Issues with EPB Fault After Rear Brake Pad Replacement at Independent Garage

[Wazzmania]

Hi everyone,

I recently took my car to an independent garage to have my rear brake pads replaced. Unfortunately, when the technician started the job, he realized that the brake pads they had in stock were not the correct ones. He put everything back together, but when he switched the car on, there was an EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) fault, meaning I had no parking brake.

The garage offered to cover the cost of any replacement components and encouraged me to take it to an MG garage. A few days later, MG replaced the EPB module under warranty. However, I discovered that it seems like only MG has the necessary tooling to successfully replace the rear brake pads without compromising the EPB module.

Has anyone here successfully replaced their brake pads at an independent garage without messing up the EPB module? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[fred12345]

Hi everyone,

I recently took my car to an independent garage to have my rear brake pads replaced. Unfortunately, when the technician started the job, he realized that the brake pads they had in stock were not the correct ones. He put everything back together, but when he switched the car on, there was an EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) fault, meaning I had no parking brake.

The garage offered to cover the cost of any replacement components and encouraged me to take it to an MG garage. A few days later, MG replaced the EPB module under warranty. However, I discovered that it seems like only MG has the necessary tooling to successfully replace the rear brake pads without compromising the EPB module.

Has anyone here successfully replaced their brake pads at an independent garage without messing up the EPB module? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Count yourself extremely lucky that you got the module replaced under warranty. Out of curiosity, how much did they want to charge you as opposed to MG garage?

 

[Wazzmania]

Charge for the replacement pads or the EPB module?

Pads were coming to around £80 including parts and labour.

 

[fred12345]

Charge for the replacement pads or the EPB module?

Pads were coming to around £80 including parts and labour.

pads, that I was wondering about. thanks for sharing your experience, very useful.

 

[DB Go Rex]

I believe you have to put the parking brake into service mode before doing work on the brakes.

Maybe all that’s lacking here is knowledge…

Seems a bit off that it caused the actual EPB module to fail as it is just an ECU that should have its own in built protections.

 

[Alb]

There is a service mode but I'm not sure that independent's will have the software to enable it.

 

[Lovemyev]

One member of the forum has DIY replaced his rear discs and pads at home on his ZS EV himself.
It is covered in a thread somewhere.
Another member had a local garage carry out the work and he ran it similar problems as the OP.
The local garage refused to pay for the rework at the local MG dealer, but did refund the cost of the original repair.
If I remember correctly, the dealer told him that THEY had also been caught out by putting the car into service mode before they commenced the work, so they have adopted a different approach to carrying out this work.
But they would not elaborate on the method that they use to combat the problem.
Third party EV specialists like Cleverly have replaced discs and pads on a ZS EV so it is possible to do it, without the help of the MG diagnostic computer.
We just need to understand how the process is achieved, for what really is a “gravy” job for person with the necessary skills / training.
Remember : Knowledge is power ?.

 

[Alb]

I can visualise a workaround.

• Isolate the 12V battery
• Disconnect each EPB from the car wiring harness
• Manually apply 12V to relevant pins on each EPB connector to release the brake
• Undertake pad/disk replacement
• Manually apply 12V to relevant pins on each EPB connector to reinstate the brake
• Reconnect each EPB to the car wiring harness
• Reconnect the 12V battery

Unless there is intelligence embedded in the EPB itself, the car should be unaware that anything had changed.

I've also seen some premium OBD handsets that claim to have the ability to set service mode for SAIC cars but someone has to be the Guinea Pig and try one out!

 

[Lovemyev]

