Here's a bit of feedback on some routine maintenance parts and garages recently;

- Mintex discs and pads on rear, not happy with them. They squeak when cold and fade when used hard on motorways.

- Had a full set of Falken 452's put on last week and am amazed at wet performance. Think they have improved the ride too, road noise is a bit more low frequency but not annoying. Was pleased to get them fitted at £79 a tyre too from AutoImage, Fountain Park, Edinburgh.

- Recommended garage, Porsche Motortune in Shotts. Had timing belt done last week for £160. Peter is a top bloke with great knowledge.

Also, what discs and pads folks normally buy for the front of a VRs? No upgrade required as original parts on VRs are good for me.

It's important to say nice things too.

Would not that you would get brake fade on rear, as it is the fronts that do most of the work. Another thought is how long have they been fitted.?...it takes a few miles for new pads to bed in.

im from edinburgh and have had some annoying problems with my octavia, mainly leaks! do you know a good garage in edinburgh to go to as im not that impressed with my usual garage? cheers

I'm having difficulty believing the claims of fade from rears too. From my experience of Mintex pads, they don't come in properly until they've stopped "dusting", after maybe 500 miles or so.

Just wondering how you're detecting fade on the rears? I'm guessing from the car not holding on the handbrake, but there may be other ways I've not thought of?

Agree on the squealing though - are they 1144's?

Chris

hand brake is always rubbish on my Octavia, I assumed it was just a trait. when I first got the car the rear disks were quite grooved and wearing badly, so I changed the pads & disks, but handbrake was (and still is) a bit rubbish unless pulled on quite hard. Generally I park on the flat (or leave it in gear and pull it on harder if parking on a slope).

I have F452 front and back and quite like them too :-)

Isnt the handbrake like a drum brake inside the rear disk using brake shoes not the pads?

Isnt the handbrake like a drum brake inside the rear disk using brake shoes not the pads?

No,Have had Vauxhalls with that set up but octy handbrake works on rear disc.

I never realised that having not had to play with them yet, thanks kenny

:)In my experience you hardly ever get as good a parking brake with discs as you do with drums.

:)In my experience you hardly ever get as good a parking brake with discs as you do with drums.

And when you do, the HB works on the front wheels, not the rears?