FIAT Ducato Sevel X250 - Conscience and brakes: Motoring Motoring Discussion forum

Motoring Discussion > FIAT Ducato Sevel X250 - Conscience and brakes
Thread Author: tyrednemotional	Replies: 39

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Mon 3 Mar 25 13:13

FIAT Ducato Sevel X250 - Conscience and brakes - tyrednemotional

We've been mulling over changing the motorhome for some time. Over the past few months we've variously got to within an inch of buying a panel van conversion and downsizing (but at the last minute I did my usual weight calculations and ended up with negative payload) and deciding we're keeping the current 'van and then putting (not cheap) new tyres on.

We then revisited our initial thoughts and had a view of a hard to locate replacement of a similar size, different layout, narrow/light coachbuilt of a different make. It was second-hand (and albeit quite new had not been well treated) but it re-awakened our interest. Though fairly rare beasts, I managed to locate a new one, automatic, with all the options we wanted and, just as importantly none that we didn't, but in the Newton Abbot branch of the same company the current 'van cam from. Not the most convenient of locations, but less than 10 miles from my daughter in Torquay.

So, we arranged to reserve it, view on Saturday, and if all was well purchase on Sunday (subject to the pre-agreed p/ex value being underwritten after their viewing. All went well (with a little "snagging" and a small number of additions to sort on the new one) so we pick up in a couple of weeks.

Whilst I was a bit wary, we managed to park up for the night with the current 'van on my daughter's drive (and were even allowed inside overnight ;-) ). There's plenty of room in front of the house, but a 200 yard narrow unmade road to reverse down (no chance of turning a 7m vehicle at the end). It was rather easier than anticipated.

Current 'van is getting on 7 years old, all in our ownership, but has worn its years well, and has been mechanically mollycoddled. It was invoiced new at £67k, and has been p/exed at £50k which, though the market has been quite buoyant for some time, isn't bad depreciation at around 25% over 7 years (c 2.5k a year in ownership).

I'd had a brake squeal on and off over the last year (common on Ducatos) and had managed to quieten it by stripping and cleaning the brakes, but it was eventually back. A couple of weeks ago I stripped one (the noisy) side again, and wasn't happy as the pads seemed to be delaminating slightly. It's another common Ducato problem (particularly those used as motorhomes) and it went onto the to-do list (possibly with new discs, though these were in-spec), in the next few weeks.

The imminent exchanging, combined with several associated long trips to and from the SW rather pricked my conscience and safety awareness, and I decided that, as a "hidden danger" I'd rather it was remedied. So, the day before it went to Newton Abbot I sourced a set of pads locally and fitted (both sides of course). Pad change isn't the most difficult of tasks (I have a piston compressor) but the Ducato's mechanics are pretty heavy duty. The worst part is getting the wheels back on. They're large and heavy and the hubs aren't studded, the wheels are bolted on and lining up with the vehicle jacked whilst trying to get at least one bolt in is back-breaking work.

Anyway, though I could have done without the task, £44 and 3 hours of my time later I was much happier and my conscience much clearer. Not least because the delamination on the original side was already somewhat worse, and there was a parallel crack in the friction material. The other side looked like one pad was just starting to delaminate. Plenty of wear left in all four pads otherwise.

And....the 'van stopped and went ok on the journey out and back despite me having played with it.

I just didn't feel I could pass the 'van on with a hidden fault of that nature.