Micra Due for MOT - Need Advice on CV Joint and Brake Shoes

[reez777]

Hi,
I'm new to the forums, i've done my introduction and now I am after some advice.

I have a Nissan Micra Ally, 1.3L 5dr, 1998 "S" Reg. I have owned the car from new, its covered 50,000 miles, and has an MOT due (well a couple of weeks overdue)

The car has been serviced each and every year, the first 3 at Nissan, the rest at local specialists, and the last service & MOT were done back at Nissan (where I bought the car 12 years ago lol) They had a special, £100 for service & MOT

They raised a couple of points, i) The O/S CV boot was splitting up and ii) The rear brake shoes were worn to 80%. This was 12 months ago.

These issues did not affect the car passing the MOT and they quoted something ridiculous like £200 to sort out. The service was also an 'intermediate' service not the full one as I requested so the fluids were not changed.

The car is now due for an MOT, and i'm a bit worried these issues may cause it to fail even though we've probably only done 500 miles in the last 12 months on the car.

It was also mentoned the N/S CV boot was already sorted so thats not an issue.

I thought I would just buy the parts I need on eBay and then get them fitted by a local garage on the way to the MOT station. What I have found is as follows:

CV Boot Kit: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160502129531&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Rear Brake Shoes: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280077157250&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

CV Kit is £18.00 + £6.50 P&P. Brake Shoes are £21.00 Free P&P.

Are these reasonable prices, or can I get them cheaper? Also are they the suitable parts for my Micra? Also do I need the whole CV kit, or do I just need to replace the boot?

Lastly, what is a reasonable cost and time for a local garage to fit these parts for me?

I would appreciate any advice that can be offered, i'm not that technical with cars.

 

[frank]

you only need the boot if there,s no clicking on full lock reez, and the mot man wont strip the rear drums (so wont see the shoes) and will only fail them if they are weak

 

[reez777]

There is no clicking on full lock, but cant seem to find the 'boot only'. They all seem to come in a kit

How do I know if the brake shoes are weak? If they were 80% worn 12 months ago, should they be changed?

The most important thing I need to know is what sort of time & cost am I looking at by a local garage to get these parts replaced? I have no idea, it could take 1/2hr or 5hrs. I'm hoping for under £100, I can get the parts & fitting & MOT. Then its another £100 on the service, £100 on the tax and £300 on the Insurance for a car I dont use. Maybe i'll just take a chance, MOT it, hope it passes and sell it.

 

[silento]

you only need the boot if there,s no clicking on full lock reez, and the mot man wont strip the rear drums (so wont see the shoes) and will only fail them if they are weak

sorry to but in, but what needs to be replaced if there IS clicking on full lock?

 

[frank]

sorry to but in, but what needs to be replaced if there IS clicking on full lock?

the C/V joint :grinning:

 

[silento]

thank you.

 

[reez777]

The bloody Nissan Dealer who raised the advisories 12 months ago. I finally took the car into a garage today, ready to hand over some cash to replace the O/S CV boot gaitor. He said £27 all in. Jacked up the car, told me to put the car on full lock, shone a light under the car and 20 seconds later said your boot gaitor is fine and will pass the MOT. Then checked my brakes and said they were find and will pass the MOT.

So it seems the dealer who did my 'special service' just wanted to get the numbers in the door to get a list of advisories to make the real money. 12 months on, and these are still no where near an issue that need to be looked at. The O/S gaitor has NO major splits in it. We couldn't even find any minor ones so they basically lied?

How does one properly inspect a boot gaitor for 'splitting up'. It certainly looks fine to me and the garage.

MOT is tomorrow so fingers crossed it will pass.

 

[frank]

lol, no mechanic would let a car hit the road with 80% brake wear anyway fwn

 

[reez777]

frank, you ######. You jinx'd my MOT lol

My mechanic failed me on the brakes. Can you believe it? He said the handbrake was fine but the O/S rear brake was doing nothing and the N/S one was on the limit.

Despite me telling him that I managed to brake from 100-0 on the way here just fine, using a combination of the handbrake, my foot on the tarmac to help slow me down and a quick downshift from 5-4-3-2-1 and finally into reverse so I could make it into the MOT testing station. I overshot the kwik fit by a good 1/4 mile.

I probably shouldn't have even driven the car home, he marked the MOT as 'dangerous' but luckily I made it back safely.

 

[tryme]

this thread has really got me thinking.

let us know of any repairs and the out come of the MOT when they are done.

i recently changed cv joint but it WAS knocking on full lock and now runs sweet and dandy. originally just the gaitor was replaced before and eventually it started knocking so the whole joint was changed.

 

[reez777]

this thread has really got me thinking.

let us know of any repairs and the out come of the MOT when they are done.

i recently changed cv joint but it WAS knocking on full lock and now runs sweet and dandy. originally just the gaitor was replaced before and eventually it started knocking so the whole joint was changed.

took car in for brake check, all the rear shoes were 100% worn so got those replaced. Also had to replace the O/S cylinder which was leaking and rusty. The N/S cylinder was ok so didn't do that.

Went for MOT retest, it sailed through. A few advisories though, front brakes pitted (who cares) and both front indicators slightly discoloured.

Shoes cost £5.00 for all 4, a guy on eBay was listing them, I called and said how much for cash if I collect now. He said £5, i said i'm already on the way lol

Didn't realise I needed cylinder, so garage charged me £15 and £3 for some fluid. Fitting all was £30, took them a good 1 1/2 hrs.

 

[tryme]

wow sounds like a decent result there mate well done