Fitting Generic Parts?

[SvenAgain]

I've booked my 2017 Volvo XC60 in for new discs and pads. The garage has a good reputation and was also the lowest priced quote for the work. I am now worried that the parts (which must be generic at the price) may not be up to the job.

Am I putting myself and my family in any danger by not specifying what parts to fit?

And if so, what make of discs and pads at a reasonable price would you recommend?

Cheers,

Sven

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by SvenAgain

I've booked my 2017 Volvo XC60 in for new discs and pads. The garage has a good reputation and was also the lowest priced quote for the work. I am now worried that the parts (which must be generic at the price) may not be up to the job.

Am I putting myself and my family in any danger by not specifying what parts to fit?

And if so, what make of discs and pads at a reasonable price would you recommend?

Cheers,

Sven

As someone who only ever uses genuine Volvo myself (120,000 miles later no break downs and £140.00 of repairs) I would always go genuine.

That said. I am not sure that you are putting your family at any risk at all using pattern parts.

What you do need to remember however is that Volvo are often, very often as cheap as independents, you also get European brakedown as standard with the Volvo service (£180.00 worth) and more to the point if your engine lets go etc then you have an excellent chance of Volvo covering the cost if you have a full Volvo history and that may save you £10,000.

To answer your question I wouldn’t be concerned to drive your vehicle with my family in it with pattern parts, you don’t really get the life of Volvo stuff but it’s not dangerous.

Anything from ATE, Brembo, Pagid, Icer will be good quality. Bosch etc.

Perhaps ask them what brakes they will use and ask here.

[DaveNP]

I'd agree with XC90.
Looking at it if non manufacturer parts were 'dangerous' given the number of businesses selling them there would be carnage on the roads if they didn't work, they will be made to meet or exceed the minimum requirements and probably be better than that, they may not give you the 110% you'd get from Volvo but they should be safe (assuming your garage aren't absolute cowboys). Also worth remembering that car manufacturers don't actually make a lot of components themselves, as I recall when I changed the rear calipers on mine they had Ate moulded into the castings.
But as XC90 says it may be worth a quick enquiry with Volvo either your local dealer or the likes of FRF in the Traders section here as for some parts they can be surprisingly cheap.

[Darlo 1]

I did the front discs and pads on my s60 d5 for less than £60, got the parts off ebay, no issues at all, not even a random squeal.

[Tannaton]

It's been said but no...

You might find the pads don't have as good "feel" or are very on/off but it's safe to assume they wont be dangerous in any way.

[StanC]

Many years ago Volvo ran a series of advertisements for their genuine parts, using a strap line something like 'if you don't use genuine Volvo parts your car will (eventually) cease to be a Volvo'. This, of course, is strictly true but if replacement parts are high quality does it matter?

Stan.

[Ulrikas PA]

Ask the garage what they intend to fit ? Some will give you a choice.

I took a previous Audi in and when they offered Brembo, I said I preferred Pagid from previous experience. They said they could either source or fit what I provided.

[concrete]

I used to own a shogun and it needed a cam belt. My mate said he usually used Gates belts, but in this instance he’d fit a genuine belt, just in case it should snap, I’d have some comeback with Mitsubishi. The belt was twenty quid dearer and when it arrived the the Gates stamp and Mitsubishi stamps were side by side on the belt.

[Offgrid]

I'm getting very cynical about garages and their fitters (do any have mechanics these days?). I think that there is a higher risk that they won't replace the disks than the components being faulty.

BTW brake disks are classed as cylinder cast by scrap yards. Phone your local one, you may be surprised by the price they offer on the old ones.

[SnineT]

The thing with this is if you buy Pagid brake parts or Mann filters you are buying the same parts the OEM bought to fit to their cars new without the individual branding,

Even the cheapo Eisher ones you can get from a certain motor factor are up to task having used them myself before,

Same applies with tyres, a lot of these unknown brand tyres they sell at 30% of the cost of a premium brand tyre last just as long, sometimes return more mpg, the one I won't touch which is no longer seen as a budget is the Nexen, great until it rains, on the flip I always liked a Barum and there are a few premium brands who make their own budgets under different names.

LingLong, inspiring isn't it