Automotive Brake Job Cost Question

[Celticman]

I will soon need a brake job on my GM G6. I have no idea what it it should cost as this is the first time in 20 years that I have kept a car long enough to need a brake job. The car has 100K on it, and the last time it was in for an oil change I was told that the brake pads were about two thirds worn down. I was given an estimate, with tax, of $800 for a 4 wheel disc brake system, replacing the pads and resurfacing the rotor surfaces. Is this a fair price or should I look around? Should I just accept the pads that they install or is there a type of pad that I should consider that would have benefits for an upcharge?

There is so much knowledge on this board on so many subjects I figured it was a good place to ask the question. SPJessica pointed this out to me last year and I asked a really left field question about pickled onions of all things! Frankly, I was amazed at the fantastic feedback. And now I never run out of pickled onions .

Thanks

 

[slystick]

Do it yourself, they will just replace your rotors anyways, they do not make them thick enough anymore to re surface them! Stop in at any automotive store and get prices on new rotors and pads, you should be around the $60 per wheel cost range and honestly it is a pretty simple task to do! and with the $$$$ you save you can continue poonin and get there safely to boot!!

 

[poorboy]

Don't replace until the wear bars start squeaking. Two thirds is still a lot of pad. $800 is what they charge these days for a 4 wheel brake job, which is still a lot. You have to buy a quality rotor or else they will warp in no time. Ceramic pads are hard on rotors as well. If you're handy, you can do it yourself. Lots of videos on youtube. Any garage can replace rotors and pads as well. You don't have to go to a dealer. Relatively easy job.

 

[jackson11]

$800 for all four wheels sounds about right. If I remember correctly it was about $400-450 to replace only the front rotors and pads on an old Grand AM I used to have. But it has been awhile and I have not had to do the brakes on the new truck yet.

If you are looking to save money some places may do only the front. Eventually you will have to do the back also but doing only the front first gives you a bit of time to save up for the back or pay down the credit card if you are using one.

 

[bazokajoe]

I can't believe the car has 100k on it and its the first time it needs brakes?

 

[Boss Nass]

About an hour or so in your driveway.

I can't believe the car has 100k on it and its the first time it needs brakes?

Drive properly and you can go a hell of a lot further than that.

 

[Celticman]

I can't believe the car has 100k on it and its the first time it needs brakes?

Truly. 102,000. I am not too hard on brakes or tires with my driving. The tires are original and I will replace them at the same time as the brakes. My motorbike is another story. I replace the rear tire and disc pads every season. I ride the hell out of the bike. On my previous car, a Civic, I got rid of it after 40,000 clicks. During that time the brakes were done at 16K and although not warrantee I kicked up a fuss and they replaced them n/c. The brakes needed to be replaced again when I got rid of the car at 40K. All of the maintenance and cost thereof was way higher than the GM product. What is normal for brake lifetime in your experience?

 

[bazokajoe]

Truly. 102,000. I am not too hard on brakes or tires with my driving. The tires are original and I will replace them at the same time as the brakes. My motorbike is another story. I replace the rear tire and disc pads every season. I ride the hell out of the bike. On my previous car, a Civic, I got rid of it after 40,000 clicks. During that time the brakes were done at 16K and although not warrantee I kicked up a fuss and they replaced them n/c. The brakes needed to be replaced again when I got rid of the car at 40K. All of the maintenance and cost thereof was way higher than the GM product. What is normal for brake lifetime in your experience?

About 25-30k.

 

[HEYHEY]

I will soon need a brake job on my GM G6. I have no idea what it it should cost as this is the first time in 20 years that I have kept a car long enough to need a brake job. The car has 100K on it, and the last time it was in for an oil change I was told that the brake pads were about two thirds worn down. I was given an estimate, with tax, of $800 for a 4 wheel disc brake system, replacing the pads and resurfacing the rotor surfaces. Is this a fair price or should I look around? Should I just accept the pads that they install or is there a type of pad that I should consider that would have benefits for an upcharge?

There is so much knowledge on this board on so many subjects I figured it was a good place to ask the question. SPJessica pointed this out to me last year and I asked a really left field question about pickled onions of all things! Frankly, I was amazed at the fantastic feedback. And now I never run out of pickled onions .

Thanks

You are getting ripped off and this is why:

front rotor msrp: 112
rear rotor msrp: 96

pads another 200 for all four.

thats 600 for brand new pads and rotors. they are however only re-machining your old rotors. most mechanics will charge around 20-40 per rotor to remachine + pads and labour.

about 400 for what they are providing would be fair, 800 you are getting hosed.

 

[John Henry]

How one drives really makes a big difference in how long your brakes lasts . 1988 chev pick-up 106000 k , brakes are still good . I don't drive like a friggin idiot lot a lot of people due . No jack rabbit starts at stop signs and lights and slamming the brakes hard at the next stop sign or lights . I see it all the time . Idiots hammer the gas , then they have to slam on the brakes hard .

