Am I getting ripped off on my brake job? - GoFuckYourself.com

smut416 · 08-03-2004, 06:00 AM

My auto repair shop just called me and told me I need not only brake pads, but rotors as well.. But I was expecting the cost to be like 150-200.... The guy tells me its going to be $280 for this. Should I have brought it in to a quickie shop, like Speede, Midas, or Jiffy lube? Would that have been much cheaper? Can anyone tell me if $280 is a fair price, or am I totally getting ripped off? Help!

Lace · 08-03-2004, 06:03 AM

$280 is a bit expensive...I'd say no more then $150-175.

But i'd do it myself if I were you, its not that hard.

EDIT: call a few places around and ask what theyd charge for parts + labor

Fred Quimby · 08-03-2004, 06:19 AM

the rotors is the big expense

next time,,,don't wait too long after hearing that squeaking sound coming form your breaks.

LadyMischief · 08-03-2004, 06:20 AM

The cost of parts will change depending on what kind of car you have.. if you drive an import, the rotors can be a pretty penny.. if you're driving a domestic vehicle, you're probably getting overcharged a bit.

doober · 08-03-2004, 06:22 AM

How can you ask if its a good price without being specific about the type of car and type of parts being used?
If you have a rolls royce your getting a good deal.....

strats · 08-03-2004, 06:25 AM

... a rotor is only 40$

demented · 08-03-2004, 06:25 AM

Rotors start at about $19.99 each and go up. It all depends on what kind of car you have. Also, it depends if they went with the "cheapie" brand rotors, or the name brand.

I worked in auto for years and know these things...

hova · 08-03-2004, 06:26 AM

Depends on the car type, but Id say anything over 200 is a bit much

strats · 08-03-2004, 06:28 AM

so 60$ for parts, and its 2 hours labor by the book for 1 rotor, 4 pads. say they charge 80 an hour, that is 220

Vitasoy · 08-03-2004, 06:30 AM

That's some expensive labor hours.

Thechad · 08-03-2004, 06:32 AM

I'd say the labor is the largest part of the bill. I agree with BMI call a couple other places. I have a feeling they will be about the same. If they do a quality job it's worth it, brakes are a good thing to have done right.

XTC Max · 08-03-2004, 06:39 AM

Not really, depending on geographical area. I used to run a repair shop and turn wrenches for many years. Retail price on rotors starts at about $40 and goes up from there, depending on the vehicle. It's already been said that there are different quality grades of rotors as well. If you could post what make/model/year you're driving then I could give you a better idea.

Also, the grade and brand of brake pads makes a huge difference. Some shops sell cheap shit pads that last 10,000 miles for $19.95 on their cheapie "$79.95 brake jobs." Other shops like my old one use the good stuff (Wagner, Bendix or Raybestos brand) that lasts 40,000 miles, but those pads used to COST US over $40.00/set sometimes, and of course we had to mark them up from there to make money.

Unless the car's at a dealer, you shouldn't be paying more than about one hour of labor for a regular front brake job with pads and rotors.

Also, if this is rear disc there is often a lot more time involved in doing the brakes so they are more expensive.

So, while it depends on the grade of pads, type of car, etc., $280 is very possibly a fair price but not necessarily.

Spunky · 08-03-2004, 06:43 AM

That's about right...Hourly labour goes about 70 to 90 bucks a hour here...actually that brake job is cheap

Slick · 08-03-2004, 06:48 AM

Also, you should ask what kind of brake pads they're using, if they're cheap pads, high quality, or lifetime warranty pads.

smut416 · 08-03-2004, 07:00 AM

2000 Mazda Millenia! Its in import, doesnt that make $280 a fair price?

CE_BigB · 08-03-2004, 07:01 AM

This post/thread is worthless without the year, make and model of car...

I owned an auto repair facility that specialized in undercar work for 12 yrs and brake prices (just like all auto part and labor prices) change depending on the vehicles year, make and model, engine size, frontwheel drive or rearwheel drive, what brand of parts are used, ABS system and if so.. 2 wheel or 4 wheel ABS, is the shop going to bleed your hydraulic system? (very important as routine maintenance and rarely done). I could go on for at least 20 more quesitons... There are many factors.

Best advice: Get your fingers doin some walkin in the yellow pages or find a place that a friend or someone reliable can point you to... Have info on car written down and get quotes on the phone... My bets are you will find some cheaper and you will find some more expensive.. but be a smart shopper and try not to sound car dumb.

