New Brakes on my car, what a ripoff!

[Ice bowl 67]

$1500 for new Brakes, new Rotors and new Calipers as well! A couple weeks ago on Sunday I was hearing a severe grinding sound in my brakes and took it in right away on Monday. He fixed it by Thursday and it cost me $1500 for it. What do you guys think of this? The guy is a friend of my Dad's. I dont think I will bring my car there anymore cause I think he overcharged me by alot for this. I dont want to come off as a complainer though and very grateful I have new Brakes and my car is back to full health.

[ExiledInIllinois]

$1500 for new Brakes, new Rotors and new Calipers as well! A couple weeks ago on Sunday I was hearing a severe grinding sound in my brakes and took it in right away on Monday. He fixed it by Thursday and it cost me $1500 for it. What do you guys think of this? The guy is a friend of my Dad's. I dont think I will bring my car there anymore cause I think he overcharged me by alot for this. I dont want to come off as a complainer though and very grateful I have new Brakes and my car is back to full health.

What kind of vehicle? Make, model, and year?

Calipers on my 2006 Jeep TJ were only 70 each. Rotors I think 50.

[apuszczalowski]

Sounds high but that can depend on the cost of the parts themselves and the top of vehicle. $1,500 for that work on a new 'vette would be a good deal, that price for a Ford Escort would be a complete ripoff

[ExiledInIllinois]

Sounds high but that can depend on the cost of the parts themselves and the top of vehicle. $1,500 for that work on a new 'vette would be a good deal, that price for a Ford Escort would be a complete ripoff

Yes... My MINI or BMW... Probably reasonable.

 

Not sure if true... BUT my brother's friend has a 2010 Cooper... Supposedly the car throws an engine code if you don't change the brake sensor! So even doing it yourself you are in for a headache!

 

My 2014, all new F-56 Cooper doesn't even have a dipstick... Same with the BMW. All oil is checked via onboard computer. Gott admit, kinda nice... No dirty hands!

 

When I installed a battery charger pigtail... I took no chances unhooking battery... Didn't want to throw a check engine light!

 

 

Calipers for some vehicles can be outta this world... 300-400 each!

 

 

Oh... You shouldn't have waited so long. Watch your mileage if no indicator sound is going off, scraping...

 

Sorry for the bad news. Again, prob the calipers $$ jacked up price.

Edited October 22, 2016 by ExiledInIllinois

[Ice bowl 67]

I have a 2008 Chevy Malibu. What do you guys think? Is it still a bad price?

[ExiledInIllinois]

I have a 2008 Chevy Malibu. What do you guys think? Is it still a bad price?

Ooo....I don't know... Kinda older model., prices should be lower seeing it is domestic.

 

Just one more question. How many calipers needed? I assume all four rotors, assuming you don't have drums in back? Or do you have drums in back. FWIW, my 2006 Jeep still used drums in rear and discs up front. Rear pads were only 15% worn. Adjusted e-brake too.

 

Might have been all 4, full job?

 

My Jeep had two new rotors, 2 calipers and pads... Installed was under $500... Probably could have saved $200 doing myself, but no time. Was done in 1/2 day.

 

Why did it take him 3 days for you?

Edited October 22, 2016 by ExiledInIllinois

[DC Tom]

I have a 2008 Chevy Malibu. What do you guys think? Is it still a bad price?

 

Pads, and rotors, and calipers? Sounds pretty reasonable, actually.

 

The bigger question is...well, pads wear out. Rotors...if you're not paying attention, yes they can get damaged by worn pads and need replacing. But calipers? What the hell did you do to your car???

[QCity]

I have a 2008 Chevy Malibu. What do you guys think? Is it still a bad price?

 

Ugh, you got shafted. You could have taken it to a dealer and paid about half that. Did he give a reason for replacing the calipers on an 8-year old car? And why did a brake job take 3 days? Parts for a 2008 Malibu certainly aren't rare.

[Maury Ballstein]

Shiv that mofo unless he gives you 700 back.

[ExiledInIllinois]

 

Pads, and rotors, and calipers? Sounds pretty reasonable, actually.