I think friggin idiots when I see them do this . I just cruise right up to them or pass them when the light turns green . Then there they go again , pass me all over again until the next light turns red . Ha ha .

How many times has someone pass you really fast then slam on the brakes to make a turn right infront of you ( of course slamming their brakes hard to make that turn ) .

It's a matter of watching what's going on ahead of you and adjusting your speed . I certainly don't drive like an old lady but I don't drive like some speed freak who gets upset and has to pass everyone only to slam the brakes hard just up ahead .

I've got a Jake Brake on my new pick up which saves me big time from using my brakes .

Happy Motoring ... Garages love the speed freaks . Vroom vroom until the next stop light . LOL

 

[Art Mann]

. . . about 400 for what they are providing would be fair, 800 you are getting hosed.

+1

Dealers make big bucks on maintenance programs. Far better to develop an ongoing relationship with an independent mechanic who will source quality aftermarket parts for you and charge a more reasonable labour rate.

I've got a terrific mechanic who saves me huge costs ... (eg, catalytic converter replaced for $260 including tax) and brakes at half the price quoted by dealer.

You might want to ask whether anybody can suggest a good mechanic in your neighborhood.

 

[nottyboi]

Don't machine the rotors unless they are warped or uneven.. if the braking action is still good and smooth you can just slap on new pads and that should be fine.

 

[KBear]

$800 sounds like a lot of money, must be at the dealership. You may not need rear pads at all as the front pads often wear faster than the rear. If the front rotors are good than you may only need new front pads, which should cost less than $200 installed. Stuff like this is much cheaper done at a private garage.

Ceramic pads are generally the upgrade, they last longer, squeak less, and don’t produce the dark dust that sticks to your rims.

 

[rafterman]

God damn I got the original brakes on my Camry at 152K's. Seems to still brake fine. I drive it fairly easy though. Maybe I should get them inspected?

 

[splowed]

You should be able to get it done for under 300 dollars. Buy cheap after market parts. They last just as long as the oringinal parts and can be better quailty. GM cars are always cheaper to fix than foreign cars. Buy your parts in Buffalo and you can do a break job with new rotors and pads for under 200bucks. I did my 2004 gran prix for 196 dollars. Watch youtube and they will show you step buy step. My neice paid 1200 dollars for her junky 4 year old mazda.

 

[HEYHEY]

You should be able to get it done for under 300 dollars. Buy cheap after market parts. They last just as long as the oringinal parts and can be better quailty. GM cars are always cheaper to fix than foreign cars. Buy your parts in Buffalo and you can do a break job with new rotors and pads for under 200bucks. I did my 2004 gran prix for 196 dollars. Watch youtube and they will show you step buy step. My neice paid 1200 dollars for her junky 4 year old mazda.

negative

oem will last 100K+, cheap aftermarket you'll be luck if it goes 20K, and then you're on the hook again for labour.

ive been down that route and believe me its not worth it

 

[nottyboi]

negative

oem will last 100K+, cheap aftermarket you'll be luck if it goes 20K, and then you're on the hook again for labour.

ive been down that route and believe me its not worth it

One should not buy cheap brake parts buy you can get good aftermarket stuff for low cost.. just make sure you buy some high quality brake pads for the front, like Akebono or similar name brand.. that is where most of the work is done...

 

[WoodPeckr]

I was given an estimate, with tax, of $800 for a 4 wheel disc brake system, replacing the pads and resurfacing the rotor surfaces. Is this a fair price or should I look around?

IMHO that dealer is raping you! Find another one.

Dealers and repair shops make a fortune fleecing peeps on brake jobs. As was mentioned, disc brakes are easy to DIY but you have to know what your doing and have the right tools, that are always being changed. OEMs do this to make things difficult for the DIYers. I've always done my own brake jobs and saved a bundle over the years. Usually I have to change them at 45,000/50,000 miles. You are doing great if you are getting 62,000 miles out of your OEM brakes. You know you need brakes when you hear the 'brake sensors' squealing! Nobody 'turns' rotors anymore. GM puts crap 'thin' Chinese rotors on their vehicles now that pit and rust up badly and can't be machined and usually have to be replaced along with the pads. Shop/phone around for a price on brakes. Dealers and the big repair shops was the worse places to go. Independent mechanics will give you the best price usually 50-70% cheaper than the $800 figure you were given.

 

[HAMSTER INSPECTOR]

I have a Toyota Camry at 80,000 km. mileage. The brakes need service. I was told at the last oil change that the front brakes need to be changes and the rear brakes can go further but they should be changed at the same time for a total of $925 plus tax. dealer price. Where can I get a better deal?

 

[jjbee62]

Parts are fairly cheap and replacing pads is easy. It's unlikely the rear rotors need machined or replaced. Unless you're planning on keeping the vehicle for several more years, you probably won't need to worry about the front rotors. Probably can get a fellow Terbist to help with the job and finish it for $150 or less.