I took my car 2003 Hyundai Elantra to my dealer today to diagnose a brake problem (intermittant dragging somewhere) I've been having since the temp. dropped below freezing last week. It has 43,000 miles with the original pads front and rear (4 wheel disk brakes with ABS and Traction control).
The rear pads were freezing to the rotor off and on and were scored. There was debris and rust built up where the pads slide back and forth against the rotors. On the fronts , a pad was starting to separate from the backing plate. It was suggested that I get new pads front and rear. They would also resurface all 4 rotors , clean out the rust and debris , and lube the slides.
Total for this came to $500 dollars!!!! $230 per axle plus tax! I could have gone to a local tire place and gotten away with $80 per axle plus 80 to resurface all four rotors for a total of $240 plus tax.
I didn't because all 4 wheels were off , the calipers unbolted , and the pads sitting on the rotors already.
2006-12-12 12:14:55 · 8 answers · asked by yam2seca1 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Parts for a complete brake job are maybe 60 bucks. The rest is labor. Brakes on a car should cost no more than 300 bucks including resurfacing the rotors or drums. If you need to replace components like calipers, drums, or rotors, that could cost you. But if all they did was replace the pads, clean everything up,and resurface the rotors, yes, you paid a bit too much.
2006-12-12 17:20:29 · answer #1 · answered by Me again 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that you did not get ripped off. I had a similar problem with a slightly older car from living in the midwest. Went to Brakecheck and after they identified a litany of "unforeseen" problems I was out the door $700. Yes, labor fees at the dealership hurt but especially since your car is that new it's worth it to keep it in good order. Once it's a beater, take it to the cheapest place possible.
2006-12-12 13:47:11 · answer #2 · answered by Danger Powers 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully you got a good warranty. Thats a little pricey. Have you done business with this mechanic before? If he's trusted and backs his work 100% then I'd say you're better off paying for it now. At the local tire places you get the deal up front, but end up paying later.
2006-12-12 12:20:31 · answer #3 · answered by zebj25 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a pretty decent price for a 4-wheel brake job.
Those places that claim to charge $80/axle for a brake job - you'll never leave paying that little.
2006-12-12 13:41:13 · answer #4 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wouldnt say you got ripped off. the mistake was taking it to the dealer to do it. that is the last place you want to take it for any routine work because they are usually 2 to 3 times as high in pricing. mostly because they use OEM parts and you pay for those so-many-year licenced, ASE certified mechanics working on your car. its kinda a rip-off, but its the dealership and they get away with is cause they can and some people only want them to work on their car.
2006-12-12 15:54:29 · answer #5 · answered by john m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The local price of $80 per axel is just to get you in the door , then they disasseble every thing and tell you that it needs hundreds of dollars of work . Midas told me it would be $1100 to fix my truck once . I had to leave town the next day so I had to get it done.
2006-12-12 12:23:51 · answer #6 · answered by 1diputs 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure you know the answer already and its fine to vent your frustrations about the dealer's prices. I won't go into detail here but read the article about how to find a good repair shop in your area here http://painintheexhaust.blogspot.com it may help you in the future to find a shop to go back to over and over again.
2006-12-12 12:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you probly didnt get ripped off. you got what you paid for.
you know you got the proper pads for your car that is what you paid for
2006-12-12 12:47:54 · answer #8 · answered by whbanks_29 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