 

The bigger question is...well, pads wear out. Rotors...if you're not paying attention, yes they can get damaged by worn pads and need replacing. But calipers? What the hell did you do to your car???

As they get old... They freeze up. Or, you miss the early indicator sound and wear right down to caliper.

 

FWIW... I knew front pads were going... Kept on putting off... No scraping sound until it was metal on metal.

 

Ugh, you got shafted. You could have taken it to a dealer and paid about half that. Did he give a reason for replacing the calipers on an 8-year old car? And why did a brake job take 3 days? Parts for a 2008 Malibu certainly aren't rare.

Maybe there were bad wheel bearing to he repacked/replaced?

 

Also... Does 2008 have 4 disc or drums in rear. Shouldn't need rears as much... Most braking is done up front... But drums are harder to mess with...

Edited October 22, 2016 by ExiledInIllinois

[Ice bowl 67]

I drove all the way to Kansas City this summer and back then drove to Marquette Michigan and back this summer. On those trips I had a few deer jump out in front of me where I had to apply bigtime pressure to the brakes in order not to hit them. If I didnt I would have demolished the deer and my car. I got the car at 71000 miles and now I put on 14000 miles putting it at 85000 miles and I dont think the brakes were ever replaced. I did have a bad habit while driving in town driving about a foot past the stop sign and slamming on the brakes then. Bad habit it was as I payed dearly for it. I believe he had to replace all the calipers, rotors and brakes and not to mention he did a tire rotation and oil change for me as the car was just about due for that anyway. I am pretty sure he did all four rotors as they were worn out to pieces. He told me everything could have busted at any time, it was that bad. I heard a mild squeaking sound about a month before and all my buddies said it is nothing to worry about. Then the squeaking turned to metal grinding on metal and an awful grinding sound. He might have replaced the drums too ExileinIllinois. I have had the car since Summer of 2014.

It always takes this guy 2 or 3 days to work on the vehicle as well.

[Thrivefourfive]

Brakes...$250 for labor. It's not that difficult of a DIY job, but completely understand if you're not up for it.

 

Why the need for new calipers? Rotors and pads wear, but im simply not familiar with why calipers would need replacing.

[Ice bowl 67]

You guys know how to put brakes on a car? Is it easy?

[sullim4]

Unfortunately, that is the going rate. I had a caliper go bad on my '07 Accord. The caliper pin seized up and wore the pad and rotor out. It is a fairly common thing to go wrong for the 7th generation Accord. They did a complete replacement of my rear brakes (pads, rotors, calipers) and it cost $800... and that was at an independent shop, not at the dealer, either.

 

I decided from that day on that I would do my brakes on my own the next time they went bad. There are enough youtube videos out there for auto repair that it's likely there is a DIY guide for your make/model. It depends on the model, but most cars really aren't that hard. If you can change your oil or do other minor repairs, you can likely change your car's pads and rotors.

[plenzmd1]

You guys know how to put brakes on a car? Is it easy?

Yep, very easy. Go to college, get a good job, pay someone else to do it. easy peesy....ain't no way i getting in a car where some dude says "eh, watched a youtube video, did all my own brake work" ...uber , here i come

[Augie]

Speaking of rip offs, my son has been driving my old Camry for years but just came up against repairs approaching $1,000 for a car with 160,000 miles. Time for a new car. He has a great job and good but limited credit with a score over 700. Since he's never had a car payment before (due to sucker parents) his loan rate was anywhere from 17.5%-20%. My wife happened into Nashville an hour later and confirmed this, but when she co-signed the rate dropped to 3.5%. He was putting 30% down, and the best rate they had at CarMax for a 700+ credit score with zero other debt was 17.5%? Reallly???