Big B

XTC Max · 08-03-2004, 07:01 AM

For a Mazda, that's a fair price. You're doing fine...just make sure you're getting lifetime warranty pads.

smut416 · 08-03-2004, 07:02 AM

Plus im in the Boston area, I have a feeling that would make it more expensive... Kinda like my tiny condo that costs $250k. The brake job is probably more expensive than most places, especially down south.

TheLegacy · 08-03-2004, 07:03 AM

check what warranty goes with that and if they are credible service department.

Midas etc. are rip offs and will try and upsell you, never trusted them.

if you cant do it yourself, ask your friends locally who they go to and go in as a referral.

xclusive · 08-03-2004, 07:05 AM

For boston it's not that bad trust me I know....But still call around a little that's always the best thing to do in these situations.

CE_BigB · 08-03-2004, 07:07 AM

With that Mazda.. I would insist on factory pads...

All others will squeel like hell in less than 5000 miles...
they wont be worn out.. but they will make noise when
lightly applying brakes...

Beck Arnley also makes a very decent pad for Mazdas...

Also.. make sure your lug nuts are applied with a torque wrench at 85 ft lbs (NOT AN AIR GUN) This free floating rotor needs
even torque all the way around to stay true...

Big B

smut416 · 08-03-2004, 07:16 AM

thanks everybody!

08-03-2004, 06:00 AM	#1
smut416 Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston, MA. Posts: 256	Am I getting ripped off on my brake job? My auto repair shop just called me and told me I need not only brake pads, but rotors as well.. But I was expecting the cost to be like 150-200.... The guy tells me its going to be $280 for this. Should I have brought it in to a quickie shop, like Speede, Midas, or Jiffy lube? Would that have been much cheaper? Can anyone tell me if $280 is a fair price, or am I totally getting ripped off? Help!

08-03-2004, 06:03 AM	#2
Lace Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,116	$280 is a bit expensive...I'd say no more then $150-175. But i'd do it myself if I were you, its not that hard. EDIT: call a few places around and ask what theyd charge for parts + labor __________________ Your Paysite Partner Strength In Numbers! StickyDollars \| RadicalCash \| KennysPennies \| HomegrownCash

08-03-2004, 06:19 AM	#3
Fred Quimby Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,430	the rotors is the big expense next time,,,don't wait too long after hearing that squeaking sound coming form your breaks. __________________

08-03-2004, 06:20 AM	#4
LadyMischief Orgasms N Such! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oakville, Ontario Posts: 18,135	The cost of parts will change depending on what kind of car you have.. if you drive an import, the rotors can be a pretty penny.. if you're driving a domestic vehicle, you're probably getting overcharged a bit. __________________ ICQ 3522039 Content Manager - orgasm.com [email protected]

08-03-2004, 06:26 AM	#8
hova Traffillionaire Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: ICQ:209371571 Posts: 22,430	Depends on the car type, but Id say anything over 200 is a bit much __________________ http://traffillions.com/ Sign up and get lifetime revshare on your traffic

08-03-2004, 06:22 AM	#5
doober Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: in yoOoo kitchen Posts: 6,984	How can you ask if its a good price without being specific about the type of car and type of parts being used? If you have a rolls royce your getting a good deal.....

08-03-2004, 06:25 AM	#6
strats Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,805	... a rotor is only 40$

08-03-2004, 06:25 AM	#7
demented Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 2,388	Rotors start at about $19.99 each and go up. It all depends on what kind of car you have. Also, it depends if they went with the "cheapie" brand rotors, or the name brand. I worked in auto for years and know these things...

08-03-2004, 06:28 AM	#9
strats Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,805	so 60$ for parts, and its 2 hours labor by the book for 1 rotor, 4 pads. say they charge 80 an hour, that is 220

08-03-2004, 06:30 AM	#10
Vitasoy GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 58,202	That's some expensive labor hours. __________________ [email protected]

08-03-2004, 06:32 AM	#11
Thechad Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Des Moines Posts: 579	I'd say the labor is the largest part of the bill. I agree with BMI call a couple other places. I have a feeling they will be about the same. If they do a quality job it's worth it, brakes are a good thing to have done right. __________________ I don't deserve a signature

