not have a driveway, the preferred option might be to spend the money and know it's done properly and safely...