Insurance Premium for Non Renault Brakes??

[joel81]

My front discs are shot so i'm going to get some brembo discs with the ferodo pads from Yozzasport. I'm with Direct Line and i'm wondering if they need to know about this and will care?

If it was exhausts, wheels, bodykits etc i'd know the answer already but do better brakes class as a modification per se? I know Direct Line can be a bit funny about mods so i'd like an idea of what they'll say when (if) call them.

 

[edde]

Depends what pads your using if your using what are known as OE ie original equipment or similar to stanard stuff thn its fine.

As for uprated ie ds2500 well you have to remember there not road legal anway as there not approved so yep you should tell them but it opens the can of worms of there illegal but most insurance companies don't known to ask.

After a bit of use you cannot tell usually the pads arn't standard they look the same etc as normal ones and few insurance companies are ever going to check your brake pads in the even of a claim or crash as you could always say someoen else fitted them etc you didn't know or the car was fitted when you bought them.

 

[joel81]

Cheers. What about the Greenstuff pads? I'm not going to be tracking the car anyway so if they're legal thats probably a better bet for me. I presume they're not lime green and visible from a ,ile off.

 

[edde]

Cheers. What about the Greenstuff pads? I'm not going to be tracking the car anyway so if they're legal thats probably a better bet for me. I presume they're not lime green and visible from a ,ile off.

Green stuff are a green backing plate and pad so they are more noticable but with some wear and dirt it is sort of covered ironicall the ds2500 etc look like stock pads.

 

[joel81]

Think i'll give the insurers a call in the morning before I buy anything, it's not worth the risk.

 

[Josh@Renparts]

the stock pads are just fine tbh, especially for road use.

 

[DrR]

How are fitting Brembo disk ant different to fitting kwik fit ones?

Don't think it would be fair to punish you for using better equipment.

 

[edde]

How are fitting Brembo disk ant different to fitting kwik fit ones?

Don't think it would be fair to punish you for using better equipment.

Its defined as risk though you fit more powerful brakes you drive quicker they will always want extra money from you as your not the simple OE norm. .

 

[brisa4984]

i phoned up directline to tell them im fitting greenstuff. they basically said "why would we charge you more if your fitting better brakes. It shouldnt affect your cover or charge." I said well in that case can i get a discount because ill stop better. To which she laughed.

 

[Scaggeh]

Plannin on doin the same thing to mine in March, might make enquiries with the insurance but am not expecting it to make a difference tbh..

 

[B16DOE]

green stuff are crap

 

[-Leigh-]

I had greenstuff pads and brembo discs fitted and never phoned up the insurers. I only had them fitted as they were cheaper than oem parts, and probably better.

I'm sure they won't cover me in the event of a crash anyway, as my 172 has Yoko's on and it came with conti's from the factory.

 

[Fred@BTM]

brembo HC discs are sold as OE replacements, it says so on the box, no issue there IMO, same as fitting dunlop tyres onto a car that left the factory with michelins

 

[joel81]

Phoned up direct line and got quoted £70 more for changing the brakes! Girl did ask me how much extra power i'd get though and struggled when i replied none!! I was eventually told replacement with OE type products is ok, but they couldn't tell me what that was or how i'd know it if somebody fitted better. Sounds like brembo discs will be ok but i'm not sure about pads now. Are 50% worn original pads ok with new discs or is that 'bad engineering practice' as renault told me? Who also wanted £116 for the strut top washers by thee way.

 

[brisa4984]

green stuff are crap

were crap.... in 1996 or somthing.. not anymore tho.

 

[brisa4984]

Phoned up direct line and got quoted £70 more for changing the brakes! Girl did ask me how much extra power i'd get though and struggled when i replied none!! I was eventually told replacement with OE type products is ok, but they couldn't tell me what that was or how i'd know it if somebody fitted better. Sounds like brembo discs will be ok but i'm not sure about pads now. Are 50% worn original pads ok with new discs or is that 'bad engineering practice' as renault told me? Who also wanted £116 for the strut top washers by thee way.

directline actually made me feel stupid for calling and said they wouldnt charge. weird

 

[Sunburn]

I got quoted about £70-80 more to, for adding in brembo discs and ds2500

 

[joel81]

I just don't trust them as they didn't seem to have a clue what they were talking about. I might try again and see if I can get through to somebody else who does.

