[wjones14]

Originally Posted by Whitespeed

People reply like that because they are trying to be helpful and save people some money. A lot of people are under the impression that certain automotive work is difficult and immediately assume they will be unable to do it themselves. But often times, it only takes a few hand tools and a bit of research to accomplish yourself. And where there is specialized equipment required, as has been pointed out by others, there are shops out there that can provide that specific service for you or can even loan the equipment to you.


I'm struggling to understand why you would be offended by people trying help each other out?


Nigel

Always appreciate fellow forum members trying to offer helpful advice.

But, to play devil's advocate, the OP didn't ask how hard of a job it was. He asked if $400 was a fair price. He lives in NYC, where the temp is in the 20s now, and we don't know if he has a garage or a decent place to work on the car. Plenty of folks on this forum prefer to have a mechanic work on their cars, even for things as simple as an oil change. Who are we to judge?

[Corvette_Mike]

400 dollars seems fair to me. I have heard that much quoted for rear bakes only

[Corvette_Mike]

Im at 20k miles with the oem pads. For you who have changed out the pads, how many miles did you get on them?

[SpazmXylam]

The shop i work at charges $135/hr with brakes being a menu priced item. (menu price just means its the same price no matter the car or what book time actually says).
Front brakes we bill 1.2 hours which includes resurface rotors.
Rear brakes bill out at 1.4.
$351 for just labor costs from me. From what I understand NY has much higher rates. Up in the $200/hr range at some dealers.
Most shops, like mine, will charge a little higher if you supply your own parts in order to recover that lost profit and also to discourage people from doing it. More often than not customer supplied parts are wrong or wont fix the problem they are after.
Resurfacing smooth face rotors is not a problem I run 2 brake lathes for how many rotors i cut. It is the drilled or slotted rotors that shouldn't be resurfaced. Just need to pay attention to the thickness.



Long story short, yeah $400 seems solid for your location for both axles. In the future i would recommend just calling ahead for an estimate and let the shop supply the parts. Brakes should be simple enough to get an idea of price over the phone.
For my shop the total price is usually on par or better and if there are any problems with part defects it is not on you to solve.

[Whitespeed]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Always appreciate fellow forum members trying to offer helpful advice.

But, to play devil's advocate, the OP didn't ask how hard of a job it was. He asked if $400 was a fair price. He lives in NYC, where the temp is in the 20s now, and we don't know if he has a garage or a decent place to work on the car. Plenty of folks on this forum prefer to have a mechanic work on their cars, even for things as simple as an oil change. Who are we to judge?

No judgment from me. I realize it can be completely impractical for people to work on their own cars. But I've helped out a few friends with brake jobs who had never considered doing it themselves and were prepared to spend hundreds of dollars to have a shop do it. I showed them how to do it themselves for a fraction of the price and they couldn't get over how easy it was. Sometimes you just need a bit of a push to try something. But I still take my car to a shop on occasion when I don't have the time or patience (I hate doing oil changes for example). Whatever works for you!

[Vtor_ZL1]

May be basic tools, but you still need a space to get work done. Side of road w car jacked up is NOT safe.


Still need brake clean, few rags, brake bleeder, pad grease, wheel chock, etc etc the consumables many take for granted cuz they are already on the shelf.

[cellsafemode]

to me, paying "rate" shop prices or labor on top of getting shafted on over the top quoted prices for parts is never worth it. So, 400 bucks for a disc brake job on a basically new car...no I wouldn't pay that. But then, there may not be a shop that would quote a price I would pay.

I just got done being through a round of new tire purchases for two cars, something I dont have the hardware to do on my own, and even though the costs for that is pretty much fixed wherever you go, I still had multiple shops try and screw me on the price of the tires.

My suggestion is to dont be afraid to just walk out if a price feels like they're skimming on top of the labor and parts costs. There's always other options and other shops.

[CamaroBody]

you can get a complete set of slotted rotors and pads for $350 with 20%off

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-..._721404_0_2835





.

[Cmax]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Hard to wipe your @$$ in NYC for less than $400.

