Car repair cost question

[Exterous]

Hi Guys,

Do you think $440 for new OEM front rotors, brakepads, tire rotation and balancing is reasonable for a 2005 Chevy Equinox?

Thanks!
Signed: Someone who knows little about car repair

Edit: calling around some places do seem a bit cheaper at around $330ish but gave all kids of cautions against calipers needing to be replaced/reconditioned which seems like a big warning of pushed unneeded repairs later on. (One place even said the backs would need to be replaced as well because all the brakepads/rotors need to match. I know I am dumb but I am not that dumb.) Most of the brake places nearby get really shitty reviews/seem really shady so I might pay the higher price. A couple of my co-workers recommended the guy and from talking with him/reviews he seems fair to deal with...

 

[uclabachelor]

Sounds a little pricey, but I am bias because I do my own car repairs.

Front rotors and pads retails for about $100 - $150 online, unless the Equinox uses special hardware.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

OEM parts are probably $200-$250 for new rotors, pads, pad backing, shop supplies.

Labor of $100 for the brakes, another $80 to rebalance. Seems about fair considering it's the dealer.

What exactly made you ask them to balance all 4 tires?

 

[Exterous]

OEM parts are probably $200-$250 for new rotors, pads, pad backing, shop supplies.

Labor of $100 for the brakes, another $80 to rebalance. Seems about fair considering it's the dealer.

What exactly made you ask them to balance all 4 tires?

I may have been a bit lax in getting them rotated and I don't have any of the information from where the tires were bought as the last owner put the tires on. When I hesitated a bit on the price he said they'd do the rotation and balance for $20 (I didn't specifically ask but he mentioned it looked like it had been a while. It had been and I knew it probably should have been done by now) and 'clean up the rear rotors' for whatever that means.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I may have been a bit lax in getting them rotated and I don't have any of the information from where the tires were bought as the last owner put the tires on. When I hesitated a bit on the price he said they'd do the rotation and balance for $20 (I didn't specifically ask but he mentioned it looked like it had been a while. It had been and I knew it probably should have been done by now) and 'clean up the rear rotors' for whatever that means.

But why do they need balanced?

Rotating helps keep the treadwear even, so that the front/rear both need replaced at the same time.

Balancing is to fix vibration issues.. Generally above ~20mph. If nothing is vibrating then they shouldn't need balanced.

Is this under warranty? If not, you might want to try and find a GOOD small shop to do this sort of work or if you're handy then do it yourself.

 

[mindless1]

$440 seems reasonable for OEM parts and a dealership doing the work, BUT it does not seem reasonable to pay this much to fix this problem.

In other words, besides the tire balancing which may not actually be needed as a couple people have mentioned, just about anyone experienced in vehicle repair and the basic tools can do this work, maybe even your neighbor's son.

You can probably find someone on Craigslist that'll do it for around $80 labor, get the rotors and pads yourself from Advance Auto Parts with a roughly 30% off coupon code (random guess, I haven't checked their current coupon codes) so parts total around $80, for a total of about $160 including labor.

 

[Svnla]

OP, check out repairpal.com.

 

[Exterous]

But why do they need balanced?

Rotating helps keep the treadwear even, so that the front/rear both need replaced at the same time.

Balancing is to fix vibration issues.. Generally above ~20mph. If nothing is vibrating then they shouldn't need balanced.

Is this under warranty? If not, you might want to try and find a GOOD small shop to do this sort of work or if you're handy then do it yourself.

Well, I had brought it in for some impressive shaking when breaking (rotors) in addition to the brake job. With all the shaking it seemed to me like a reasonable idea to get them balanced as well.

I've been trying to find a good shop but the experiences like what I listed above continue to make me leery

You can probably find someone on Craigslist that'll do it for around $80 labor, get the rotors and pads yourself from Advance Auto Parts with a roughly 30% off coupon code (random guess, I haven't checked their current coupon codes) so parts total around $80, for a total of about $160 including labor.

