Garage Recommendation Help (Failed MOT on service brakes)

Area Discussion Northampton
1

Hi All. I am unsure what to do now.

I have brought my car (1997 Mk1 UK spec 1.6L) to a garage near Corby to get my MOT sorted, and unsurprisingly it has failed on service brake efficiency and shock leaking. I then got myself booked into a garage at Northampton to have my shocks changed and have my brakes looked at. So far they have taken 5 business days to get my shocks changed and get my rear calipers replaced with new pads, discs and two bleeds. They have said they found no change in brake efficiency. Which in my opinion is bs. The front brakes work fine so don’t think its cylinder.

Question is whether there are any good garages near northampton area (happy to go toward bedford, MK etc.), to get this sorted and get a MOT done? This garage has basically wasted all of my time to get a retest done and I won’t make the retest period at the garage that I did the MOT at.

I am out of ideas and very lost. I hope to get some help from those that lived in the area for a while as I only just moved here and don’t know the garages around and I definitely went to an incompetent one.

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There is a specific way to adjust the hand brake, has this been adhered to?

Someone will be along to direct you to the instructions but as you are a paid up member you have access to the ‘technical area’ so it may be in there.
:heart:

3

Hand Brake.

Inside the car take the plastic cover off the handbrake at the rear of the handle. I think a screw holds the cover on.

With an 10 mm spanner unscrew the adjusting bolt until it is very loose. for the avoidance of doubt that is it is very loose not “that will do it”.

Put wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.

Unloosen both the rear wheel nuts a quarter turn 21mm AF nuts.

Jack the rear wheel up and put an axle stand in place on the sill pinch weld just in front of the rear (typo fixed) wheel.

Lower the jack and take the wheel nuts off and the wheels off.

Same at the other side as we want both wheels off the ground.

Remove the handbrake cable at the wheel end at both sides.

Have someone in the car putting the handbrake on and off and make sure that the cable is moving if not lubricate where it passes through the guides. Do both sides!

Behind the disk backplate there are 2 14mm AF bolts, want to remove the the one nearest the centre. In there there is an adjuster that needs a 4mm allen key to adjust it it could be seized or missing.

Adjust it so that the disc is locked in place then loosen it but not till the disc spins free we want a bit of friction there so tighten a bit, enough for it to drag a bit.

Replace the cover bolt.

Do the other side.

I hope the thickness of the disc pad friction material is say 3 to 4 mm on each pad.

Rebuild and replace the hand brake cable on to the caliper.

Do the other side, same as just described.

Adjust the hand brake cable at the handle and make sure it is tightish and pull the hand brake on 5 clicks and if you have a luggage scale pull it to 7 kg. If it is between 5 to 7 clicks good, if not tighten or loosen the adjuster at the lever.

Both discs should be locked when the handbrake is on.

Replace wheel nuts to 110 NM.

Jack up and remove the axle stands both sides. Lower jack.

Remove wheel chocks.

Two issues if the little 4mm adjusters are not there. Get them here.

Rear Caliper Inner Adjuster Spindle, MX5 Mk1/2/2.5 – MX5 Parts

Rear Caliper Outer Adjuster, MX5 Mk1/2/2.5 – MX5 Parts

If that does not sort it you need a new rear caliper or two.

I have PM’d you with contact details

4 Likes
4

He has had new discs, pads and calipers so I think he/they need to follow your instructions. It could be that there is nothing wrong with the old calipers.
:heart:

5

Yes Malc you never know!

I will PM you with an article on ND diff oil for your comments on it towards the end of May.

1 Like
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Sounds intriguing, looking forward to it’s arrival.
:heart: :heart:

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The OP wasn’t asking how to adjust the parking brake, the original enquiry was about the service brake. The enquiry was to find a decent garage in the Northampton area, posted in the Northampton area forum.

1 Like
8

The caliper adjustment takes the piston nearer the pad and less new fluid is needed in the caliper to get a better brake performance

It is obvious from what the op is saying, that the garage did not have much of an idea of what to do on the car. He could give the instructions to the garage.

I stand by my post Robbie and disagree with your literal reading of the ops post. I see it as a bit of a cry for help.

YMMV

1 Like
9

Northants MX5s operate out of Corby or a good garage local to me is Adam’s and Sons in Morcott in Rutland so about 10 miles north of Corby. I’ve used them for years for certain things on my whole families cars although do most stuff myself as used to be car mechanic. Never had an issue with them but they have good local reputation so can be sometimes booked up a week or two in advance.

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10

Thanks All for the recommendation!

I took the car back yesterday, bled the brakes again at home, drove the car for 20miles ish. Sent it for MOT retest today. Passed with flying colour :confetti_ball:

I think the garage I took it to was definitely incompetent and do not know what they’re doing (also overcharges).

It was a very stressful couple of days and am very thankful to all that tried to help. All is well now :slight_smile:

2 Likes
11

I thought I would provide some clarity for my initial post to avoid confusion - it was definitely somewhat of a cry for help as my car was at this garage for 5 business days to sort a leaky shock and underperforming brakes!

I usually do the works myself as I have owned several mx5s through my life, but having only recently moved to the UK I have very limited access to tools and space. I thought I would be better off taking it to a garage that has a roller to sort the brake issue as it would be more definitive.

Turned out to be the wrong call (or wrong garage)! But I will let that serve as a learning to never to back to that garage and will probably stick to working on these cars myself now.

Thanks again to all that tried to help! I really appreciate that.

1 Like