Brakes Plus - a tendency to over-charge?

[politicat]

We have to have the brakes done on Sweet Chariot, and our normal guy, bless his heart, shut his garage down when he got activated for the National Guard. We have not found another local mechanic we trust, and really, Sweet Chariot needs her brakes done.

So... Brakes Plus quoted me $340 for front and rear pads, to replace a hydraulic cylinder on the rear they claim is leaking (we will verify this independently) and to bleed the brakes (which I thought was supposed to be included in the service).

Am I getting screwed? Our normal guy lets me in the shop and shows me everything, but he's not here. These people won't let me in.

[politicat]

1. Kick... I could really use a bit of advice on this. Thanks

[Dave Reynolds]

2. Well,

most brake places tend to suggest more replacements than necessary. I had a friend who ended up paying Midas over $900. I suppose that may be because (in Michigan, anyways) someone who does brake work is responsible for any damages if said brake work fails.

I do my own auto work when possible, a full brake change costs me about $45.

Those places tend to take quite a profit on the parts, and shop labor in my neck o' the woods runs $60-70 an hour.

[politicat]

3. On every car prior to this one we did our own work.

But... This one is of a recent vintage, harder to work on, and we're strapped for time at the moment.

The tradeoff on time versus money to pay someone rather than do them ourselves.

Thanks!