RE: $900 to fix brakes?

Question

'92 mercury grand marquis.....two rear rotors,pads,callipers,brake flush, total parts and labor $900

does that sound right to you?

this is at midas
$290 labor
$491 parts
$50 shop supplies
$90 brake flush

I didn't do the job yet. I can't pay $900 for brakes!! ONLY REAR TOO!!!!

Answer 1

try a local store, instead of the chain store :)

or see how Pep Boys compares

you could by all new parts and do front and back yourself for half that.

Answer 2

I can see that price. The longer it gets put off the more it costs because drums and rotors can get damaged if you keep driving on bad brakes, then you have to replace those too.

First, the shop is gonna charge you list on the parts, so there is some markup. Second, labor is probably $75 an hour and it's taking a few hours.

Sure you could buy the parts yourself, but good luck finding a shop that will just do the labor!

I wouldn't recommend you doing the brakes yourself if you don't know what your getting in to. It's not that difficult, but it does require some special tools and if you are a novice brakes are not something to fool around with.

Answer 3

Holy crap am I glad I know how to do brakes myself! Seriously you need to take that car somewhere else to have that work done. I have done the same operation you speak of for MUCH cheaper than that (of course I don't charge myself labor though). Like the others have said, go to your local auto parts store and get an estimate on the price of the parts (sometimes parts are expensive), but you will likely see how much more you would be paying at Midas. If you can't do this yourself or find a friend who CAN do it, take it to a shop that isn't going to rob you but will still do the job right. Ask them to compare what they will charge if you provide the parts against what it will cost if they get the parts. Good luck to you and please don't pay $900 for that job!

Answer 4

I would say, yes, that sounds exorbitant. If they already have the car apart then you have a problem and I wish you the best of luck. If this is an estimate, do call around to some other shops.

A rear brake job on that kind of car should cost AT THE MOST like $500; that's only if it's really, really trashed-- including the braking system, in other words.

Answer 5

rough, the brake flush should be include bcause its shop supplies and labor, not a different thing. i can price the parts for you -here

from napa: Parts total: 224.96, plus core-you get that back

UP 86238 Brake Rotor Only - Rear
$47.99 x2 $95.98

UP 4424115L Brake Caliper w/ Pads & Hardware - Left Rear (AE Premium) - Remfd
$79.49
Core $82.50

UP 4424115R Brake Caliper w/ Pads & Hardware - Right Rear (AE Premium) - Remfd
$79.49
Core $82.50

Plus 20 bucks for brake fluid and some time for opening the bleeder screws a few times. Those are the more expensive rotors and caliper sets too, you can go with cheaper parts.

Answer 6

dont know. depends on what the stuff costs. call autozone or pepboys and see what it costs separately. then shop around for an alternate price. A regular brake job would be like $260, but thats for pads and a brake flush, with labor. But you re getting new ROTORS and Calipers and hoses also. Thats whee it gets expensive. Calipers have to be turned in for credit.
Shop around.
If you were in my shop I d probably do it for $660. but then I dont know what the parts cost so im just kicking you in the balls here...

Answer 7

Ever wonder how Meineke and Midas can afford those TV commercials? By charging you $900 for a brake job.
These prices are from Autozone.com
Rear calipers $27.99 ea. or $55.96
Rear rotors $24.99 ea. or $49.98
Brake Pads $19.99
Total $125.93 plus tax
Labor should be no more than 2 hours if they have to repack bearings.
Take it somewhere other than a chain store.

Answer 8

The reason why the major chain store charge so much is they charge you labor for each piece that comes off and they put back on. Take hub cap off 3 min @ $60/ hr, lug nuts off 7 min@$60/hr wheel off 4 min @ $60/hr etc. When they put it back together its in reverse order the same price. Rather than charging you a flat rate for the whole job. Look at local garages find the ones with the cheapest labor rates and ask around about their rep's. Then ask what parts you need and go shopping for the parts at the best price and have your garage throw them on. This is what I do. I got away with a complete brake job for $250 on a 4 wheel disc w/ abs

Answer 9

The biggest ripoff I see is the brake flush. if done properly this is done as the brakes are being bled anyway.

For sure take it somewhere else. You've got your "shopping list".

Call around and get prices. Tell them you need a rear brake job with rotors and rear calipers.

The way shops price brake jobs really tees me off. They advertise a cheap job to get you in, then jack everyting up.

If they were selling refrigerators they'd be accused of "bait and switch" advertising!

See "The Tales of Linda's Lemons" on my website:
http://econofix.com

Answer 10

they are raping you for real, anyshop charging that much better be giving you new rotors and drums and a full tune up... geez we charge around 300 4 wheel brake job turning the rotors and drums, if you just need rear rotors maybe i can see like with parts and labor and all nt a cent over 500 even 450 is pushing it. go somewhere else they suck if they want that much.

Answer 11

I have done several brake jobs for myself, family and friends. I have yet to replace any calipers. It's usually pads and rotors. Go to a parts store, get the parts and ask for help. These guys like to help, if they're not too busy. You may need to buy a brake caliper tool:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40732

Advance Auto Parts has 'how to' video clinics in the store for free. They also have them on their website. Here's the step by step for brakes:

http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20021101db.html