Hi BITOG,
I pay to maintain a 2010 Mazda 6 that my son has at college over 1000 miles from home. We typically perform some simple maintenance together when he is home for part of the summer, and then take it to a local mechanic to have it looked over to see if anything else is pressing. Except for tires, he's never had the occasion to take it to a mechanic in Tempe, so he doesn't have a preferred place at school.
While visiting him a couple weekends ago I noticed a slight pulse under braking, but did not have time to do anything about it. I told him to take it in to get the brakes inspected. At 85K miles, I figured it needed the rotors turned or replaced, and most likely new pads as well (we replaced the front pads with Akebono ones at 40K). He found a local highly rated independent shop and they recommended replacing the front rotors and pads. They said the rear ones (still original) looked ok but should probably be replaced somewhere between 90K and 100K.
Total cost with tax was $376.71, which was $66.95 for the pads, $180.70 for the rotors, and $107 labor. The charge for the rotors looked high to me, but the other charges seem in line. Does that seem like a fair price to you? I am thinking of having him purchase rear rotors and pads from Rock Auto (or similar) and having the same shop do the rear brakes when he gets the oil changed at 90K miles (he won't be driving home this summer). Thank you.
I pay to maintain a 2010 Mazda 6 that my son has at college over 1000 miles from home. We typically perform some simple maintenance together when he is home for part of the summer, and then take it to a local mechanic to have it looked over to see if anything else is pressing. Except for tires, he's never had the occasion to take it to a mechanic in Tempe, so he doesn't have a preferred place at school.
While visiting him a couple weekends ago I noticed a slight pulse under braking, but did not have time to do anything about it. I told him to take it in to get the brakes inspected. At 85K miles, I figured it needed the rotors turned or replaced, and most likely new pads as well (we replaced the front pads with Akebono ones at 40K). He found a local highly rated independent shop and they recommended replacing the front rotors and pads. They said the rear ones (still original) looked ok but should probably be replaced somewhere between 90K and 100K.
Total cost with tax was $376.71, which was $66.95 for the pads, $180.70 for the rotors, and $107 labor. The charge for the rotors looked high to me, but the other charges seem in line. Does that seem like a fair price to you? I am thinking of having him purchase rear rotors and pads from Rock Auto (or similar) and having the same shop do the rear brakes when he gets the oil changed at 90K miles (he won't be driving home this summer). Thank you.
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