I Just Paid $350 To Have My Brakes Done...Was I Ripped Off?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Both front and back brakes done. The padding was down to the last 5%.

I have no knowledge of automobile repair, so if anyone could tell me if $350 for all four brakes is excessive, please do.

The parts were $185, labor was $165.

Did I get hosed?

[bif]

1. Sounds about right.

Actually it sounds downright reasonable for all four brakes.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. Depends on exactly how much work you needed

Did you only need the brake pads or shoes replaced or was there damage to the rotors/drums, calipers, or any other major parts?

Also, it depends on what you drive.

Though I must admit, that does sound a bit high if you just have a run-of-the-mill car and only needed new pads or shoes.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. just the pads

I just needed the pads (and shoes - cars have shoes?) for a 1995 Honda Accord.

[MiltonLeBerle]

5. If the rotors weren't done-

It seems a little pricey to me.

[Best_man23]

23. Yes, Some Cars Have Brake Shoes

If a car has drum brakes, they use a type of brake lining often referred to as a "shoe."

This is what a drum brake looks like:



These are disc brakes (From a Honda website):



The cost of replacing brake pads can vary, depending on what part of the country you are located and where you had the work done. Labor rates can vary greatly by the type of shop and geographical location.

In your case, the labor seems right for a straight pad replacement, but the cost of the parts is a bit high, if all they replaced was the pads. Look at your invoice and see what parts were installed.

[vi5]

4. No, that sounds about right....

Especially if you didn't need new rotors or anything. I'd say $350 for front and back is reasonable. Especially considering you only need it done every couple of years depending on how far you drive.

[JVS]

6. What kind of car?

different car parts cost different amounts.

[MiltonLeBerle]

7. Replacing the brake pads on most cars-

Is surprisingly easy and straight forward- especially if you don't need to do the rotors.

[Skittles]

13. YUP

Tombo showed me how to do them.

[usual_suspect]

8. Brakes

I just did the pads on my 1985 Volvo wagon(278,000 miles). It cost me $12 for the front and $9 for the rear. Cheap pads. Took about an hour. Jacking up the car took the most time.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. jeez

where were you when I needed you!

:)

[mrbill]

9. had a brake job done the other day......

cbj tire charged me $96.52 for the whole deal on the two front ones.

while waiting perused an article in sports illustrated that said 95% of all golf clubs come from china.

on edit: spell check

[GalleryGod]

10. Sounds GOOD,actually, Magic!

You'll be set for a whileB-)

[MojoKrunch]

12. Sounds right

Depending on where you live and cost of living and all.
Dealers charge more, etc.

I've done my own brakes since my first vehicle and they're nothing difficult so long as you remember to get the rotors turned every once in a while.
If you have 4 wheel disk brakes this is easiest.
Drum brakes are a pain in the ass.
(If you're interested in DIYing it you'll need a socket set, a big C-clamp, a good jack, a set of wheel chocks and jack stands, a repair book and a good toolbox of tools... my truck brakes require a set of vice grips and a hammer to effect repairs... lol Other than that, it just requires a bit of patience and a few hours of your time.)

Part of what you paid for(the higher cost of parts from the shop as opposed to parts bought at Auto Zone) is a guarantee that the job was done right.
IOW, if the pads crystalize or squeal or disintigrate(and assuming you survive the experience) they will redo the job, parts and all, for free.
If my Auto Zone parts fail, I might be able to get the parts for free, if I can prove I installed them correctly, but I have to reinstall them(assuming I survived the experience).

The guys from Car Talk are most adament about making certain that brake jobs are done properly... you can skimp on some things, don't skimp on that.

But if you were really worried about being ripped off(you weren't IMO) just call around and ask for an estimate on a 4 wheel brake job and compare.

Until then, you have nice new thick brake pads at your disposal.

Mojo

[boilerbabe]

14. Seems about right to me

I have put more $$ into my 1992 Taurus than what it's worth Blue-Bookwise. I had to replace rotors on front, calipers, back drums or whatever was there, plus emergency brake cable. ( I had previously taken the front rotors off myself to get them "turned" ---what a pain in the ass!! ) Car manufacturers make sure that most parts of your car are either unidentifiable, or inaccessible, or unavailable. To change the oil on that car, i almost had to remove the entire right quarter panel to get at the oil filter, also needed a special wrench to get the brake rotors off.
Well, it looks like you are in the same position that I have been in with 2 older vehicles that look like they may run forever, vs getting a new vehicle...If it looks like your car will run for at least another 100,000 miles, go for it!
XXXOOO

[catmandu57]

15. You sure as hell were

But someone has to make the boat payment.

[Cthulu_2004]

16. Did they resurface the rotors?

this is normally done when replacing brake pads. They take the rotors off and smooth them, to ensure that the rotors and pads match up properly.

If they did that, you didn't get hosed.

[GreenArrow]

17. just paid $315.

for same problem--seems pretty comparable.

[Champion Jack]

18. I did the front pads on the wifes car last month

'92 caravan, cost $18.00 for parts and took about an hour.

[Cocoa]

19. you could have gotten half a dinner at Bubu's for that

get the clams, they're to die for!

[Trajan]

20. IF you only had the pads replaced .....

Then you WERE hosed: ...

Going rate for brake pad replacement (includes turning rotors) = 59.99 - 99.99 per axle .....

That would be 119.98 - 199.98 for both axles ... including parts and labor ....

I just bought front pads for a 90 Honda Accord from Autozone for 25.00 .... the BEST pads were 35.00 per axle ... for parts ..

So parts, at retail price, ... would be about 50 - 70 $ ....

Personally: ... I think you were robbed ....

IF they had rebuilt the calipers, replaced the rotors and pads: .. the 350.00 would be about right: .... but if they ONLY changed the pads .... and DIDNT EVEN TURN THE ROTORS ..... then you were ripped off ....

[samsingh]

21. it sounds fine

[TrogL]

22. Have them doublecheck the rotors

I had mine ground, and they promptly warped. They replaced them and only charged me the upgrade to new rotors vs. re-engineered.

[LTR]

24. Sounds like a pretty good deal

Mine cost $425.

Both front and back. Total overhaul.

Lifetime warranty pads.

Unless it's just replacing the pads (and not the rotors, lines, etc.), brake work can be time consuming and expensive.

$350 sounds reasonable for what was done, provided the rotors were grinding like crazy.