Advice needed brake discs, clutch

[kopyt]

Hello L&G,
I would like to ask for some recommendations about parts.
I have C4 GP mk2 2017 hdi 2.0 150hp it is time for me to replace the breaking pads and discs. In some time clutch (full set with err flywheel?) Is next in line.
So do you have some recommendations for vendors? I simply don't want to overpay.
It's like that the car has already over 180k km , I'm fine with replacing breaking discs (or rotors I think), after something like 20k km, as for clutch well on these engines replacing soon would mean that the clutch will surpass the body in lifetime...
So what are opinions and suggestions
BR,
Pawel

[PaulC5]

I always prefer to get brake parts from the Citroen dealer, they may cost more than copy parts but they are the right ones, fit correctly and perform as the original ones. If you can get the same parts but from a different supplier they can cost less. In the past I have bought copy parts for cars and they have not been as good. Citroen will also sell lower cost parts from eurorepar but I have not tried any of them.

[Sloppysod]

I'm completely opposite to @PaulC5, I would always buy brake parts from reputable companies like, Bosch,Febi Bilstein or Brembo. They could also be cheaper.

Modern car manufacturers are cutting corners where ever they can, material quality is one area, whereas, companies that have a reputation to keep up won't.

Also, there's no guaranty that the parts you buy from a Citroën agent now are the same quality there were when your car was built.

[moizeau]

I'm with Stu, get a known reputable make. Car manufacturers don't make their own parts, they are sourced. Like Gates belts etc. are factory fit but a lot cheaper from Aurodoc than a PSA dealership.

[PaulC5]

The problem is knowing what is a reputable company, they might not all use identical brake pad friction material. I once had pads that may have been made from cardboard and did not stop the car that well. The old parts may have the original makers name/part number on them which might help and I once got discs from Citroen with Brembo stamped on the rim but most just have a Citroen mark. I also got Citroen's lower cost front discs for the C5 and they did not seem as good as the old ones in stopping so wished I had paid for the premium ones. The last pads I got from Citroen for the Cactus were made in China so they buy from the cheapest places but they perform as the old ones.

[myglaren]

Another problem is the fake parts. Appear to be from reputable manufacturers but are definitely not.

[mickthemaverick]

Following my experience in rallying I only use Mintex brake pads on all my vehicles and find them excellent. I completed 32000 miles on the last set of fronts changed last week which is around what I expect to get from them. I tend to buy them from my preferred spares shop and usually pay a couple of pounds more than I can get them on ebay but feel better protected from fake parts. As for clutches I have always used Borg & Beck although I haven't had clutches for the last 15 years or so since wrecking my ankle.

[kopyt]

Damn forgot to subscribe to the topic, thanks for the answers, a follow up question then.
What is the most reliable place , in terms of getting the right part with vin.
I ask because I know for a fact that even reputable vendors have sometimes issues, it had happened to my mechanic when he was to replace outer cv joint (hope the translation is right), the part was supposedly to be right but it came oit there were two part numbers, and he ended up with the wrong one and had to actually count the teeth on the joint to get the right one...
So any reliable source is most welcom, can be UK site I just need a part number
Cheers

[Rp0thejester]

Subscribe to the site and you'll get as many part numbers as you need! I think it's still £10. All part numbers will be based on your VIN.

[myglaren]

Subscribe to the site and you'll get as many part numbers as you need! I think it's still £10. All part numbers will be based on your VIN.

Except there is currently a problem obtaining part numbers due to Stellantis jiggery-pokery.

[kopyt]

Except there is currently a problem obtaining part numbers due to Stellantis jiggery-pokery.

Exactly, I've been waiting over a month now for the access...
It's either Stellantis' "dolce vita", or they have serious issues with system fusion...
They could just answer "No go to hell", but that seems to be asking too much of them...

