It's Freezing out I have to pay a shop to fix my Brakes
 

I'm pissed at myself! I usually do my work here in the NE in the spring summer and fall, I have an unheated detached garage. Well I thought I could get through the winter with the amount of pad material I had left (~1/4"). I was wrong! I heard grinding all week I took the wheels off and noticed the pads are worn all the way down and the rotors are glazed and discolored. I need new pads and rotors, problem is it's cold out it can't wait and the next 3 weekends I am busy with family stuff. So off to the mechanic I went, he seems at least not a rip off artist, he said the calipers were ok I already knew that, but he said $325 for new rotors pads. I agree with his diagnosis I would have changed the pads rotors bleed the brakes if I had time and the weather was warm. I haven't had work done besides new tires for about 10 years. I've always done auto work myself, but being older with kids and a family I don't have as much time as I used to. So does $325 for fromnt pads and new rotors seems reasonable to the members of this group? I'm not happy paying anything over the cost of parts, but what can you do.

Well that seems kinda fair i guess. My pads and rotors alone ran me over 400, so it seems ok, although you might not be getting the best rotors and pads.

Rotors X-Drilled/Slotted Brembos: $100.00 + $20.00 S/H.
Raybestos QS Pads: $30.00
Install: $70.00

Total: $250.00

Moral: You got ripped off.

X drilled/slotted rotors are crap!
But just since you mentioned 100 bucks for all 4 please link me.

edit: brembo doesn't makes x drilled/slotted rotors...it's either slotted or drilled
so techincally moral is you got ripped off.

$325 is fair as long as they use quality parts (e.g. ceramic pads) and include the shims. you will never get a quality brake job w/ new rotors for $250 - I agree you should be able to, but it just isn't reality in the car repair business. I have many friends who have paid $400 for pads alone - now that is a ripoff!

you could always buy a cheap space heater and heat up the garage.

the car is a '99? you haven't done anything to it for 10 years? that's a long time to go without new ATF and coolant.

No you didn't get ripped off. I'm in the same boat as you (age wise) I see. I stopped doing my own brake jobs when I turned 30. I always wanted cross drilled slotted rotors, and painted calipers but back then they cost too much and with two growing boys money was tight. Now I'm glad I didn't get them, my car still stops when I press the brake pedal. Find yourself a good mechanic in your area, get to know him and him your vehicle(s) and you should be fine. One thing though, I suggest you buy your own replacement parts and just pay labor. That way you know what you get. Besides at O'Reillys you get a lifetime warranty on brake parts, I've personally taken back no less than 4 sets of worn out brake pads over the yrs and about two rotors.

GROW A PAIR....courtesy of 2 DA MAX
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...e/IMG_3195.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...e/IMG_3196.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...e/IMG_3197.jpg

RFOL!

:bill:

Alright alright we know you'll work on your car in the snow. Throw in kids, a grumpy/impatient wife and a lack of a spare car, your in big trouble. :D

But, I have an unheated garage as well. Borrowed a dish space heater (the one you can aim) and just pointed it at myself and my front end. Managed to do an oil change AND put a new rear caliper on. BTW - it was -30C outside (-22F for my southern neighbours). :p

$350 may be a bit excessive. Good new rotors generally go for around $200 for 4 standard OEM blanks, throw in $80 for pads and $70 for an hours worth of work (all it took me to do mine - and I haven't done brakes since I had a 92 Civic back in 1995). Wait, that adds up to $350. LOL. So no, you didn't do too bad as long as good quality parts were used.

dont be a baby.... i worked outside in 16 degree weather today....

what the fawk u need x drilled and slotted rotors for? they dont help any whats so ever unless you do a LOT of auto crossing and driving like a ricer..

get a space heater for the garage..or one of those heated fans...it will be a long time investment

X Drilled / Slotted is NOT crap I tell you from experience. 100 bucks for a pair on eBay search and you shall find.

I know brembo doesn't make x-drilled and slotted. They only make x-drilled OR slotted. BUT a lot of co.'s buy Brembo blanks and drill the holes and slots thru them.

Moral: You STILL got ripped off.

I feel that if u are going to get work done by a mechanic, I personally wouldn't, you should atleast buy your own parts like others have said ... this way you know what was put in and you know what to expect from the pads and rotors ... just my .02 ... good luck ....

Ali

oh ****, i can't stop laughing!

yeah, I changed my front pads and rotors yesterday night in the cold. U can do it!

and the shop prolly used Autozone mid-grade parts that totalled about 100 bux

Wow!! LOL!!! I didn't expect soo many responses. To clear one thing up, I haven't PAID or hired a Mechanic in 10 years. I've done all my maintenace myself, but times change as I said in the original post. The mechanic used ceramic pads and the rotors I'm sure he got for at least half he charged me. He's got to eat, I think if it was spring I and the wife and kids were away (hehe!!!) I would have done it today.

That picture fixing the car in the snow, was a classic! I was peeing in my pants. Believe me I've been there done that in my younger days.

I talk to the guy about parts he claimed they are OEM quote " The same parts the Nissan Dealer would use". I'm alway skeptical, but I pulled the wheels and it looks like a good job with quality parts, the rotors even have the 2 holes to thread bolts to pop off the stuck hub.

that could very well be - some dealers actually buy aftermarket reman parts from the local discount auto parts store and pass them off as new OEM. as for the rotors, however, the genuine Nissan rotors no longer have those bolt holes - I just put new OEMs on mine that I got from Gerrand's Nissan still in the official nissan packaging, and they do not have the bolt holes. before I installed them I did a quick check with local dealers, and sure enough none of theirs did either. what they did was open up the center hub hole a bit to prevent seizing. I still smeared anti-seize all over the rotor-hub contact points though. I'm sure your rotors are fine quality though, so feel good about the work they did. you got a good deal.

If you buy your rotors from ebay, then well there is no reason to even continue the conversation. Have fun with your fleabay rotors.

pair of gloves, decent jacket, pads and rotors from advanced (bout $50) or get the old ones turned, and away you go.

350 is on the higher side. Parts assuming they go cheap route which they normally do. Are about 100$ in parts total. $50 pad 25$ a rotor. takes 20 mins to do at a shop, they probaly charge 1 hour and bleed brakes 30 mins. at a normaly $100 per hour shop. That means roughly 250$ with a bleed. I deem that as great price. $350 is close but on the higher side.

Oh yeah great advice :ugh: , I bought my bumpers, kits, a SH8 LOAD of QUALITY, BRAND NAME STUFF on eBay. I even bought my car on eBay 3 years ago and transformed the damn thing. Ignorance is bliss huh?

The price seems good, go to a dealership and then see what your bill will be!


For me $70 for Hawk hps and $30 rotors and 0 labor= $120 total

invest in one of those evil propane heaters from the hardware store. They put out an ungodly amount of heat. (just might be what you need for future work in the winter)

I have one and when I use it, after a while I start feeling a little funny. Carbon Monoxide is not your friend. Warms the place up real good though.

lol... yeah I guess that could be a problem... might wanna stick with electric...

at least you have a garrage to do your work in. I dont. I'm screwed!

I can not pay for someone to do my brakes. No matter how cold it is I lived in Alaska and always did my own brakes. Deffinatly get a nice heater and then bring it in your garage