Any mechanics out there?

[261252]

Almost certainly is a worn brake problem and the fronts usually go first as when the car stops the linear force is directed to the front. Price sounds a bit high.

Quickly, join the "Automobile Protection Association ". They will recommend honest mechanics. They do not do cheap work but they are fair.

Whatever you do STAY AWAY FROM CANADIAN TIRE AND SEARS!

Where do you live. I know a few I do trust.

 

[doinker]

topoon i sent you a pm on this topic

 

[james t kirk]

Calipers are probably fine.

All you have to do is ask to see him put a C clamp to the pistons. If they push back in, they are fine.

 

[tboy]

Odd that both front brake calipers failed at the same time?

I would be taking the car to another garage.

Not really, I had both go twice on my previous F150...but then again, I drove it like a sportscar.

A good mechanic will look at the parts, determine their remaining usable life and figure whether they need to be replaced or not. But it is standard practice to replace both sides of a braking system to insure even stopping.....

Actually James, with many alloy calipers they tend to warp due to the heat generated by the braking. When they do this, they will apply uneven pressure to the pads thereby reducing braking pressure......

 

[261252]

Join the Automobile Protection Association and they will recommend honest mechanics.

 

[TRX]

Calipers are probably fine.

All you have to do is ask to see him put a C clamp to the pistons. If they push back in, they are fine.

it should may be fine but mechanic paid by the hour and I think if the take out the piston to clean it up, you may be charged almost half price of a brand new caliper. what happen was when your brake pads are thin the exposed part of piston must have been dirty or slight corrosion and was all in that caused to seized

 

[Goodoer]

I'll break my post virginity (lurker for years) and say you do not need calipers on an '03 Sentra. Lube the slider pins, etc. very small stuff.

Nissan's are easy to fix, especially front brakes. You can buy high performance pads for $100-120 and Brembo rotors for $60ish each. Just to give you a comparison.

Brakes are easy if you can spare the time. Download the repair manual and give it a shot.

A mechanic would need less than an hour.

You're getting screwed, but you have no choice.

 

[joseppi]

It depends if your rotors can be machined or if you need new ones. Most mechanics like to replace the whole assemble because that way everything is new and safer + easier to guarantee their job. I'd get a second opinion because you are at their mercy now and they can charge you whatever they want

Ok so the brakes started seriously grinding today so I took it in to get looked at. Mechanic puts it up on the hoist, takes the wheels off and pulls apart the brakes. Says the backs are fine but i need both front brakes fixed.

Says i need 2 front brake pads, 2 front brake rotors, and 2 front brake calipers. The guy has given me an estimate of $700 plus tax, which includes labour. Says he can have it ready for me tomorrow by 5.

To the mechanics out there...does that sound like a reasonable price for the work? I'm going to call around in the morning to a few places and see if there's any better deals out there and maybe get it towed to another shop....any help is appreciated!

 

[STASH]

The price didn't seem to out of line to me. You want a good repair it's going to cost money. The dude also needs to make a living right.....nod your head up and down now.

Each wheel $350 rotor pads caliper....sounds about right to me

 

[tboy]

The price didn't seem to out of line to me. You want a good repair it's going to cost money. The dude also needs to make a living right.....nod your head up and down now.

Each wheel $350 rotor pads caliper....sounds about right to me

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I don't know anywhere (not saying you can't) that sells NEW rotors for $60.00.....

Put it this way: at cost (due to family connections) I had a similar job done to my F150. Rotors, pads, calipers, and it cost me $1100.00. Now I know everything is smaller on a nissan but it's an import.

But hey, take it elsewhere (if you can still stop that is lol) and get a quote. But the thing is, they're gone and your stopping distance is probably doubled.

 

[Doctor Zoidburg]

I am a do it yourselfer, my pads cost me $40 a set for the ceramic premium brake pads and the rotors cost $40 each for a total of $120 + tax. Your price can varry, so put it at $160 tops for parts. Labour is 1 - 1.5 maximum. so ad approx $120 for a total of $240 + tax. It is very unlikley that you need calipers They go for $60 - $80 each. add an hour labour Maximum price $480 plus tax.

To all the theiving garage mechanics.......May you get a greasy garage broom handle shoved up you arses!


An extra note:

A greasy theiving mechanic told me once that I should never get ceramic brake pads. I suppose the reason he does not like them or install them is because, ceramic brake pads.................

- Last much longer
- Dissipate heat much better.
- Do not use up your rotors as fast as regular brake pads
- Stop the car better than conventional brake pads.

He also does not like Japanes cars, and does not recommend them to clients.