08-03-2004, 06:39 AM	#12
XTC Max Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Midwestern US Posts: 54	Not really, depending on geographical area. I used to run a repair shop and turn wrenches for many years. Retail price on rotors starts at about $40 and goes up from there, depending on the vehicle. It's already been said that there are different quality grades of rotors as well. If you could post what make/model/year you're driving then I could give you a better idea. Also, the grade and brand of brake pads makes a huge difference. Some shops sell cheap shit pads that last 10,000 miles for $19.95 on their cheapie "$79.95 brake jobs." Other shops like my old one use the good stuff (Wagner, Bendix or Raybestos brand) that lasts 40,000 miles, but those pads used to COST US over $40.00/set sometimes, and of course we had to mark them up from there to make money. Unless the car's at a dealer, you shouldn't be paying more than about one hour of labor for a regular front brake job with pads and rotors. Also, if this is rear disc there is often a lot more time involved in doing the brakes so they are more expensive. So, while it depends on the grade of pads, type of car, etc., $280 is very possibly a fair price but not necessarily. __________________ Lo, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall fear no Evil...For I am the Shadow, and this is my valley...and who might YOU be?

08-03-2004, 06:43 AM	#13
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,944	That's about right...Hourly labour goes about 70 to 90 bucks a hour here...actually that brake job is cheap __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

08-03-2004, 06:48 AM	#14
Slick Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Houghton, MI Posts: 7,338	Also, you should ask what kind of brake pads they're using, if they're cheap pads, high quality, or lifetime warranty pads.

08-03-2004, 07:00 AM	#15
smut416 Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston, MA. Posts: 256	2000 Mazda Millenia! Its in import, doesnt that make $280 a fair price?

08-03-2004, 07:01 AM	#16
CE_BigB Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,292	This post/thread is worthless without the year, make and model of car... I owned an auto repair facility that specialized in undercar work for 12 yrs and brake prices (just like all auto part and labor prices) change depending on the vehicles year, make and model, engine size, frontwheel drive or rearwheel drive, what brand of parts are used, ABS system and if so.. 2 wheel or 4 wheel ABS, is the shop going to bleed your hydraulic system? (very important as routine maintenance and rarely done). I could go on for at least 20 more quesitons... There are many factors. Best advice: Get your fingers doin some walkin in the yellow pages or find a place that a friend or someone reliable can point you to... Have info on car written down and get quotes on the phone... My bets are you will find some cheaper and you will find some more expensive.. but be a smart shopper and try not to sound car dumb. Big B __________________ NOW PAYING: $25 per FREE TRIAL signup $1.30 per email (No Deductions) CECash - Trusted & Paying since 1996! email: bigb at cecash dot com ICQ 36966649 Last edited by CE_BigB; 08-03-2004 at 07:03 AM..

08-03-2004, 07:02 AM	#18
smut416 Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston, MA. Posts: 256	Plus im in the Boston area, I have a feeling that would make it more expensive... Kinda like my tiny condo that costs $250k. The brake job is probably more expensive than most places, especially down south.

08-03-2004, 07:03 AM	#19
TheLegacy SEO Connoisseur Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Brantford, Ontario Posts: 17,118	check what warranty goes with that and if they are credible service department. Midas etc. are rip offs and will try and upsell you, never trusted them. if you cant do it yourself, ask your friends locally who they go to and go in as a referral. __________________ SEO Connoisseur Microsoft Teams: Robert Warren SEO Telegram: @TheLegacy54 RobertWarrenSEO.com

08-03-2004, 07:05 AM	#20
xclusive Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 35,218	For boston it's not that bad trust me I know....But still call around a little that's always the best thing to do in these situations.

08-03-2004, 07:07 AM	#21
CE_BigB Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,292	With that Mazda.. I would insist on factory pads... All others will squeel like hell in less than 5000 miles... they wont be worn out.. but they will make noise when lightly applying brakes... Beck Arnley also makes a very decent pad for Mazdas... Also.. make sure your lug nuts are applied with a torque wrench at 85 ft lbs (NOT AN AIR GUN) This free floating rotor needs even torque all the way around to stay true... Big B __________________ NOW PAYING: $25 per FREE TRIAL signup $1.30 per email (No Deductions) CECash - Trusted & Paying since 1996! email: bigb at cecash dot com ICQ 36966649

08-03-2004, 07:16 AM	#22
smut416 Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston, MA. Posts: 256	thanks everybody!