[plenzmd1]

Speaking of rip offs, my son has been driving my old Camry for years but just came up against repairs approaching $1,000 for a car with 160,000 miles. Time for a new car. He has a great job and good but limited credit with a score over 700. Since he's never had a car payment before (due to sucker parents) his loan rate was anywhere from 17.5%-20%. My wife happened into Nashville an hour later and confirmed this, but when she co-signed the rate dropped to 3.5%. He was putting 30% down, and the best rate they had at CarMax for a 700+ credit score with zero other debt was 17.5%? Reallly???

that does not sound believable...something aint right with that story. And, putting a $1000 into a car with only 160K sounds like the right thing to do if everything else is okay.

[Augie]

that does not sound believable...something aint right with that story. And, putting a $1000 into a car with only 160K sounds like the right thing to do if everything else is okay.

The car was at that point where repairs were exceeding future payments. It was getting to be every few months. My wife is the master negotiator. My 27 year old son was texting me saying he felt bad for the poor young guy she was up against. (She's a champ!) At some point you trade payments for repairs. In this case we will be on the hook for our first car loan in decades. Hope with bonuses he can get it off the books in 12-18 months. This came shortly after we bought a condo in Nashville for him and his son with a shiny new mortgage we have not even made a payment on yet. And we couldn't be happier with the outcome or the ability to be of help.

[ExiledInIllinois]

I drove all the way to Kansas City this summer and back then drove to Marquette Michigan and back this summer. On those trips I had a few deer jump out in front of me where I had to apply bigtime pressure to the brakes in order not to hit them. If I didnt I would have demolished the deer and my car. I got the car at 71000 miles and now I put on 14000 miles putting it at 85000 miles and I dont think the brakes were ever replaced. I did have a bad habit while driving in town driving about a foot past the stop sign and slamming on the brakes then. Bad habit it was as I payed dearly for it. I believe he had to replace all the calipers, rotors and brakes and not to mention he did a tire rotation and oil change for me as the car was just about due for that anyway. I am pretty sure he did all four rotors as they were worn out to pieces. He told me everything could have busted at any time, it was that bad. I heard a mild squeaking sound about a month before and all my buddies said it is nothing to worry about. Then the squeaking turned to metal grinding on metal and an awful grinding sound. He might have replaced the drums too ExileinIllinois. I have had the car since Summer of 2014.

It always takes this guy 2 or 3 days to work on the vehicle as well.

 

 

Two types... Most are all disc brakes (rotors pads) now... Usually, if it has drum brakes.... Pads grab on the inside of a drum. They are on the rear now, most all modern vehicles would have disc on fronts. Usually, the drums don't go bad? Did he give you a itemized bill? Usually rear pads wear less. All the weight is up front. Who knows, probably never change rear pads.

 

But whatever... Sounds like you got all new stuff, all four wheels. I guess that isn't too bad of a price. I didn't look up the price of the parts. BUT calipers can range cheap (on my Jeep 80 bucks each) to expensive (100's each)... Rotors the same too. All depends on the vehicle.

[mrags]

I have a 2008 Chevy Malibu. What do you guys think? Is it still a bad price?

id imagine at a dealer or a large well known shop... It's probably about where I would expect. I remember when I had my Mercedes, the dealer wanted to charge me more than that for the same thing. Had a buddy do the work for about $200 for parts and a case of beer for labor.

 

A lot of times tho, you don't actually need calipers. But they charge you for them anyway. It's often just Pads and Rotors that need to be done.

[Beef Jerky]

Your set costs about 450-500 for Caliper, Rotors, and Brakes. So say $1000 before tax for both front and backs. That is just for the parts alone.

 

With just Brakes and rotors that would have been $250 per set so it would have only been $500. Next time try to see the mechanic earlier when your brakes start to wear down.

Edited October 23, 2016 by Beef Jerky

[plenzmd1]

The car was at that point where repairs were exceeding future payments. It was getting to be every few months. My wife is the master negotiator. My 27 year old son was texting me saying he felt bad for the poor young guy she was up against. (She's a champ!) At some point you trade payments for repairs. In this case we will be on the hook for our first car loan in decades. Hope with bonuses he can get it off the books in 12-18 months. This came shortly after we bought a condo in Nashville for him and his son with a shiny new mortgage we have not even made a payment on yet. And we couldn't be happier with the outcome or the ability to be of help.

was more the 17% interest with clean credit...i mean 4 years out of college i had a car repo'd , several judgments, was behind on my student loans, interest rates were around 8% as opposed to 3 on a mortgage...and i still got a 17% loan on a car. Only thing i can think of is carmax got a ding on their earnings last quarter based on their sub-prime lending...but i can't believe a college educated kid with a job and no debt would be put into the sub-prime pool.

