Master cylinder cost at firestone (am i getting ripped off)?

Question

ok i just went to firestone mechanic and they told me that the new master cylinder that i have to get is going to cost $142.76 just for the part. i looked on the internet and the highest i saw for my car was $70. the total is going to come to $331.58 with the labor ($96.80) and bleeding the brakes ($83.70).
Can anyone tell me if im getting ripped off? im only 17 and im a girl and ive always been afraid that i would get ripped off bc my mom always does. i have a 1997 mercury sable with a master cylinder leak.

Answer 1

in my experience the places like firestone/tuffy/midas all use aftermarket parts from autozone/advance/etc. they do mark the parts up (smart business) but seem to get carried away with the $$$.
- find a private shop and deal with them...better end product.
- there is a big problem with the estimate. the labor guides show time to R&R the master AND bleed the brakes as one operation. there should not be 2 different labor charges for it. smells fishy.
- labor time to R&R should be around an hour (not at work to verify, sorry). my DEALERSHIP is $75/hr.
run. run fast. sounds excessive to me

Answer 2

Firestone has a 55% markup over Autozone price. As far as labor goes, they are around 70 an hour. Bleeding the brakes is not always included in the labor with a master cylinder. Firestone uses Mitchell On Demand for labor which does NOT include bleeding brakes in the R&R for the master cylinder. It appears they didn't price you a bleeding. It appears they quoted you a brake flush along with a brake service that lubricates the hardware on your brakes and cleans it if necessary. The reason they quoted you a brake flush is due to the failure of the master cylinder, which is usually caused by sludge building up in the fluid and settling as black goop in the bottom of the reservoir. if the goop is there, it is throughout the brake system. Most master cylinders R&R in Mitchell can be anywhere from .8 to 2 hours depending on the vehicle. If you haven't paid their price, then no you aren't getting ripped off. If you have paid their price, check the pricing with their competitors. You may be surprised to find Firestone fairly priced at market value with Pepboys and Midas. If you can get a master cylinder for 70 bucks get one. Take it down to Earl Under The Tree. Let him put it on for 20 bucks and a case of beer. When it fails next week, try to find him. Firestone will be right where you left them.

Answer 3

Yes, you are getting ripped off. Go elsewhere.

Labor...Even at 40.00 an hour labor rate that is 2 hours. It sounds to me that bleeding is included in that price Not to mention that unless there is air in your system, bleeding in most cases is only required at the cylinder if done correctly.

Part pice...Parts are normally double at Firestone. It is how they cover there expences. Does not mean it is wrong, just means you can always find it cheaper. Was they quote you for new or rebuilt cylinder? Was the price you found for a new or rebuilt?

Bleeding...No possible bleeding at book time would cost 2 hours labor...PERIOD!

Answer 4

Yeah that is a rip off, goto an advance auto or autozone for the part.... get someone who can operate a wrench to put the master cylinder on.

Answer 5

Hopefully, you haven't authorized the repair yet. Check with a NAPA parts place and see what they want for a master cylinder and ask them if they can recommend a mechanic to install it for you.

Do shop around for the best prices, then you won't be taken advantage of.

good luck.

Answer 6

all the rebuily master cyl at advance auto r 40 to 70 dollars.....id say shop around... some one should do it fo 200 to 250....

Answer 7

Go elsewhere and get estimates to compare to what you have been quoted.