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Subject Author Date
Auto repair scam Edwin Pawlowski 07-14-2006
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Posted by jerryl on July 16, 2006, 5:04 pm


>> snip<<
>
> Of course most brake jobs don't require turning the rotors or the drums,
> especially if the car has been driven reasonably and there is no deep
> scoring.

Not 100% true. Heat alone distorts the rotors and drums.



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Posted by Larry Jaques on July 16, 2006, 9:44 pm
On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 17:04:35 -0400, with neither quill nor qualm,

>>> snip<<
>>
>> Of course most brake jobs don't require turning the rotors or the drums,
>> especially if the car has been driven reasonably and there is no deep
>> scoring.
>
>Not 100% true. Heat alone distorts the rotors and drums.

Agreed. As an ex-mechanic, I know for a fact that most drums and
rotors DO need resurfacing and truing. If you can live with a
pulsating pedal and a harder pedal pressure for stopping, don't turn
'em. Who cares if it's less safe? ;)


--
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life
which are the real ones after all. --Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957)

Posted by on July 16, 2006, 10:24 pm

Larry Jaques wrote:

> Agreed. As an ex-mechanic, I know for a fact that most drums and
> rotors DO need resurfacing and truing. If you can live with a
> pulsating pedal and a harder pedal pressure for stopping, don't turn
> 'em. Who cares if it's less safe? ;)
>

I do not doubt that some times, one does need to replace brake pads and
rotors. But what I found in my class is that I can buy the pads and
rotors and change them within an hour's time for about $200 less than
what I was quoted. Actually, in my case, the cost to resurface a rotor
costs more in labor (aside from the part cost) than to just buy a new
one every couple of years.

I believe there are good mechanics out there, but the concern that
people are being ripped off is not unfounded.


Posted by Larry Jaques on July 17, 2006, 11:26 pm
On 16 Jul 2006 19:24:55 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
tom_sawyer70@yahoo.com quickly quoth:

>
>Larry Jaques wrote:
>
>> Agreed. As an ex-mechanic, I know for a fact that most drums and
>> rotors DO need resurfacing and truing. If you can live with a
>> pulsating pedal and a harder pedal pressure for stopping, don't turn
>> 'em. Who cares if it's less safe? ;)
>>
>
>I do not doubt that some times, one does need to replace brake pads and
>rotors. But what I found in my class is that I can buy the pads and
>rotors and change them within an hour's time for about $200 less than
>what I was quoted. Actually, in my case, the cost to resurface a rotor
>costs more in labor (aside from the part cost) than to just buy a new
>one every couple of years.

Buying new is a waste of money in many cases. If you're doing your own
pad replacement, grab a Chilton (or other manual) and learn how to do
the rest of the labor yourself. I've had my rotors and drums turned by
local shops for about $20 ($5 each in 2002) for decades now, since I
retired from wrenchin' with back problems.

Repack your front wheel bearings when you do that. The whole thing
takes just a couple hours + transport to and from the brake shop who
has the lathe. Schedule it and you can be in and out of their shop in
20 minutes. Machines shops also turn these, but brake shops are
better at it (and usually cheaper) since they do it every day of their
lives.


>I believe there are good mechanics out there, but the concern that
>people are being ripped off is not unfounded.

True.



--
Simplicity doesn't mean to live in misery and poverty. You have what you
need and you don't want what you don't need. --Charan Singh (1916-1990)

Posted by on July 18, 2006, 12:40 am

Larry Jaques wrote:
> Buying new is a waste of money in many cases. If you're doing your own
> pad replacement, grab a Chilton (or other manual) and learn how to do
> the rest of the labor yourself. I've had my rotors and drums turned by
> local shops for about $20 ($5 each in 2002) for decades now, since I
> retired from wrenchin' with back problems.

In my case, it didn't seem to make sense to have my rotors turned. New
rotors for my "everyday" vehicle cost me ~$18each. Since I'm replacing
the pads and already have the wheel off, it's just a few more steps to
replace the rotors and I don't have to worry about paying for them to
be turned and/or when they'll warp again.

Your location may have something to do with it...I don't know any place
around here that comes close to $20 to turn them without charging
significantly more for pulling the tires and/or replacing the pads at
the same time. I found out that I could replace my front pads and
rotors for less than $60. I don't think I've ever walked out of a
garage for less than that, regardless of how minor the maintenance was.
Heck, the last time I had an inspection, they wanted $40 to replace
the air filter. I did it for less than $10 and about 2 minutes worth
of time when I realized what was involved.


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