I laughed when I read that.... last year I left my hotel in New Jersey to go to car rental at JFK airport. My GPS had me go across Manhatten.
Literally, after two cups of hotel coffee, I’m only halfway across Manhatten after an hour of traffic. I gotta piss like a race horse, no place to park for a pit stop.
I pulled into a parking garage and told him I wasn’t staying, just gotta go.
When I came out my car was turned around and ready to go....
He didn’t ask for it, but I slipped him $10....
Where I’m from, I coulda pissed, got it washed and enjoyed a donut and coffee for that....lol

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by Whitespeed

No judgment from me. I realize it can be completely impractical for people to work on their own cars. But I've helped out a few friends with brake jobs who had never considered doing it themselves and were prepared to spend hundreds of dollars to have a shop do it. I showed them how to do it themselves for a fraction of the price and they couldn't get over how easy it was. Sometimes you just need a bit of a push to try something. But I still take my car to a shop on occasion when I don't have the time or patience (I hate doing oil changes for example). Whatever works for you!

Agreed, I prefer to do everything I can myself on my beloved 1LE. I won't even take advantage of the two free oil changes because I don't want to take the chance of a careless technician damaging the car somehow. With 2700 miles on it, I have already changed the oil, rear diff fluid, and installed a set of the GM pre-painted molded splash guards (learning to use a rivet tool in the process). But even though I have a nice garage, a couple jacks, jack stands, and a decent set of tools, there are times when I'd rather just pay someone. For example, it's below freezing in my garage now and my wife's 2015 Mini needed an oil change. 5 qts of synthetic and the special Mini filter were going to cost me $45. The local garage quoted us $65, so I let them do it rather than freeze my butt off in the garage.

[Memphis SS]

Originally Posted by Whitespeed

People reply like that because they are trying to be helpful and save people some money. A lot of people are under the impression that certain automotive work is difficult and immediately assume they will be unable to do it themselves. But often times, it only takes a few hand tools and a bit of research to accomplish yourself. And where there is specialized equipment required, as has been pointed out by others, there are shops out there that can provide that specific service for you or can even loan the equipment to you.


I'm struggling to understand why you would be offended by people trying help each other out?


Nigel

Very well said

OP: That pricing doesn't sound out of line for labor.

If you decide to do it yourself just do your research and call a head to let the parts store know about the rotor resurface.

Another option (which is not going to save you money) if you do the install for what the shop labor cost you could buy OEM rotors and just replace them.yourself. The Camaro has top hat rotors or floating rotors as some call them, they just slide over the studs , your not dealing with packing bearings

I've done this several times on my past cars

[Memphis SS]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Agreed, I prefer to do everything I can myself on my beloved 1LE. I won't even take advantage of the two free oil changes because I don't want to take the chance of a careless technician damaging the car somehow. With 2700 miles on it, I have already changed the oil, rear diff fluid, and installed a set of the GM pre-painted molded splash guards (learning to use a rivet tool in the process). But even though I have a nice garage, a couple jacks, jack stands, and a decent set of tools, there are times when I'd rather just pay someone. For example, it's below freezing in my garage now and my wife's 2015 Mini needed an oil change. 5 qts of synthetic and the special Mini filter were going to cost me $45. The local garage quoted us $65, so I let them do it rather than freeze my butt off in the garage.

Only thing i will add to that is I do all my own oil changes, if winter I put a heater in the garage the night before.. I just hate thr thought of a tech working on my car.. just me ..LOL

[1hprush]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Hard to wipe your @$$ in NYC for less than $400.

That’s when you hand someone the T/P and pay them to do it.

Originally Posted by CoolbreezeNJ

Everything is more involved these days including now the jacking points and the jacking pads, etc, etc. Besides my Camaro I have a diesel truck. The motor is huge but you still can't see it!!!

At times I find it a curse that I put my self through school working on cars. Sucks being out in the cold garage when your nearing 60 years old. All in all $400 isn't so bad. Arn't these Brembo pads harder to find and more costly??

It sucks just being nearly 60 yrs. old!

[Whocares05050]

Originally Posted by cellsafemode

to me, paying "rate" shop prices or labor on top of getting shafted on over the top quoted prices for parts is never worth it. So, 400 bucks for a disc brake job on a basically new car...no I wouldn't pay that. But then, there may not be a shop that would quote a price I would pay.

I just got done being through a round of new tire purchases for two cars, something I dont have the hardware to do on my own, and even though the costs for that is pretty much fixed wherever you go, I still had multiple shops try and screw me on the price of the tires.

My suggestion is to dont be afraid to just walk out if a price feels like they're skimming on top of the labor and parts costs. There's always other options and other shops.

Well shops ARE in business to make a profit, not charity lol.

Running a business cost a fortune