Is not over 1000 pounds an insane price for one bush?
Find an independent Mazda specialist, get a quote. It’s a 7 year old car, having a full main dealer service history isn’t essential. Any proper indy will be able to update the electronic service history themselves as they will have access to the Mazda system - the two I use do this. Don’t get budget tyres, they could be ditchfinders, go mid range as a minimum (Kuhmo, Uniroyal, Avon). Everyone on here will have their personal favourite tyres but any well-known named brand is a good start, Blackcircles.com is your friend.
Seen your pictures of the rear discs, I’d agree the discs need replacing and add to that new pads too.
To my eyes and experience it looks like a classic case of lack of servicing brake wise. They’ve got an odd wear pattern especially the inner (back faces) of the discs. Whether the caliper needs doing is a another thing, if they work maybe just need stripping, cleaning and lubricant on the pins. I’d hazard a guess it’s easier for the garage/dealer to just quote for replacements. Being generous and guessing new discs + pads £200 plus the labour but of course you are at the mercy of the dealer and them fitting genuine stuff and whatever labour charges. I’m guessing your brakes and bushes won’t be covered by the dealer warranty you have, wear and tear.
Thank you very much for the advice. Is there any directory of Mazda specialist per region? I’m based in Edinburgh.
Just so happens I’ve had a list sent to me, UK list of dealers.
Here it is below, 2 sides, hope you can read it, I’ve only took 2 pics.
It might be better to visit Mazda UK website and take look there, they must have a list to peruse there.
I really appreciate you sharing this. In the list I can only see Western Mazda in my region, which is where I have my care at at the minute. I suppose that what I need is a non official specialist?
Ask in the local owners area for recommendations. You can still keep your Mazda service history intact, if that’s what you’d like to do, and continue to get routine servicing done at the main dealer.
Whilst getting work like this done at a reputable local garage or independent.
Your local Area of the Club will probably be the best source for this, I can give you advice for Grampian though not much use to you. Even if you’re not a Club member check the Central Scotland page on the website and you will find contact details for the local Area.
If it’s Mazda approved with the warranty that hub carrier bushing issue should be covered!!
Check: saw it’s another warrenty.
Not very good- understatement of the year!!
Not the nicest, 24K. Abysmal really. Mine’s on 17.4K and, touch wood, fine I think ![]()
I’d dig into the caliper ‘replacement’ a bit more. I recently changed my rear pads at maybe 38,000 miles on a 2017 car and it was like working on new calipers after a blast of brake cleaner. The discs were OK as well, although yours do look a bit rough. That said I’m not in Scotland and I don’t drive it when they are throwing salt about.
I still take it to the dealer for an annual service but I’d rather do the brakes myself so I can grease the pins and free everything up. They should do that of course, but who knows?
And definitely don’t let them fit ‘budget’ tyres. Kumhos are good enough if you don’t way to pay for premium, but they are mid range rather than budget. Ideally have 4 identical tyres. £300 would be ridiculous. Budget typically means £50 each plus fitting. no more that £150 for the pair.
All manufacturers have your trousers off for discs and pads. I was actually going to put OEM on mine but MX-5 parts didn’t have the fitting kit. I got some decent (TRW) rear pads with all the clips and shims for something between £30 and £40 IIRC. I think OEM was double just for pads, from MX-5 parts.
If everything is pukka and it includes decent tyres, £900 sounds cheap for a main dealer but half of that is the calipers.
NOOOOOOOO!
Even the OE Bridgestone shouldn’t cost £150 each. A budget tyre, 205 45 17, which is the “expensive ones” will cost them around £40. That is one hell of a mark up to get to £125 plus vat each!
OP has confirmed it’s not Calipers just Discs & Pads.
Posts going off topic and not directly related to the OP’s problem have been deleted.
Mines a 2017 2.0 RF. Just had the RAC come to my house and replace rear discs and pads for £219 all in. Pretty reasonable I thought. Took around an hour start to finish.
For the love of god don’t put budget tyres on an MX-5. I’d also not put the Bridgestones on if you value safety in heavy rain.
does anyone know what would cause this wear pattern ? (inside pad only contacting the central area of disc). it almost looks like half the pad is missing .its seems odd that it is the same both sides of the car. Is it defective pads, pads not ‘floating’ ?
Also is the general level of corrosion seen here typical of Scottish NDs ?
One that hasn’t been treated, unfortunately yes.
Seen that wear pattern before, rusty outer part of the discs and particularly the rears. I reckon it’s lack of maintenance in the past coupled with the rears don’t get cleared/cleaned off as quickly as the fronts if a film of rust appears. I’ve had it on one of my cars I think cheaper priced discs also were used on that.
It happened to my Niseko, parked two weeks at Gatwick one winter.
All OEM and low mileage.
They were not as bad as the OPs but I still needed to skim them and I fitted new Brembo pads. They turned out to be a bit softer (ie more immediate bite) and better at clearing the discs.
Subsequent winter visits to that car park I put caravan tyre covers over the wheels, no rust.
This was my post back in 2018 with pics of the discs


