Frak.

[learnteach]

That grinding noise on the brakes? Rotors screwed, no shoes, calipers not doing so well, replace all the brakes. I think they saw me coming. $1500...but yeah, the brakes weren't working that well all of a sudden...

Better get some work soon.

Comments

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

I had to do a bunch of brake work a little while ago, so I feel your pain.

[terpsichoros.livejournal.com]

That's better than having parts of the brake assembly fall off at the Bay Bridge behind the metering lights. FOrtuantely, I already had an appointment with a brake shop for that day, and it was a company truck.

Smoke on the engine

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Last week I noticed smoke from the engine, accompanied by the smell of burning rubber. Took the car in to the shop. First they said I needed a new clutch (which I knew; it'd been getting cantankerous). Fine. Four days and $1800, but fine. Then Monday I noticed it again. Took it back in. They said it was a leak in the drip pan. $400 (apparently mostly labor: they had to clean oil off the whole engine to find out where the leak was coming from). Got it back yesterday. Today I spotted it again.

I think part of the problem here is that, although I told them it happens when I've been driving it a while, at highway speeds, they still haven't taken it on the highway.

If it turns out to be a belt, as I suggested each time I brought it in, I'm going to be mighty annoyed.

[kawgirl.livejournal.com]

I just got my rotors replaced on Sunday. I don't know if calipers are extra expensive or if you have special rotors or something (pads aren't usually too pricey), but I got 2 rotors + an oil change for $200. Maybe shop around?

Good luck!

Braking the bank

[bagelfather.livejournal.com]

When your brakes are hosed it can cost you a lot of money. I noticed someone here said it cost them $200. That is a lot less than most places should be doing it unless you had a car with cheaper parts etc. Labor alone should be about $100 for most places.

Years ago I went to the dealer (yeah I know) because of brakes. I had thrashed the calipers and all that, front and back were shot. The estimate was $1,000. Because my family had bought 8 Saturns between the four of us, and over half of them from this dealership they gave me a 20% discount for being such a regular customer. My calling around for prices helped a bit in the negotiation as I was worried about cost.

You can take the estimate of what they think is wrong and call other places. They would still have to look at it to be sure, but if you give them the shopping list of what needs to be done you can get some good estimates.

If you are near Mountain View there is a mechanic that several of my friends use who is a great guy. Precision Auto Tune in Mountain View right off of the Old Middlefield exit, the owner is Robert.

On my car the calipers are very specifically designed for my Saturn and finding replacement parts is hard. The ones they put on couldn't be refinished so when I got new ones I got ones from my mechanic that could be refinished in the future and thus save some money.

I can't stress it enough, get your brakes checked regularly. Mine were damaged mostly from going up and down the mountain to see Farmount. So now every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (ever other oil change) I pay the mechanic $30 to check my brakes. I feel that $30 of preventative checking on the paranoid side will be worth the several hundred dollar savings down the road :).

Also the cost may be more than just a few parts. If brakes on all the tires have to be done, and completely replaced, I could see $1000+ depending on the car.

So shop around, and best of luck to you!

PS: As a consumer it is YOUR right to request the parts! Before you turn it in ask for the parts. Then take those parts to another mechanic to be looked at to see if there is monkey business afoot if you are paranoid.

Re: Braking the bank

[kawgirl.livejournal.com]

1/2 the price of my brake job was labor and I only had 2 rotors replaced since everything else was in good shape (and my rear brakes are drum brakes). As someone who has worked on my mc brakes, I also took a look at the rotors that were replaced. I also knew the new rotors were of decent quality because I did some research before hand. Some negotiating got the oil change thrown in for free.

Good advice re: getting your brakes checked. That same mountain farmount lives on ate my brakes up pretty good, too. The first time that happened, I spent almost $1K between the rotors and the service I had done. A little prevention goes a long way. And it definitely is a good idea to advocate for one's self.

[finickynarcane.livejournal.com]

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