Hi, I got my 30,000 mile tune up at the dealership today. The tune up comes with a brake inspection. I already had the idea that I was going to need new brakes but not this soon. It turns out my brakes are down to the bare minimum. The service technician told me that it would cost $690 to replace the front brake pads and the rotors. Is this a proper estimate or are they just over charging me? I know it's the labor that's a major of the money, but still. I was wondering if I should just buy the equipment myself and have someone else do it. Or if I should even go with a different place to install it. My brother-in-law's family has a shop so I can get it done there. Furthermore, I need some advice. Thank you for your time.

 

you can buy some nice aftermarket rotors for about $450.

a full set of ceramic pads will run about $120.

 

Labour should not be more than 2 hours at whatever the local labour rate is.There is nothing difficult with RX8 brake replacement so any reasonably competent shop could do it for you.

 

Take it to your relatives.

 

Yeah, I'm going get an estimate from my brother-in-law's family shop tomorrow morning. Then I'll see where I'm going to go from there. Thanks guys for all your input on this, it is greatly appreciated.

 

Unless its warranty work, or rotary specific, you'll be better of avoiding the dealership.

 

thats way too much money. buy some rotors from racingbrake and do em yourself or have someone else do it

 

what part of CA are you in?

 

Bro, if you are in SoCal, go to Neptune Speed in Huntington beach.. Well worth the drive even if a little far... They would be able to get those on quickly while you wait..

Jedi, beat you to it.. btw, i bought that autobahn front... stop recommending things for me so i can save money LOL

 

My car is heading to Neptune Speed on thursday...

 

if you take it to the dealer be afraid, be very afraid ...

 

mysql101 which rotors are u talking about for $450?
looking for some. What do u guys suggest? Im sure the op and i would enjoy the extra opinions on them.

 

racing brake rotors, drilled and slotted. you can get them just slotted too for the same price.

best of all, they come with black hats, so no rust. see endless rotary on the forum (he's a vendor here)

 

I live in the central valley. So what do you guys do when you need work on your cars? Do it yourself, take it to a different shop (other than the dealership)? I have a warranty, unfortunately it covers only like major parts. Up to this point my warranty hasn't really paid for anything, which pisses me off. I was just thinking of getting the work done somewhere else for whatever my car needs... These prices are ridiculous!

 

"brake jobs" are one of the largest mark-ups in the automotive repair business. Do not go to the dealership, they're no exception to that statement.

I would try a few different brake job places in your area. See what they would charge you strictly for labor if you brought them all the parts.

 

Make sure you really need new rotors. They might only need machining.

 

I'm at 30K on mine as well and i just had mine machines this morning. You shouldn't really need new Rotors. (unless of course, you're going for the 'coolness' factor with new ones)

 

Unless you were driving around for some time hearing a screeching metal on metal sound, you might not need new rotors. If a shop tells you otherwise, I would have them measure them in front of me and then look up the specs on rotor thickness.

I swapped my front pads a month ago and I have 55, xxx miles. My rotors were just fine.