 

In my dad's best voice"What the hell they teach in college these days, how to be a dumb ass???"

 

And i got two going soon!!!

Edited October 23, 2016 by plenzmd1

[Alaska Darin]

Speaking of rip offs, my son has been driving my old Camry for years but just came up against repairs approaching $1,000 for a car with 160,000 miles. Time for a new car. He has a great job and good but limited credit with a score over 700. Since he's never had a car payment before (due to sucker parents) his loan rate was anywhere from 17.5%-20%. My wife happened into Nashville an hour later and confirmed this, but when she co-signed the rate dropped to 3.5%. He was putting 30% down, and the best rate they had at CarMax for a 700+ credit score with zero other debt was 17.5%? Reallly???

CARMAX isn't a bank. No one should ever go into a dealer without their own financing set up. Always negotiate from a position of power so you make the best deal possible.

[Just Jack]

id imagine at a dealer or a large well known shop... It's probably about where I would expect. I remember when I had my Mercedes, the dealer wanted to charge me more than that for the same thing. Had a buddy do the work for about $200 for parts and a case of beer for labor.

 

A lot of times tho, you don't actually need calipers. But they charge you for them anyway. It's often just Pads and Rotors that need to be done.

A case of beer seems to be the going rate for backyard mechanics. Going way back, about 20 years ago, I had an 1986 Toyota MR2 that had a rear caliper locking up. Went to the dealer, they quoted me $1200 using all Toyota parts, $900 using aftermarket. (Two calipers, rotors and pads) Buddy of mine told me to order the parts myself and he'd show me how to do the swap. In the end, with the beer added in, it cost me around $350.

[PolishDave]

$1500 for new Brakes, new Rotors and new Calipers as well! A couple weeks ago on Sunday I was hearing a severe grinding sound in my brakes and took it in right away on Monday. He fixed it by Thursday and it cost me $1500 for it. What do you guys think of this? The guy is a friend of my Dad's. I dont think I will bring my car there anymore cause I think he overcharged me by alot for this. I dont want to come off as a complainer though and very grateful I have new Brakes and my car is back to full health.

 

Dude you got boned hardcore. I had an 08 Chevy. Combined cost of caliper, rotor and pads is less than $100 per wheel at pretty much any local autoparts store - like Autozone, Advanced Auto, Napa, Carquest, etc. You could get them even cheaper if you ordered online.

 

So your DIY cost would be less than $400 even with calipers. Dude whacked you $1000 in labor for a 2 hour job. And that is 2 hours if you do it in your own gravel driveway with hand tools. If you have a garage with a good floor jack and air tools it would take you even less time.

 

If you are handy at all, you can definitely handle a brake job on that car. Not hard at all. Next time call a buddy and ask him to help. Then take your buddy to a strip club and buy him a couple lapdances for helping you out. It would still be cheaper and a hell of a lot more fun.

Speaking of rip offs, my son has been driving my old Camry for years but just came up against repairs approaching $1,000 for a car with 160,000 miles. Time for a new car. He has a great job and good but limited credit with a score over 700. Since he's never had a car payment before (due to sucker parents) his loan rate was anywhere from 17.5%-20%. My wife happened into Nashville an hour later and confirmed this, but when she co-signed the rate dropped to 3.5%. He was putting 30% down, and the best rate they had at CarMax for a 700+ credit score with zero other debt was 17.5%? Reallly???

 

Dude.. that Camry could easily last another 100,000 miles and then some. As long as you are changing the oil when you are supposed to, you can't kill those motors. Toyota Camry's and Carollas can take 250,000 + miles without a hiccup. Heck you can even get that out of Chevy's now. The only problem is the body will rot off the car before you get there.