 

[Mr. Piggy]

I'm not a mechanic but used to work on my own cars all the time. I'm thinking the shop you took it to is trying to scam you. Doubt very much that you need calipers.
I have a 1997 buick and just had the front brakes done a couple months back. New pads and rotors was all it needed. Calipers were fine. Brake pads were about $85 and the rotors were about $35 each.

 

[Omnius]

A1 Auto at Dundas and Ossington? Try Autosonic at Dundas and Dovercourt. PM me for a contact name there.

Goodluck. Good guys workin there.

 

[buckwheat1]

shoes $99.00 rotors aboout $150 for both approx not sure on the rest Plus labour go to like Canadian tire, labout should be around 1 hour or so.
do they not bleed the brake lines when calipers are changed?

 

[tboy]

shoes $99.00 rotors aboout $150 for both approx not sure on the rest Plus labour go to like Canadian tire, labout should be around 1 hour or so.
do they not bleed the brake lines when calipers are changed?

Yes they do.

As for a 1997 buick not needing calipers. That's like comparing a harley davidson to a Ninja. Apples and oranges my friend.

As I said previously: many imports (and some domestics now) use alloy or even aluminum for the calipers which tend to get affected by the massive amounts of heat generated by the braking system.

To compare an aluminum caliper to a cast iron/steel one is ludicrous.

 

[topoon]

***Update***

Had my car towed by CAA, to a garage recommended by one of the members here, and it turns out I didn't need calipers. Just brake pads, and rotors for each side. Ended up paying only $260 compared to the $800 i was quoted!

So I 'd just like to say thank you for everyone's help!

 

[KBear]

... it turns out I didn't need calipers. Just brake pads, and rotors for each side. Ended up paying only $260 compared to the $800 i was quoted!

That work and cost makes sense. Good Job!

Sometimes when I’m at the garage and overhear the service advisor talking to the customer, I feel sorry for the customer as they don’t have a clue what is going on, and it is going to cost them a lot of money.

 

[tdiddy]

***Update***

Had my car towed by CAA, to a garage recommended by one of the members here, and it turns out I didn't need calipers. Just brake pads, and rotors for each side. Ended up paying only $260 compared to the $800 i was quoted!

So I 'd just like to say thank you for everyone's help!

So who did you go to the first time. This rip off artist should get the business - I'm talking about the negative type of business.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Brake jobs can be one of the biggest ripoffs out there today

Had my car towed by CAA, to a garage recommended by one of the members here, and it turns out I didn't need calipers. Just brake pads, and rotors for each side. Ended up paying only $260 compared to the $800 i was quoted!

So I 'd just like to say thank you for everyone's help!

You just discovered what I've known for years.

I'm also a DIYer and have done my own brake jobs for years which usually ran from $5-75. Changing ft disc brake pads is a very easy job to do if you are mechanically inclined.
One time years ago K-Mart gave me a $450 quote to pass inspection. They were full of sh*t....I did it for $40. New ft pads were all that was needed but they gave a big laundry list of not needed stuff to arrive at their $450 quote.
Years ago Monro Auto was even worse and gave me a $630 bogus quote. Those weasels said the front rotors, calipers, rear drums and master cylinder had to be replaced along with pads ft & rear, to pass inpection! They had it all apart for me to look at. I looked it over, then politely told them they were full of sh*t and told them to put it all back together 'right'. All it needed was front pads that I paid $30 for a pair of Kevlar pads back in the 80s and was good to go passing inspection at another shop NO PROBLEM.

 

[Doctor Zoidburg]

***Update***

Had my car towed by CAA, to a garage recommended by one of the members here, and it turns out I didn't need calipers. Just brake pads, and rotors for each side. Ended up paying only $260 compared to the $800 i was quoted!

So I 'd just like to say thank you for everyone's help!

So, I was on the money with my estimate!

PREVIOUSLY POSTED:


I am a do it yourselfer, my pads cost me $40 a set for the ceramic premium brake pads and the rotors cost $40 each for a total of $120 + tax. Your price can varry, so put it at $160 tops for parts. Labour is 1 - 1.5 maximum. so ad approx $120 for a total of $240 + tax. It is very unlikley that you need calipers They go for $60 - $80 each. add an hour labour Maximum price $480 plus tax.

To all the theiving garage mechanics.......May you get a greasy garage broom handle shoved up you arses!


An extra note:

A greasy theiving mechanic told me once that I should never get ceramic brake pads. I suppose the reason he does not like them or install them is because, ceramic brake pads.................

- Last much longer
- Dissipate heat much better.
- Do not use up your rotors as fast as regular brake pads
- Stop the car better than conventional brake pads.

He also does not like Japanes cars, and does not recommend them to clients.