Hmm...never though of Craigslist. I did find out that if I buy the parts next time they would install them for just the cost of labor.

OP, check out repairpal.com.

Thanks!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Does it shake when you're just cruising at 65mph? If not, then your tires are fine. They may need rotated, but mid life balancing should be a rare thing on a quality tire.


I recommend finding a shop to just do the brakes first. If you still have vibration issues then have the tires balanced.

 

[Exterous]

I recommend finding a shop to just do the brakes first. If you still have vibration issues then have the tires balanced.

Will do - thanks!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

$440 seems reasonable for OEM parts and a dealership doing the work, BUT it does not seem reasonable to pay this much to fix this problem.

In other words, besides the tire balancing which may not actually be needed as a couple people have mentioned, just about anyone experienced in vehicle repair and the basic tools can do this work, maybe even your neighbor's son.

You can probably find someone on Craigslist that'll do it for around $80 labor, get the rotors and pads yourself from Advance Auto Parts with a roughly 30% off coupon code (random guess, I haven't checked their current coupon codes) so parts total around $80, for a total of about $160 including labor.

For what it's worth, I would not trust a craigslist person to even add air to my tires. A good mechanic should not have to rely on random craigslist work like that, in my opinion. I have had two friends get scammed - one person took cash to buy parts and never came back, the other person broke a bunch of interior pieces installing speakers doing $200 worth of damage while performing $100 worth of work.

If something happens you have no way to recoup money or make them fix it. On a new vehicle like the OPs you need to take it to an actual business to have it fixed, IMO.

 

[mindless1]

^ You can buy the parts yourself and watch them do the work, this doesn't take long enough to do that you'd need to drop the vehicle off and come back later. Then again I state this as someone who would DIY in an hour for a few beers payment, it's more about having the tools than anything else... easy work.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

^ You can buy the parts yourself and watch them do the work, this doesn't take long enough to do that you'd need to drop the vehicle off and come back later.

If you know enough to watch and make sure they use and align brake pad clips and all the other tricks and details of brakes then you might as well do it yourself.

 

[mindless1]

^ True but see my prior reply, some people don't have the space or the tools.

 

[Exterous]

^ You can buy the parts yourself and watch them do the work, this doesn't take long enough to do that you'd need to drop the vehicle off and come back later. Then again I state this as someone who would DIY in an hour for a few beers payment, it's more about having the tools than anything else... easy work.

Where do you live

If you know enough to watch and make sure they use and align brake pad clips and all the other tricks and details of brakes then you might as well do it yourself.

Yeah - I definitely dont have that

 

[Mxylplyx]

If you know enough to watch and make sure they use and align brake pad clips and all the other tricks and details of brakes then you might as well do it yourself.

I've changed my brakes plenty of times, and have never "aligned" brake pad clips. Could you go into more detail as to what this means. All I've ever done is lube the contact points on the bad and sides of the pad, and lubed the caliper slides. Is there anything I'm missing?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I've changed my brakes plenty of times, and have never "aligned" brake pad clips. Could you go into more detail as to what this means. All I've ever done is lube the contact points on the bad and sides of the pad, and lubed the caliper slides. Is there anything I'm missing?

Most modern brake setups have retaining clips and/or flat springs which help spread the pads apart. They really aren't generally required other than to stop squeal so a lot of the 'shadetree mechanics' leave them off and use the goop/glue instead. Good pads should come with new clips and they should always be replaced. I have seen these clips installed incorrectly with one edge smashed underneath the pad backing plate causing uneven wear and noise.

Sometimes you have to transfer the metal shim on the back of the pad and a lot of guys don't research that either and just leave them out.

 

[Scout80]

I would take it to a GM Dealer because they are running some decent deals right now. Brake pads for $75 installed. I am sure replacing the rotors wouldn't add much to the price.

The also have a oil-change, tire-rotation, inspection for $30.

http://certifiedservice.chevrolet.com/offers/

If the tires are wearing normally, there shouldn't be a need to rebalance them.