Edited October 23, 2016 by PolishDave

[mrags]

A case of beer seems to be the going rate for backyard mechanics. Going way back, about 20 years ago, I had an 1986 Toyota MR2 that had a rear caliper locking up. Went to the dealer, they quoted me $1200 using all Toyota parts, $900 using aftermarket. (Two calipers, rotors and pads) Buddy of mine told me to order the parts myself and he'd show me how to do the swap. In the end, with the beer added in, it cost me around $350.

my buddy is a certified master mechanic. He hated working on my Benz because the Germans pack so much into the tightest of places but simple stuff like Brakes, pads, rotors, whee assembly work was easy work for him. I would always pay him more than the case of beer but that's all he would ever ask for

[Augie]

 

Dude.. that Camry could easily last another 100,000 miles and then some. As long as you are changing the oil when you are supposed to, you can't kill those motors. Toyota Camry's and Carollas can take 250,000 + miles without a hiccup. Heck you can even get that out of Chevy's now. The only problem is the body will rot off the car before you get there.

He's not handy (nor am I) and the Camry was getting expensive. I fully understand with some work it could go much longer (hence the $3,000 trade-in despite needed repairs). There were some extenuating circumstances, namely that he had been shot in that car and nearly died. A very long (and horrible) story, but it was nice for him to be able to move on. He wasn't prepared with financing because it all happened so fast. The easiest path was to have my wife sign, take the 3.5% and move on. One buddy said the got 1.7% from his credit union, but we hope this is paid off so fast that wasn't worth the time and trouble. Historically, 3.5% is dirt cheap. Edited October 23, 2016 by Augie

[DC Tom]

CARMAX isn't a bank. No one should ever go into a dealer without their own financing set up. Always negotiate from a position of power so you make the best deal possible.

 

I always do that.

 

Last time, though, wife and I went in with 5.25% lined up. When the dealer goes back to put their package together, she blurts out "We already have 5.25% lined up!" Needless to say, they came back with 5.15%, take it or leave it.

 

She...doesn't come car shopping with me any more.

Speaking of rip offs, my son has been driving my old Camry for years but just came up against repairs approaching $1,000 for a car with 160,000 miles. Time for a new car. He has a great job and good but limited credit with a score over 700. Since he's never had a car payment before (due to sucker parents) his loan rate was anywhere from 17.5%-20%. My wife happened into Nashville an hour later and confirmed this, but when she co-signed the rate dropped to 3.5%. He was putting 30% down, and the best rate they had at CarMax for a 700+ credit score with zero other debt was 17.5%? Reallly???

 

"Limited credit." It's not just the credit rating, but the credit history they consider. Doesn't matter how good your rating is, if you have no history of borrowing money and paying it back, they will charge you a high rate.

[Augie]

I always do that.

 

Last time, though, wife and I went in with 5.25% lined up. When the dealer goes back to put their package together, she blurts out "We already have 5.25% lined up!" Needless to say, they came back with 5.15%, take it or leave it.

 

She...doesn't come car shopping with me any more.

Our first house was purchased after my wife walked through saying "OMG, I love this so much! What do we have to do to own this?" I promise, she's much better now. In fact, she's the designated car purchaser with a heavy focus on advance reasearch and a convincing "walk away".

[DC Tom]

Our first house was purchased after my wife walked through saying "OMG, I love this so much! What do we have to do to own this?" I promise, she's much better now. In fact, she's the designated car purchaser with a heavy focus on advance reasearch and a convincing "walk away".

 

Are we in-laws? Your wife and mine are only two people in the world who treat a house like an impulse buy.

[Augie]

Are we in-laws? Your wife and mine are only two people in the world who treat a house like an impulse buy.

Funny stuff, my wife is on the phone now with her sister who married a doctor, top of his class at Vanderbilt and UVA. They went shopping for their first house.....and put contracts in on 3 houses the first day. They called that night, and we had a long talk. Smart and "smart" can be different things.

