Expecting that the rear brake pads would need replacing, I decided to get a new set - and I'm glad I did. On removing the wheels and calipers I found that the rear pads were worn down to just a sliver of friction material and one had even worn so far as to be making metal-to-metal contact (thankfully with no significant damage to the disc). The previous owner (an aircraft engineer from Abu Dhabi) claimed to have maintained the car meticulously. Given that I've only done 7000km in this car, that level of pad wear indicate a long story of neglect, so the moral of the story is never trust the previous owner! Pictures below:

All four pads:

Slightly worn

Yellow arrow for new, red for old!


As a costly bonus (?) I found this tyre damage - split and showing the steel cords - and I'd been driving at high speeds on the main roads! This was the inner edge and was not clearly visible when the wheel was on the car. The front tyres were also a bit worn (because the steering alignment was a bit out) so with 3 out of 4 due for replacement, I bit the bullet and replaced all 4. Still, shouldn't need doing again for a while.

 

Hi Richard, Glad you caught that tire defect. They usually make a flopping sound that can also be felt when that happens.


I'm not sure you can infer anything about the PO's maintenance practices nor his/her honesty from the condition of your rear brake pads. Clearly, it was time to renew them, but that is a wear item and as long as they are changed before you hit the rivets, no harm done - that's just utilizing your wear items (and maint. $$) to their full extent. Remember, he/she was selling the car roughly 4500 miles ago - not many people replace brake pads when contemplating a sale unless they are truly gone and it is necessary. If still serviceable, you leave that for the buyer....now if he/she marketed the car as "new brakes all 'round" that's a whole different matter. Take a look at your front pads, they wear quicker than the rears b/c they shoulder most of the braking load. If your inference is correct as to his/her maintenance practices, you will have a real problem up front given that your rears were nearly gone.

 

I've already done the front pads - they weren't too bad, actually. There were a number of other things that were done (or not done!) the previous owner that made me raise an eyebrow. One or two "assurances" about certain items turned out to be less than 100 correct - but he's left the country so there's no comeback and anyway, you take a risk with any used car.

No real harm done - but the ridiculous cost of Jag parts in this country may be a contributory factor. When the dealer charges $120 for a set of front pads that can be found 90% cheaper at Rockauto then you can understand why people do the bare minimum. I'm getting there with this car, bit by bit.

 

I would recommend that next time you buy a Ford Taurus, Dodge Neon or perhaps an old Chevrolet Nova - something more in line with your budget.

 

Thanks for the advice Tony - but budget isn't an issue (although I won't be discussing the size of my tax-free salary in public other than to say that it is pretty good!).

The PREVIOUS owners of these vehicles tend to ignore required maintenance due to the cost of parts whereas I prefer to use smart shopping to avoid needless expense so that I can do the required maintenance, fix up the paintwork (done), fix up the interior (work in progress), fix up the mechanical side of things (largely complete now) and generally bring the vehicle back up to the required standard.

If I can buy a genuine Lincoln branded power steering pressure sensor for under $45, then there is no point paying 3 times that for an identical part with "Jaguar" written on the box. The local Jaguar dealer's price for a set of front brake pads is $160 (I misremembered it on the previous post) and the Rockauto ones less than 10% of that amount. I don't see any point in spending a ridiculous amount of money on parts from a local source when I can get the same quality for less via the internet and a courier service. Perhaps you'd care to tell me how much you paid for your last set of front pads from a Jag dealer?

The car is a project for me, as much as transport, and the same is true of my 2 Jeeps (here) and my MGC GT and Saab 900 convertible back in the UK. All of these cars have been or are being saved from near-certain death and brought up to scratch again. If sold, they will certainly be sold at a loss but I will be happy in the knowledge that I have had some pleasure from the repair ad use of them. Money isn't the issue, but the desire to obtain VALUE for money is I do the work on these cars myself because I WANT to not because I HAVE to - and the money saved is put to good use elsewhere.

If I wasn't feeling diplomatic this evening I would tell you to shove your patronising assumptions about my finances up your exhaust pipe. But I won't.

 

Well stated....

 

Wow, Richard, that's not a pleasant surprise, especially as the previous owner used the word "meticulous" to describe the maintenance.

My car's previous owner (eBay) said "front and rear brakes good, but rear tires are worn". Turned out the parking brake pads were 95% gone, and the "worn" tires were so bad the authorities wouldn't allow the car on the road until they were replaced. But that was the limit of the bad news.

 

In that case, the defense rests! Initially with only your first post to go by, I thought perhaps a bit uncharitable to cry foul on him. But finding first one and then another thing not as represented during the sale does point to dubious character and/or maintenance practices. Which reminds me of an axiom I'm guilty of violating (so far without negative consequence) with respect to used car purchases: One really should baseline it upon purchase with a complete renewal of fluids and filters plus a check of all wear items. In my most recent case, we bought an 07 F150 to replace the 07 Tundra which was totaled by one of the lads' classmates rear-ending him at a stoplight with her VW Beetle. All I've done is replace the tires and change the oil. In my defense, this purchase was from a dealership who made representations as to new brakes and other items "checked as part of x-many-point inspection" so I have a tiny bit of confidence things are not about to go South. Still, when warm weather sets in (hopefully by March, with an ice-storm this morning and snow flying now, I'm giving up on Feb early) I plan to pry the lad off video games and go through it with him - I have already checked brake pads during a tire rotation and confirmed sufficient pad mat'l.


Oh, don't ascribe any maintenance nor automotive prowess to his position as an aircraft engineer. I "are" one and work with a bunch more that legitimately wear the term - many of which have absolutely no business turning wrenches on automobiles. I think it is a mindset, not everyone is a "hands-on" type person. Glad to hear you are preserving a few models out there, prolonging their service life. Excellent point about value. If I'm not careful with Rock, they can run up a significant shipping bill - gotta be rough on you in your location!

 

nice,,,,,,good job Richard

 

There's a stickied thread for Ford parts that work in case you can add to it.

 

Good reply.

 

To help save money can you order from Rock Auto and have them ship to the middle east?
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I've added the part number for the Lincoln LS power steering pressure sensor.

So far, every brake part I've looked at on Rockauto is the same as the 2001 LS

 

I have found that it is cheaper to get them to ship to my courier's US address (NY) and then the courier brings the parts across (Aramex's "Shop and Ship" service). It's quick, too.