4 year service + brake job finally done (video of rear brake replacement)

Abildgren · Mar 4, 2023

hi everyone - quick note to share my experience getting the 4 year service completed as well as getting new brake rotors and pads installed on my 2018 QV, with 32,200 miles on it.

I live in the SF / Bay Area in CA, with 5 dealers within an hour's drive (+/-); I am (unfortunately) not a DIY guy so I shopped around a bit to save $.

I got dramatically different quotes, with Berkeley (McKevitt) being the cheapest. PM me for details on pricing.

Only after I booked a time I learned that they stopped being an official Alfa Romeo dealer on 12/31/22, and the people I had previously talked are no longer there. They told me they could still do extended MOPAR warranty work, which I have starting in a few weeks.

The aux belt was in back order, with no ETA; I ended up taking the car in on 2 different days, after I called Jason at Alfissimo who sent me the aux belt that same day.

To get my brakes replaced (pads + rotors; have had the 'service brake' light on/off for ~5k miles), I was quoted pretty outrages prices from all dealers.

I purchased new OEM rotors + Porterfield 4s pads from Alfissimo, and took it to a local 'tire' shop (within walking distance). They have newer cars in their lot frequently and I thought it should be a straightforward job. Not sure exactly what they did, but they called to tell me that the parking brake pads should also be replaced (only did the fronts) and they could not get the errors codes reset (xmas tree in dash => limp mode).

I ended up taking it to Chrysler Burlingame to get the error codes reset, and the rear rotors/pads installed. They also can do MOPAR extended warranty work, but not original OEM warranty.

Henry @ Chrysler shot this detailed video of replacing the rear brakes (and some jabs at competition on his IG story ;-) ).

1Sacdude · Mar 4, 2023

Thanks for posting video on brake service.

lost1750GTV · Mar 4, 2023

He's got a lot more on his channel than the rear brakes - a great reference for any DIY ( or curious) people.

drdon · Mar 5, 2023

I'm wondering if McKevitt still has their one Alfa trained tech? Their service was far less than the alternative in the SF area (read: stay away from Marin).

Secondly, and this may be currently a stupid question, but back in the day rotors used to be turned and reused. I can understand putting new rotors on a quad front and maybe the rears, but what about a base Stelvio that never sees a track day? Rear brakes do not take a great percentage, 25% according to at least one source, of the brake load. I'd consider just replacing the pads.

Finally, I've had at least 35 motorcycles in my life and changed brake pads on virtually all of them. I never replaced or turned the rotors. Neither was it recommended. The practice was to install slightly softer pads and let them bed in. Never saw a reduction in braking force and I've had and have some seriously high performance bikes. My current bike needs new pads about every 7,000 miles and I'm on my 3rd set of fronts and 4th set of rears in 24k. Braking still is awesome on this 10 second quarter mile bike.

factoryhack · Mar 5, 2023

drdon said:
I'm wondering if McKevitt still has their one Alfa trained tech? Their service was far less than the alternative in the SF area (read: stay away from Marin).

Secondly, and this may be currently a stupid question, but back in the day rotors used to be turned and reused. I can understand putting new rotors on a quad front and maybe the rears, but what about a base Stelvio that never sees a track day? Rear brakes do not take a great percentage, 25% according to at least one source, of the brake load. I'd consider just replacing the pads.

Finally, I've had at least 35 motorcycles in my life and changed brake pads on virtually all of them. I never replaced or turned the rotors. Neither was it recommended. The practice was to install slightly softer pads and let them bed in. Never saw a reduction in braking force and I've had and have some seriously high performance bikes. My current bike needs new pads about every 7,000 miles and I'm on my 3rd set of fronts and 4th set of rears in 24k. Braking still is awesome on this 10 second quarter mile bike.

Replacing rotors has become more economical and is now the default standard practice vs. turning them, even on regular non high performance vehicles.

Abildgren · Mar 5, 2023

Fwiw I was trying hard to just replace the pads but everyone I asked, and from the research on this site, I ended up biting the bullet with new rotors as well. The front pads were totally down but the rear pads had ~30% left. There was a small lip on all rotors, front and back, and the 'active brake' surface areas of the rotors were not 100% plane. If I could do it myself i would probably have kept the rear sets on for longer.

lost1750GTV · Mar 5, 2023

Two things at play I think.
1 - make them thinner (lighter) so they can't be turned
2 - some cars come with a hard pad/soft rotor so it rotor gets eaten up. 1995 bmw was like that, switched to Ate rotors at first very early rotor swap. Problem solved.

QV_Evolution · Mar 10, 2023

@Abildgren, it sounds like the dealership was fine installing the belt you bought yourself? You still under warranty? I am due for a belt change too and the dealership here in MN also said the belt is in backorder, so I just did the oil for now. Thanks!

Abildgren · Mar 10, 2023

@QV_Evolution since the dealer did not have an ETA on the belt, they were ok for me to buy it (from Alfissimo btw).
Yes, still a couple of weeks left under original warranty (+ MOPAR extended warranty for a couple of years) - the belt is not covered per the service schedule though.

QV_Evolution · Mar 10, 2023

Thanks @Abildgren for the info. I just don't want them denying warranty later on because of parts sourced outside. Did you bought just the belt or the whole kit from Alfissimo? Thanks!

Abildgren · Mar 10, 2023

@QV_Evolution I did ask beforehand, if they needed just the belt or the whole kit, and they said just the belt. I can't know for sure if that guarantees no issues with warranty claims in the future. Perhaps suggest your dealer to call Alfissimo to purchase it?

4 year service + brake job finally done (video of rear brake replacement)

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