 

[Zenmervolt]

You can probably find someone on Craigslist that'll do it for around $80 labor, get the rotors and pads yourself from Advance Auto Parts with a roughly 30% off coupon code (random guess, I haven't checked their current coupon codes) so parts total around $80, for a total of about $160 including labor.

If I'm paying someone to work on my car, I'm going to want it to be an actual shop where I can have some recourse if the work isn't done properly. I don't want Bubba from Craigslist forgetting a cotter pin somewhere and then telling me to shove it when I ask him to fix what he screwed up.

ZV

 

[mindless1]

If I'm paying someone to work on my car, I'm going to want it to be an actual shop where I can have some recourse if the work isn't done properly. I don't want Bubba from Craigslist forgetting a cotter pin somewhere and then telling me to shove it when I ask him to fix what he screwed up.

ZV

lol, you're acting as though this is brain surgery or something. There are a lot of certified mechanics looking to pick up side jobs in this economy. It's up to you who to pick to do the work, as always.

FWIW, I don't even think a dealership is any guarantees of anything. Seems like half the time my father had work done on a vehicle the dealership either screwed up the repair or tried to charge for things not needed or even outright fraud, like trying to get him to buy a new ECM and master door switch panel when all they did was solder together a frayed wire that they never mentioned.

 

[mindless1]

I would take it to a GM Dealer because they are running some decent deals right now. Brake pads for $75 installed. I am sure replacing the rotors wouldn't add much to the price.

Odds are they'll charge enough extra for the rotors that you're still spending more at a dealership. They probably want upwards of $100 per rotor, though it wouldn't hurt to call and ask.

I just checked the total at Advance Auto Parts. 2 rotors, ceramic pads, and the clips (if needed) for an '05 Equinox total ~ $130 - ($30 off $100 orders with promo code "A123") = $101 + tax.

 

[Zenmervolt]

lol, you're acting as though this is brain surgery or something. There are a lot of certified mechanics looking to pick up side jobs in this economy. It's up to you who to pick to do the work, as always.

FWIW, I don't even think a dealership is any guarantees of anything. Seems like half the time my father had work done on a vehicle the dealership either screwed up the repair or tried to charge for things not needed or even outright fraud, like trying to get him to buy a new ECM and master door switch panel when all they did was solder together a frayed wire that they never mentioned.

Re-read what I wrote. I said absolutely NOTHING about a shop guaranteeing that the job would be done perfectly.

What I did say was that with a shop I have recourse. There's someone to sue if you have to. There are all kinds of laws regulating businesses and implied warranties. There's a place that's worried about their reputation in the community that will react if you call a local news crew about getting ripped off. The options available if something goes wrong are almost infinitely better if you're dealing with a business than if you're dealing with a random person from Craigslist.

ZV

 

[SpatiallyAware]

ZV is definitely correct.


We're talking about a safety item.. brakes, and an OP who doesn't know a lot about cars or repairs. The very last thing he should do is start interviewing a bunch of idiots on craigslist who couldn't find work at a 'real' shop that will at very best do a rushed brake job at a discount price.

He needs to find a decent repair shop in his area (dealer not required, it's a 2005) to do this.

 

[HarryLui]

How about actually paying somebody to diagnosis why the car shakes before throwing parts at the problem?

 

[Mxylplyx]

Most modern brake setups have retaining clips and/or flat springs which help spread the pads apart. They really aren't generally required other than to stop squeal so a lot of the 'shadetree mechanics' leave them off and use the goop/glue instead. Good pads should come with new clips and they should always be replaced. I have seen these clips installed incorrectly with one edge smashed underneath the pad backing plate causing uneven wear and noise.

Sometimes you have to transfer the metal shim on the back of the pad and a lot of guys don't research that either and just leave them out.

ahh, gotcha. Only my Honda has the separate clips, which I will reuse unless they are damaged, or my new pads came with new ones. Some pads I've bought dont come with new ones, and some do. Never dealt with springs before.