 

[edde]

I got quoted about £70-80 more to, for adding in brembo discs and ds2500

Thats because there a more race spec padsd they just tick a uprated box on brakes they don't take not of what you've fitted else you'd not be covered as the ds 2500 are not road legal.

Are 50% worn original pads ok with new discs or is that 'bad engineering practice' as renault told me? Who also wanted £116 for the strut top washers by thee way.

Best practice to chnage both at once IMO if the disk are near 50% worn as well get them chnaged realy for hastle sake.

 

[mattjk]

DS2500 pads would fail an MOT then techincally, no?

But there not sposed to take the wheels off so i guess they'd never notice

 

[edde]

DS2500 pads would fail an MOT then techincally, no?

But there not sposed to take the wheels off so i guess they'd never notice

They don't check the pads or as you said remove the wheels and if the brakes work then there no failure but if VOSa stopeed your car and striped the brakes down they could have the car removed from the road.

The pads look stock though only the squeekling etc if you get any when cold could show them up and stock pads cna squeek so I woulnd't worry unless they strip the brake down and check.

 

[mattjk]

My last MOT had an advisory saying the pads were low however? How can they check this if there not supposed to take the wheels off :S

 

[edde]

My last MOT had an advisory saying the pads were low however? How can they check this if there not supposed to take the wheels off :S

You cna see though the gaps in the wheels usually.

 

[bmh.01]

Phoned up direct line and got quoted £70 more for changing the brakes! Girl did ask me how much extra power i'd get though and struggled when i replied none!! I was eventually told replacement with OE type products is ok, but they couldn't tell me what that was or how i'd know it if somebody fitted better. Sounds like brembo discs will be ok but i'm not sure about pads now. Are 50% worn original pads ok with new discs or is that 'bad engineering practice' as renault told me? Who also wanted £116 for the strut top washers by thee way.

directline actually made me feel stupid for calling and said they wouldnt charge. weird

Unless you have it on paper I wouldn't believe your ok with it as far as I could throw the fat b**ch on the other end of the phone. Especially after they seem to have told joel something completely different! I've always been charged extra for uprated brakes.

 

[Josh@Renparts]

'bad engineering practice' as renault told me?

thats rich coming from renault dealers... Bad engineering to leave frasers cup sump plug loose

 

[edde]

'bad engineering practice' as renault told me?

thats rich coming from renault dealers... Bad engineering to leave frasers cup sump plug loose

One mistake by one dealer and there all bad dealerships?

 

[Jaff]

ive notice dealers really do get a bum rap on here, the ones ive dealt with have been great.
on the subject of brakes, how long should the average disc last for, my pads need chaging but they are the original ones from the factory and they have lasted 27k. and still for a bit togo.

 

[mattjk]

My old man always gets good service from olypian renault in lymington (down south) I think its a lot to do with your attitude towards them aswell like smile and ask how people are etc.. gets you further in life and they are more inclined to help you. just my opinion

 

[brisa4984]

directline actually made me feel stupid for calling and said they wouldnt charge. weird

Unless you have it on paper I wouldn't believe your ok with it as far as I could throw the fat b**ch on the other end of the phone. Especially after they seem to have told joel something completely different! I've always been charged extra for uprated brakes.

yeah .. best to have it on paper. Think i better give them another call.

 

[AlexS]

My last MOT had an advisory saying the pads were low however? How can they check this if there not supposed to take the wheels off :S

You cna see though the gaps in the wheels usually.

The car in question had steel wheels and wheel trims though... Maybe they can tell by pedal feel or something, even though they aren't meant to drive it on the road for an mot either.

 

[edde]

The car in question had steel wheels and wheel trims though... Maybe they can tell by pedal feel or something, even though they aren't meant to drive it on the road for an mot either.

Thye could maybe still see though the wheels I don't know maybe they took they looked under the car when it was up in the air at the pads.

You can take it for a road test though if there trouble testing the brakes.