Calipers went bad.

[Kalamidad]

don't Front break packages cost less than buying the items seperate...it seems to me that he bought a package and changed me for separate parts...and overcharged me at that.

[ChikagoGTZ]

This is why you do your own brakes. 6 Hours?? I dont think so.... I could replace all 4 corners, including lines and a fluid flush in 3 - 4 hours with hand tools in a blizzard. Ask them for your old calipers too...

[Kalamidad]

i got stuck 20 miles from the house...had i the time, i would have done it myself...I know, i know, a tow truck would have been less money to my house than the entire job but i'm in the middle of a job search so i can't afford to be without my car right now.

[bronxbombr]

don't Front break packages cost less than buying the items seperate...it seems to me that he bought a package and changed me for separate parts...and overcharged me at that.

Thats why I dont fuck with MADCHANICS cuz they will rip you off any chance they can get. Its just a good thing i been in the business so long and know how much shit costs and how long it take to repair.

they charged you 6 hrs labor but i bet 3 out of those 6 were spent working on someone elses car.

[PurpleHaze]

I was going to ask the same thing. These guys do this stuff all day everyday, you would think they could do it in less than 6 hrs.. I had an auto mechanics class in high school, the teacher use to be a mechanic in miami. He says even if a job takes 20 minutes, they charge by how long their books say labor should take, and he said he has had plenty of coffee and donut breaks on the customers time. It sucks but I dont think there's much you can do about it, even if you do keep hasslin' them

[qnz]

ya. at my dealership/shop i work at, the mechanics are all liars. they do their job well, but will sell you bs alll the time. but car salesmen are even worse

[galant305]

yeah all the mechanic are liar :twisted: s

[RedGalant2k1]

so my grand total should be $818.57 I'm wondering where they came up with $961 from.

Not bad. But get a itemized reciept.

if its the calipers you can save money by going to the dealer and getting the caliper rebuild kit.

You will need a nice sized pair of vice grips, and grease.

waste of time to rebuild the caliper, buy a new or rebuilt, its cheaper and easier.

Been in the autoparts business to know all the loopholes.
Also 425 in parts is mad expensive especially if you dont know exactly what parts they putting on the car. Believe me when i tell you i have seen guys come to pick up the cheapest rotors they can find $8.00 but charge the customer 30 -50 per rotor. Brake pads same shit. And the master cylinder most stores get like 40-50 off so they go for 20-70 the most that i have ever sold to a store. I even once sold a store Plug Wires that cost the guy 10 bux, he calls his employees and tell the guy not to bill it as some other part cuz he taking out of the box and giving them to him.

$425 isn't expensive at all. Two balljoints on a Ford Explorer cost more than that, and that doesn't include the labor or alignment. $425 for two rotors, a set of pads, two calipers, hardware, is cheap. $200+ in labor is nothing considering they fixed the hardware in the rear, installed new calipers, resurfaced the rotors (as most need to be resurfaced out of the box anyway), installed new hardware, installed new pads, test drove the car. Seriously man $600-700 for a full front brake job is good.

If you want to see expensive do the front rotors on a BMW 740Li or a 3500 Ram truck. Those rotors cost upwards of $150-200 per rotor! We did front and rear brake pads and rotors on a 740Li it cost over $1100 when we were all said and done.

Whats wrong with charging $50 per rotor? You realize you don't just have the cost of the rotor involved in that right? There is required paperwork, materials for install, mechanic time, mechanic tools, cost to use the hoist, cost to operate the lights in the store, cost to operate the air compressor that runs the mechancs tools to fix your car right the first time. Seriously everyone needs to understand that there is more than just the $8 rotor thats built in when you pay for it.

Nobody seems to have a problem when Walmart pays $.50 for something and sells it for $15......I wonder why that is?

[SkylineG1]

I did a new check today at work and the prices are as follows:

I) Right & Left front calipers= $54 each w/exchange
II) Right & Left rotors= $48 each
III) Ceramix (fully ceramic) performance pads= $45

Now by my calculations the total = $249 + tax

If you want to see expensive do the front rotors on a BMW 740Li or a 3500 Ram truck. Those rotors cost upwards of $150-200 per rotor! We did front and rear brake pads and rotors on a 740Li it cost over $1100 when we were all said and done.

So yeah he did get ripped and this is a Galant not a BMW or 3500 RAM truck. I can see paying that much for a high end vehicle. And the truck rotors are integrated as the rotor, studs, and hub unit in one.

[RedGalant2k1]

Thats why I dont fuck with MADCHANICS cuz they will rip you off any chance they can get. Its just a good thing i been in the business so long and know how much shit costs and how long it take to repair.

they charged you 6 hrs labor but i bet 3 out of those 6 were spent working on someone elses car.

ya. at my dealership/shop i work at, the mechanics are all liars. they do their job well, but will sell you bs alll the time. but car salesmen are even worse

yeah all the mechanic are liar :twisted: s

Its dumb comments like these that lead people to be skeptical about mechanics. Seriously you guys need to think about the type of people they deal with on a daily basis (that means you). You all complain when they want to make a profit to pay their heating bill, the electric bill, the cost for shop time, tools, hoists, maintenence of equipment, etc etc...

