Online video show motorists ‘how to replace own brakes’ and save on repairs

Some motorists are paying 300% more than they need to have their brake discs and pads replaced according to new research.

To have the brake discs and pads changed on some models of Audi A6, the dealer will charge £434.23. If you own a late model BMW 530 the cost rises to £463. Even a popular model of the Toyota Corolla brake replacement will cost the owner £369.22. To replace the brakes on most vehicles takes about an hour.

According to mail order specialist, Car Parts Direct, the Audi owner can save £256.70. The BMW owner saves £235.72 and the Toyota driver keeps an extra £260.42 in his or her pocket by organising the job themselves. When all vehicle manufacturers were taken into account the average motorists would make a saving of 68% by buying and organising the fitting of their own brake discs and pads.

Car Parts Direct show prices for over 2,000 vehicle brake discs and pads on their website. They also provide a six minute online video to show motorists how simple it is to change the brakes on a vehicle. All brakes supplied are original equipment specification and carry the same guarantee as the dealer’s product. Under European legislation motorists do not need to have repairs carried out by the franchised dealer in order to maintain their vehicle warranty.

Mark Cornwall at Car Parts Direct said, “Replacing brakes is a really easy job on most vehicles, it’s certainly not the kind of job motorists should be paying a dealer over £100 an hour and then pay up-to three times the price of the parts – it’s hardly rocket science to change your brakes as our simple video proves.”

All the Franchised dealers surveyed charged over £150 just for the labour of fitting brake discs and pads. Car Parts Direct say many of their customers buy the brakes and then pay a local independent garage to fit and pay around £45 – others save the maximum by fitting the brakes themselves.

To check prices of brake discs and pads for your vehicle and to see a video of how easy it is to replace your own visit carparts-direct.co.uk.