brake work...where do you have it done?

[mtemm]

my highlander is at the dealer right now getting the 3 recalls it has on it fixed. they just called and said I need new brakes...the rear ones are pretty bad, the front ones not as bad, but they recommend getting them done sooner rather than later. If I understood him correctly, the roters aren't affected yet, but the brakes need fixing soon before they are.

price tag is about $380 for rear, and same for front. OUCH.

am wondering if its worth shopping around? I figure it can't hurt, and maybe can find a better deal elsewhere. praying I can.

any suggestions on where to go?

I'm ill about this. money is tight enough without adding this to our list of things. obviously something we have got to get done. soon though

 

[golfgal]

The auto shop teacher at the kids' high school does our car repairs . How many miles do you have on your car and have you noticed any problems with the brakes before you brought them in? Is the car still under warranty? If not, I would shop around to at least 3 different places before you have the work done.

 

[bored]

I'm constantly amazed how dealerships try to rip people off. I just did the front brakes on my Durango a few weeks back.

Brake Pads - $48.00 +Rotors Turned - $36.00 = $84.00

So the dealership is trying to charge you basically $300.00 labor for 1 hour at the most. Run from the dealership and get it priced out somewhere else.

 

[MICKEY88]

I'm constantly amazed how dealerships try to rip people off. I just did the front brakes on my Durango a few weeks back.

Brake Pads - $48.00 +Rotors Turned - $36.00 = $84.00

So the dealership is trying to charge you basically $300.00 labor for 1 hour at the most. Run from the dealership and get it priced out somewhere else.

unless the rotors have been scored turning them is no longer recommended, it's another way for garages to make money

 

[mtemm]

okay, I'm a little calmer. just talked with a local place that some friends have recommended and the guy told me straight out that he sees over and over again dealers telling people their brakes are 90% worn (or a similar story) when reality is closer to 60% or even less. he's going to check them out (for free!) on friday and give me his opinion.

my car has 49k miles on it, no doubt brakes will be due in the not too distant future, but would love to make it thru the summer without having to do it if possible. and preferably cheaper! safety is obviously a huge concern, I don't want to mess around, so fingers crossed the local place works out one way or another.

 

[bored]

unless the rotors have been scored turning them is no longer recommended, it's another way for garages to make money

Every time I don't turn mine with these new pads they are selling they always squeal. It's worth the $40.00 to not hear the squealing.

 

[bettymae1121]

I'm so lucky, DH does almost all our auto maintenance and repair. We only have to pay for parts! Only big jobs like having our truck's engine replaced ($$$$!) are too much for him to handle on his own.

But yes, have that other garage look at the brakes. Odds are they don't need to be done (it's suspicous that they told you the back breaks are so bad, usually the front brakes wear out first), and even if they do, he'll almost certainly do them for less.

 

[MICKEY88]

Every time I don't turn mine with these new pads they are selling they always squeal. It's worth the $40.00 to not hear the squealing.

new pads shouldn't squeal, if they are the right type.

it might only cost 40 dollars, but you are losing part of your rotor each time, decreasing the life of the rotor,
new pads should also be broken in properly

I have 170,000 miles on my original rotors and they show very little wear, I have already made garages replace new pads, whenthey used inferior pads, that either squealed, or had serious fade to them