[DC Tom]

Funny stuff, my wife is on the phone now with her sister who married a doctor, top of his class at Vanderbilt and UVA. They went shopping for their first house.....and put contracts in on 3 houses the first day. They called that night, and we had a long talk. Smart and "smart" can be different things.

 

 

My wife does real estate closings, and sees this and dippier every day. And then she'd still turn around and do this herself ("We don't need an inspection, this house is perfect!")

[Augie]

 

My wife does real estate closings, and sees this and dippier every day. And then she'd still turn around and do this herself ("We don't need an inspection, this house is perfect!")

As a banker for a couple decades, I've seen plenty of funny stuff like the guy who was approved for a house purchase, got cold feet and went out and picked a lovely new Mercedes with a $900 payment to tiip his debt/income over the edge. Clever, if you think about it. The past due boat loans paid off by insurance companies after the hurricane missed us completely were always a relief. I didn't file the claim, I just paid of the p[ast due loaned.

[ScrewyLouie]

$1500 for new Brakes, new Rotors and new Calipers as well! A couple weeks ago on Sunday I was hearing a severe grinding sound in my brakes and took it in right away on Monday. He fixed it by Thursday and it cost me $1500 for it. What do you guys think of this? The guy is a friend of my Dad's. I dont think I will bring my car there anymore cause I think he overcharged me by alot for this. I dont want to come off as a complainer though and very grateful I have new Brakes and my car is back to full health.

Ice bowl all I can say is he saw you coming. It's obvious he's a friend of your fathers and NOT a friend of yours. He took you for a ride.

[MarkyMannn]

$1500 for new Brakes, new Rotors and new Calipers as well! A couple weeks ago on Sunday I was hearing a severe grinding sound in my brakes and took it in right away on Monday. He fixed it by Thursday and it cost me $1500 for it. What do you guys think of this? The guy is a friend of my Dad's. I dont think I will bring my car there anymore cause I think he overcharged me by alot for this. I dont want to come off as a complainer though and very grateful I have new Brakes and my car is back to full health.

Should have shopped before the job. That said I'm not sure that price is that bad, Figure maybe $350 to $400 per axle brake/rotors only, calipers, and the other work you mentioned and tax and you are at $1500

[apuszczalowski]

It also depends on the parts too.

 

I'm sure many here saying it was a ripoff and could get cheaper parts are right, they can. But alot of those cheaper parts are cheap for a reason, they are garbage offshore parts that will wear out or fall apart in a fraction of the time.

[USMCBillsFan]

Speaking of rip offs, my son has been driving my old Camry for years but just came up against repairs approaching $1,000 for a car with 160,000 miles. Time for a new car. He has a great job and good but limited credit with a score over 700. Since he's never had a car payment before (due to sucker parents) his loan rate was anywhere from 17.5%-20%. My wife happened into Nashville an hour later and confirmed this, but when she co-signed the rate dropped to 3.5%. He was putting 30% down, and the best rate they had at CarMax for a 700+ credit score with zero other debt was 17.5%? Reallly???

That's crazy! I'm a Business Manager now at a dealership and do financing. His rate on his own should've been around 6% with no prior auto history. The max markup is 2% so 17.5 - 20 doesn't sound right to me at all. I'm not sure how CarMax works, but traditional indirect lending through a dealership would've yielded better results. And for the record, your wife co-signing would significantly lower the rate just as it did. It's the lack of auto history and a light credit file that hurt your son.

[mead107]

I had a flat tire and decided it was time for a new truck.

[Just Jack]

I had a flat tire and decided it was time for a new truck.

I had a similar situation. The hood wouldn't latch on my truck so I bought a new SUV

[Augie]

That's crazy! I'm a Business Manager now at a dealership and do financing. His rate on his own should've been around 6% with no prior auto history. The max markup is 2% so 17.5 - 20 doesn't sound right to me at all. I'm not sure how CarMax works, but traditional indirect lending through a dealership would've yielded better results. And for the record, your wife co-signing would significantly lower the rate just as it did. It's the lack of auto history and a light credit file that hurt your son.

A quick call to SunTrust this morning got about 2%. Would have been higher on his own, but still a world of difference.