Maybe ?? try disconnecting the 12 volt battery first, then disconnect the wiring loom from both of the handbrake actuator motors.
Then remove the two bolts ( on each side ) that attach the motor to the calliper body.
The actuator motors themselves, have a torque style drive shaft on them.
Then with the use of a suitable torque drive bit, you can manually release the handbrake pressure applied to the rear of the brake pads.
The hydraulic foot brake pistons will then need to be retracted to allow space for the new pads to be installed.
After reassembly, the foot brake will then need to be depressed in order to return the pistons to their correct position.
Then when the actuators are refitted, they should ( in theory ) work as before.
Of course, this purely a suggestion of a work around and is NOT not proven in anyway.
Unless you have the necessary skills and training, DIY work on braking systems should be left to professionals.
If the distance between the pads and the disc is too large, when the car is powered up, the motors will instantly tryi ( in vain ) to apply the handbrake, turning excessively and this is likely why it will throw up a EPB warning.
Similar thing happened on our Gen1 when one of the handbrake actuator motors stripped out in ON position on our driveway.
The car was unable to be driven as the O/S/R wheel was completely locked solid ?.
The guy from the AA disconnected the wiring loom and then removed the actuator motor and handed over to me !.
He then released the handbrake pressure manually.
I was then able to drive the car to the local dealership as the hydraulic footbrake system is separate from the EPB.
He followed me to the local dealership, where he then reinstalled the motor and reconnected the wiring, leaving it as he found it !.
Four weeks later and a new calliper and actuator motor and all was good ?.
Total cost of the parts ( under warranty ) came to about £160.00 plus one hour of labour.
Hire car for four weeks ?? not cheap !.

 

[ptw]

I think that trying to carry out your own repairs or using an independent is fraught with problems. For the savings in cost is not worth the risk. I have used an independent for the last 20 years to look after 2 new cars from new, but even he has said he hasn't the knowledge or the equipment to service our new MG 3 hybrid, which is very good of him to say so. My only concern is that it makes it very restrictive, under block exemption rules manufacturers must share their servicing knowledge so there isn't any restrictive practices, but MG appear to not to complying. A good example is that they have told me that I can use an independent providing that they can prove they have used genuine parts (fair enough) and tag they are VAT registered?
?? That should be a load of bollocks but hard to fight against if you foul their 'rules' and you need a warranty repair. Time will tell if the dealers do a good job with a fair priced and don't upsell things like windscreen washer additive etc. (common practice for most main dealers, regardless of franchise). So, a bit of a rabble on, but hopefully useful to members who are worried about which way to go with servicing.

 

[nexia201]

I believe you have to put the parking brake into service mode before doing work on the brakes.

Maybe all that’s lacking here is knowledge…

Seems a bit off that it caused the actual EPB module to fail as it is just an ECU that should have its own in built protections.

They tried to wind it back and shorted something
I will try mine when they are due , already bought the pads . Disconnecting battery and then wind calipers prome their plug should mess any modules , and from what i read after you change the pads if you plug the the calipers will activate and so will put them in their position to work , but we will see

 

[fred12345]

I will try mine when they are due , already bought the pads . Disconmecting battery and then wind calipers prome their plug should mess any modules , and from what i read after you change the pads if you plug the the calipers will activate and so will put them in their position to work , but we will see

post photos of your work ?

 

[Andy L]

Try this chaps I've tried it on my ZS and I think it works . My car rolls with the ignition off and you can hear the motors moving for longer than is normal.

1. Turn on Ignition: Without starting the engine, turn on the ignition.
2. Release Electronic Parking Brake (EPB): Press and hold the brake pedal, then release the EPB by pressing the EPB switch down.
3. Service Mode Activation: Pull and hold the EPB switch up while turning off the ignition. Continue holding the switch for about 5 seconds.
4. Confirmation: The EPB will enter service mode, allowing you to change the brake pads.

 

[nexia201]

I would put a block of wood just in case

 

[matt1979]

Hi Folks

Looking for some advice, we took our MG EV ES 2020 to the garage today to replace rear brake pads. They've used their computer to put the servicing mode on, replaced the pads but then after the replacement the EPB won't work and gives a fault on the dashboard.

Any ideas why this is the case whilst we're waiting to hear back from them tomorrow.

Thanks in advance

Matt

 

[fred12345]

Hi Folks

Looking for some advice, we took our MG EV ES 2020 to the garage today to replace rear brake pads. They've used their computer to put the servicing mode on, replaced the pads but then after the replacement the EPB won't work and gives a fault on the dashboard.

Any ideas why this is the case whilst we're waiting to hear back from them tomorrow.

Thanks in advance

Matt

Was that MG authorised garage?

 

[matt1979]

Hi Fred hope your well, no National Tyres it was after a MOT report

 

[fred12345]

Hi Fred hope your well, no National Tyres it was after a MOT report

There was another thread with exactly the same problem. Independent garages don't know or don't have the right software to do any work on the car ...

 

[matt1979]

Ah ill try and find that thread and take a look thanks Fred

 

[fred12345]

Ah ill try and find that thread and take a look thanks Fred

Make sure you let that garage know and ask them to fix it or pay for MG to fix it