W210 Rear Brake Pipes. 10 hours of labour ?!

[DaveTheDrummer]

re: 2002 W210 E320CDI Avantagrde estate 147k miles.

Happy New Year guys.

Just had the MOT done at MB with new rear pads and disks plus a caliper to the tune of £555 which has made me distinctly down in the mouth. Excellent service there though can't argue with that, I just didn't want to have to spend that much this early in the year. Cest la vie.
I was also told that the rear brake pipes were corroded and will need to be replaced soon. Apparently this is a 10 hour job as the rear axle has to come off in order to do the work. So that'll be about £1200 with discount then.

That seems a bit excessive as I've never heard of an axle having to be removed to fit brake pipes before. Obviously I could be wrong as I have limited exposure to Mercs so I thought I'd seek the wisdom of the MBClub UK hive mind.

Can this be done any other way ?
What are my options ?

Cheers.

 

[renault12ts]

£1200 is stupidly expensive.

Not sure about dropping the axle though. I've done pads and discs on the rear (£129), but not lines.

 

[BlackC55]

It can be done without dropping the subframe. I have done quite a few now. Budget about £300-400 depending on what is required.

 

[flango]

As above no need to drop the subframe at all, MB just like doing it the hard way Depending on whats needed £400 absolute tops for the rear at an Indie

 

[brent007]

ouch, i hope mine never need doing

 

[Ian B Walker]

As Olly says, dropping the sub frame is a load of Hansel and Grettle. It can all be done in situ.

 

[Aoraki]

This forum's good isn't it? Where else would the indies give all this advice for free?

 

[BlackC55]

I know why MB quote so much. The tech will not want to do it as it is a pretty messy job so they price it high.

MB also have to adhere to WIS and the is the official method as they are an official workshop.

 

[kth286]

It can be done without dropping the subframe. I have done quite a few now. Budget about £300-400 depending on what is required.

Is that also applicable to the 124 vehicles ? (without dropping subframe)

 

[renault12ts]

^ Yes there is a tiny amount of difference between 210 and 124 under the rear.

 

[philepo]

In future get your MOT done at a garage that ONLY does MOTs, that way they are not 'tempted' shall we say, to fail the car on money spinning jobs.

Recently had my 202 MOT'd at ind MOT shop and it failed on a suspension link, fair enough, 77 quid at a garage. MB did a free health check 2 months before and found £1500 of faults. LOL!

 

[Tiff]

Brake pipes can go up over the roof and be clipped to the roof rails if you want. The only stipulation for the MOT is that they are secure and do not rub on anything. Most cars, when they are built, have the brake and fuel lines fitted before suspension and subframe assemblies so can be difficult to replace without removing the items that were fitted afterwards. You can join brake pies though with proper connectors, so although it may be impossible fitting the complete pipe in one peice, it may be perfectly possible to do it in 2 or even 3 sections. I know what I'd do, unless you are looking to win a concours competition!

 

[BlackC55]

Is that also applicable to the 124 vehicles ? (without dropping subframe)

The self leveling pipework on estates does get in he way sometimes.

 

[proser]

Had rear brake pipes ( from ABS unit to calipers ) and also the SLS pipes (front to back) replaced last year at a cost of £400 all in. I just supplied 2 ltrs of the correct fluid for the SLS.
They just dropped the subframe down a bit to give better access.

 

[DaveTheDrummer]

Thanks a lot guys !
I'll be having a look around for a different solution methinks.

 

[aka$h]

Where are you based? I'm sure there is a good Indy in your neck of the woods