[PaulC5]

In this topic it looks as if olli_tr has managed to access the parts so you could try a message to see if they can help viewtopic.php?t=86385 . Otherwise it may need a visit to a dealer but you could try this site but you might not be able to use your vin without contacting them - Citroen Direct Parts https://citroendirectparts.co.uk/shop/page/32/

[wurlycorner]

I frequently use eBay and AUTODOC for parts these days - mainly because less expensive than the big motor factors in the uk for good quality (good brand) parts and I just won’t buy generic crap parts, it’s not worth it.

If you buy from AUTODOC, you can have confidence it’s a genuine part. If you buy from eBay, you need to look into the vendor a bit first (their history/reputation and carefully check the listing). I’ve never ended up with a fake part from anything I’ve bought on eBay. Biggest issue with AUTODOC is they are slow for despatch/delivery because they have a distributed warehouse system but then ship orders together, from one. It will always take at least a week from order to delivery in my experience, where that never happens from something I buy on eBay if it’s in Uk/Europe. I have also on occasion had AUTODOC show something in stock, but then they find it isn’t available when they try and ship - however they are good at contacting you if there’s a no stock issue and quite good at sourcing alternatives.

For discs and pads, I find the following are good: Brembo, Bendix, Ferrodo, Textar, Pagid or specialist/lower volume for performance: mtec, Hawk, EBC. Others have used Mintex and report good things but I haven’t personally used them. Tbh I avoid Bosch for discs and pads and only use them for calipers, because it’s never been a ‘core’ business line for them (so not a ‘specialist’) and they are one of the more commonly ‘faked’ brands. I only use Bosch for things that are their core specialism (sensors, engine electrical etc.) though I will also use them for service items like filters or other things, if there’s no other good ‘oem supplier’ available.

Clutches and flywheels is a bit more of a minefield these days, because there are a lot of ‘badge engineered’ manufacturers out there now - previously reputable brands bought up by the generic ones and no longer made in their original factories etc. so no longer carry the same quality. Same approach as for brake discs/pads etc applies - chose a manufacturer that has always had it as a ‘core’ business line or is a specialist. I’d include Valeo, LuK, Exedy,

(There are other manufacturers/brands that I’d also use for the above for my Japanese vehicles, but they don’t really apply here for a European car!)

Starline etc I would avoid unless literally nothing else available - and even then I would probably prefer to have the car sat there, broken!

Febi Bilstein/ADL Blueprint are, I find, the most generally reputable brand across the board for the wide range of parts they offer.

[Sloppysod]

That is a very good answer to the earlier post, I agree on most, but I bought some Bosch pads & disks from eurocarparts for my C5, at a very good price and seemed great, over 50,000 miles without an issue before I sold the car.

As for correct fitment, parts like disks and pads are not generally VIN specific, identification by registration number is good enough, if it's not the retailer will tell you.

[shtu]

For discs and pads, I find the following are good: Brembo, Bendix, Ferrodo, Textar, Pagid

Clutches and flywheels is a bit more of a minefield these days, because there are a lot of ‘badge engineered’ manufacturers out there now - previously reputable brands bought up by the generic ones and no longer made in their original factories etc. so no longer carry the same quality. Same approach as for brake discs/pads etc applies - chose a manufacturer that has always had it as a ‘core’ business line or is a specialist. I’d include Valeo, LuK, Exedy,

Febi Bilstein/ADL Blueprint are, I find, the most generally reputable brand across the board for the wide range of parts they offer.

Cut down a bit but I broadly agree with these suggestions, I'd add Sachs for clutch and brake parts, (note - edited re:Pagid, see page 2.)

I've used Bosch brake pads and discs and found them perfectly OK.



As an aside, I've just bought a fuel sender for a berlingo, and found 3 different "cheap-ish" auppliers, from cheapest to most expensive,

Lemark
Intermotor
Lucas

With £30 - £45 as the price range. Turns out, all 3 brands are part of the same group, https://www.smpeurope.com/brands/

My guess is that it's the exact same Chinese part in 3 different boxes, so I've bought the cheapest one.