At my shop during the winter our heating bill was well in excess of $5000.

I was going to ask the same thing. These guys do this stuff all day everyday, you would think they could do it in less than 6 hrs.. I had an auto mechanics class in high school, the teacher use to be a mechanic in miami. He says even if a job takes 20 minutes, they charge by how long their books say labor should take, and he said he has had plenty of coffee and donut breaks on the customers time. It sucks but I dont think there's much you can do about it, even if you do keep hasslin' them

Many shops won't even charge booktime on a job. I know my shop charges (in most cases) well under book time, if people want to fight us on prices or time fine, but we have no reason no to allowed to make a profit.

[SkylineG1]

my shop during the winter our heating bill was well in excess of $5000.

So? My heating bill in my home was more than $250 a month. You don't see me out there trying to rob granny for money.

[RedGalant2k1]

I did a new check today at work and the prices are as follows:

I) Right & Left front calipers= $54 each w/exchange
II) Right & Left rotors= $48 each
III) Ceramix (fully ceramic) performance pads= $45

Now by my calculations the total = $249 + tax

So yeah he did get ripped and this is a Galant not a BMW.

Who are those prices from the shop in questions supplier? Maybe the shops supplier ripped him off when he bought the parts and he had no choice but to make a profit, damn him.

I don't care if its a BMW or not, the point is $600-700 is NOT expensive.

Lets look at a breakdown of what was done:

(x2) Front Brake Rotors
(x2) Front Calipers
(x1) Front Brake Pads set
(x1) Rear Brake Hardware
(x1) Front Brake Hardware

Labor:

Front Brake Labor - Including bleeding the brakes, resurfacing the front rotors, removal and install of new pads, hardware, rotors, and calipers.

Rear Brake Labor - Install of rear brake hardware, clean and adjust rear brakes, test pedal to ensure good travel, and good firmness.

That doesn't include road testing the vehicle to ensure proper break-in of the new brake parts. I should mention the shop pays for the mechanics insurance to drive the car on public roads, time to use a hoist, and bay in the shop, the shops air compressor, not to mention the cost of paperwork and the hazardous conditions that you don't have to work in daily but the mechanic does.

As far as whats on Kal's estimate looks to me like those are new calipers, not remans, premium rotors not white box garbage.

My mechanics won't even use cheap grade white box rotors (which is what your quoting) on any import vehicle.

[bronxbombr]

SORRY DUDE BUT I DONT BUY IT

i once went to a reputable shop to do a measly timing job and they fucked it up. The next day i went and installed a new engine by myself with their tools, they couldnt tell me shit. What the hell did i pay them for then.

And lets not talk about AAMCO and Lee MYLES. which i sell parts to them too. Biggest ripoff artist.

[RedGalant2k1]

my shop during the winter our heating bill was well in excess of $5000.

So? My heating bill in my home was more than $250 a month. You don't see me out there trying to rob granny for money.

Neither do I see the shop doing the same to Kal.

BTW I found prices too!

BeckArnley Brake calipers (unloaded) - $110.99 ea (plus tax and shipping)
BeckArnley Brake Rotors - $74.99 ea (plus tax and shipping)
BeckArnley Hardware Kit - $18.99 set (plus tax and shipping)
Hawk HP Brake Pads - $83 set (plus tax and shipping)

Thats $492 in parts.

Should I go to labor?

We charge $70 per labor hour. Std. Brake Labor is 1hr per axle. 30min additional for calipers. Rear brake clean and adjust, including install of new adjusters/hardware in rear $70.

Total brake labor $140.

Plus tax on parts only (Michigan 6%)

Total bill: $662.52 (That is using parts and prices found online, for the record yes we could do it cheaper, but for sake of comparison.)

Plus towing. $50 per labor hour is cheap.

[SkylineG1]

I did a new check today at work and the prices are as follows:

I) Right & Left front calipers= $54 each w/exchange
II) Right & Left rotors= $48 each
III) Ceramix (fully ceramic) performance pads= $45

Now by my calculations the total = $249 + tax

So yeah he did get ripped and this is a Galant not a BMW.

Who are those prices from the shop in questions supplier? Maybe the shops supplier ripped him off when he bought the parts and he had no choice but to make a profit, damn him.

I don't care if its a BMW or not, the point is $600-700 is NOT expensive.

Lets look at a breakdown of what was done:

(x2) Front Brake Rotors
(x2) Front Calipers
(x1) Front Brake Pads set
(x1) Rear Brake Hardware
(x1) Front Brake Hardware

Labor:

Front Brake Labor - Including bleeding the brakes, resurfacing the front rotors, removal and install of new pads, hardware, rotors, and calipers.

Rear Brake Labor - Install of rear brake hardware, clean and adjust rear brakes, test pedal to ensure good travel, and good firmness.

