Years ago with a previous car I had a rear caliper locking up, at night you could see it glow from the heat. Took it to a dealer, first calls me to ask how I knew it was locking up. Told him that brown stuff on my wheel was the brake dust being baked onto the rim by the heat. Calls me back later, recommends all dealer parts plus labor at $1200, or oem parts plus labor at $900. Told him I didn't have that and to button it all back up while I think about it. Got in touch with a friend and he told me to go to one of the local auto parts stores and order what I needed, and he would show me how to do brakes for a case of beer. So parts (rear calipers, rotors, and pads) plus a case of beer cost me about $350 total.
Funny thing was talking with a coworker years later, he used to use the same dealership. He had the same issue, go in for something simple and your bill ends up being a multiple of $300, like someone had a car or boat payment due.