That doesn't include road testing the vehicle to ensure proper break-in of the new brake parts. I should mention the shop pays for the mechanics insurance to drive the car on public roads, time to use a hoist, and bay in the shop, the shops air compressor, not to mention the cost of paperwork and the hazardous conditions that you don't have to work in daily but the mechanic does.

As far as whats on Kal's estimate looks to me like those are new calipers, not remans, premium rotors not white box garbage.

My mechanics won't even use cheap grade white box rotors (which is what your quoting) on any import vehicle.

All you said there should be in the <span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'>LABOR COST!!!</span>
And if he is getting new rotors why the hell would they have to resurface?
And come on NEW CALIPERS? What they ordered from the dealer? I'm pretty sure that they didn't. And if they are so "HONEST" why is it that they told him that they'll have to charge him for a itemized bill? Hell even PepBoys gives you an itemized bill. And trust me this is not your shop. I've seen mechanics use the "white box" rotors with no problem. If they are so worried about there insurance then include this in their " LABOR COST" and stop trying to rip people off.

[RedGalant2k1]

SORRY DUDE BUT I DONT BUY IT

i once went to a reputable shop to do a measly timing job and they fucked it up. The next day i went and installed a new engine by myself with their tools, they couldnt tell me shit. What the hell did i pay them for then.

And lets not talk about AAMCO and Lee MYLES. which i sell parts to them too. Biggest ripoff artist.

If you could put a new engine in your car why didn't you replace the timing belt yourself?

I honestly don't care if you buy it or not thats not my problem. My point simply is that 1) not all shops rip you off 2)$600-700 for the type of work done is average price wise.

Don't jump down my throat because I don't think he was ripped off, I think he got decent service especially they let him put the tow bill on there total bill.

Also I don't know about NY but around here we buy from places like Napa (who apparently buy from suppliers like you), don't you realize that Napa likes to stay in business too? I mean they can't buy a $8 rotor from you and sell it for $8 and expect to stay in business.

If anything they buy it for $8 and sell it to shops like the one in question for $16-20 per rotor. I know I've NEVER seen a brake rotor for less than $15 from Napa.

[SkylineG1]

SORRY DUDE BUT I DONT BUY IT

i once went to a reputable shop to do a measly timing job and they fucked it up. The next day i went and installed a new engine by myself with their tools, they couldnt tell me shit. What the hell did i pay them for then.

And lets not talk about AAMCO and Lee MYLES. which i sell parts to them too. Biggest ripoff artist.

If you could put a new engine in your car why didn't you replace the timing belt yourself?

I honestly don't care if you buy it or not thats not my problem. My point simply is that 1) not all shops rip you off 2)$600-700 for the type of work done is average price wise.

Don't jump down my throat because I don't think he was ripped off, I think he got decent service especially they let him put the tow bill on there total bill.

Also I don't know about NY but around here we buy from places like Napa (who apparently buy from suppliers like you), don't you realize that Napa likes to stay in business too? I mean they can't buy a $8 rotor from you and sell it for $8 and expect to stay in business.

If anything they buy it for $8 and sell it to shops like the one in question for $16-20 per rotor. I know I've NEVER seen a brake rotor for less than $15 from Napa.

Dude I work for NAPA. And no I'm not the counter guy I'm the one who bills customers. So don't tell me that that's what the parts will cost and I live in the most expensive state to own a car.

[RedGalant2k1]

All you said there should be in the <span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'>LABOR COST!!!</span>

Well yes you are right, I was braking it down to show you all that its not a slap and go kind of thing.

And if he is getting new rotors why the hell would they have to resurface?

Many brake manufacturers require that, not to mention not all rotors make it from shelf to shelf without being dropped, knicked or damaged.

And come on NEW CALIPERS? What they ordered from the dealer? I'm pretty sure that they didn't.

The dealer isn't the only one that can supply new parts. I found reman calipers for anywhere from $60-150 from partsamerica.com.

And if they are so "HONEST" why is it that they told him that they'll have to charge him for a itemized bill? Hell even PepBoys gives you an itemized bill.

Your cellular phone company charges you for an itemized bill what makes this any different?

And trust me this is not your shop. I've seen mechanics use the "white box" rotors with no problem. If they are so worried about there insurance then include this in their " LABOR COST" and stop trying to rip people off.

No, its not my shop thats in question. But you don't seem to understand that there is most cost involved than just the parts used to fix the car.

[SkylineG1]

Pretty sure that they didn't order from partsamerica.com.
Cell phone companys also charges you for owning you rown #, but we are talking about auto parts here.

[RedGalant2k1]

Dude I work for NAPA. And no I'm not the counter guy I'm the one who bills customers. So don't tell me that that's what the parts will cost and I live in the most expensive state to own a car.

Then tell me, what do the rotors from white box standard to premium grade cost for a Mitsubishi Galant? Tell me what your cost is and what you would sell it to a shop (like the one who worked on Kal's car)???