Book Rates vs Reality

[Andrew1972]

My plan moving forward is replace tires in Jan and in February at state inspection time slip the "free" ($45) one at dealer of purchase and pay my trusty independent who will tell me about brakes and not force a $680 job.

I was mostly just curious on the way jobs are billed which Critic answered. If brakes need work my Indy($75/hr) albeit Subaru specialist will likely do work for between $300-$400 for rotors/pads. He generally machines them though.

I can do brakes with help but my neighbor with lift/tools and radiant heated garage(!) floor slab is away for winter.

 

[JustinH]

I would have the indy machine the rotors and put good pads on there. Should be $150 or so.

I wouldn't want to work on a car in New England winter at all.

Put tires on the car instantly I wouldn't wait if they are at 2/32nds.

 

[dareo]

The average professional could do front pads and new rotors in less than hour. I can't see it being more than 2 book hours, likely less. The $685 must have some very healthy margins. Dealer making bank on the parts and the labor side. Person doing them probably makes $50-70 on the job.

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by JTK
What's a good set of aftermarket pads and rotors cost for this Tiguan.

I couldn't imagine paying ~$700/axle for a brake job but I suppose that will be the new norm at some point.

I paid about $585-650 for all new rotors and pads, installed, at my local mazda dealer on my cx5 (2015 model) last year. No way I'd pay what you're talking about for a vehicle with similar braking system.

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by geeman789
Dealership speak ... those brake pads are worn 90 % , and the rotors have some issues. You should replace them very soon. If the brakes fail, you could DIE.

Reality ... the brake pads are 50 % worn, the rotors don't look new anymore, and you should check them again in a year ...


My dealer accurately measures each pad and notes it in the tech sheet. Yes, I've double checked them. Same for tires. Yes, it's always within what I consider acceptable error of 1mm or 1/32 of what I get measuring them. I once took their own tread depth tool and measured it myself in the service return lane. Bang on what was on the tech sheet. You need to get a better dealer.

 

[SeaJay]

I believe my indy charges me only 1 hour of labor for new pads and rotors. I'm sure that he is making a few dollars on an upcharge for the parts (these are not high end parts, but part he feels comfortable having me drive around in), but the total cost is always $300 and change for one axle. I am happy with that price, the service and I have no issues that he is making money on both ends. If I needed brake jobs every couple of months it might be an issue, but even in severe stop and go commuting I get a good 40K miles between jobs.

In the total cost of owning an auto over its life, $300 brake jobs vs. the cost of buying the parts and installing them myself is not much more than a rounding error.

 

[Andrew1972]

Follow up.

Skipped the "free" dealer annual NH state inspection and paid my mechanic $45 who threw the sticker as pass and stated brakes have about 15k ish left guessing. He guessed $400 without looking up parts to replace pads and machine the rotors which the dealer did [censored] correctly as rough.

A lot better then a dealer free inspection state inspection + $800 front brake job.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Power Stop coated rotors and Wagner Thermoquiet pads for your 2018 Tiguan are under $150 on Rock Auto

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by madRiver
Follow up.

Skipped the "free" dealer annual NH state inspection and paid my mechanic $45 who threw the sticker as pass and stated brakes have about 15k ish left guessing. He guessed $400 without looking up parts to replace pads and machine the rotors which the dealer did [censored] correctly as rough.

A lot better then a dealer free inspection state inspection + $800 front brake job.

For one axle, $400 is very high for new pads and resurfacing rotors, especially at an independent. I would expect a price between $250-$350. Also, the reason you are able to resurface the rotors on a VW is because they have changed the type of friction material used. Around 5 years ago, many of the lower-end Euro cars are now using friction materials that are more similar to the ones found on Asian and Domestic vehicles. Rotor wear is less than before and rotors can sometimes be reused. I recently did a 2014 X5 at 80K where the rotors had almost no wear...similar to what you normally see on a Toyota after the same amount of mileage. I have seen similar scenarios on A6 Golfs/Jettas and B7 Passats.

Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Power Stop coated rotors and Wagner Thermoquiet pads for your 2018 Tiguan are under $150 on Rock Auto

Wagner Thermoquiet on a Euro car, really?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted by The Critic

Wagner Thermoquiet on a Euro car, really?

They are quality pads

Rock Auto also carries Bendix CFC and Raybestos EHT

Unfortunately, Akebono doesn't seem to make any pads for the 2018 Tiguan

Outside of Rock Auto, I was able to find EBC Ultimax/Blackstuff pads for $70 and Redstuff for $80. The Redstuff is ceramic, but I'd be afraid to use them in case they don't work well when cold (many high-performance pads don't work well cold, and some don't work at all when cold!). However, I have used the Ultimax pads with no problem, and they were great.

 

[DGXR]

Originally Posted by philipp10
That's crazy. I started driving in the late 70's and didn't replace a rotor until about 5 years ago. I would argue people are a but too quick to change rotors. I just accept a bit of pulse I suppose.

You probably learned good driving technique, such as taking your foot off the gas BEFORE you reach the intersection. This and other smart driving practices will reduce wear and tear on brakes and other parts of the car. Many people nowadays don't notice the light is red until it's right in their face as they arrive at the intersection. So their brakes wear out faster.

 

[Harrington]

I just had front and rear brakes and rotors put on my girlfriend's 2012 Fiat 500 and the bill was around $600. I thought that was a little high.

 

[Hall]

Brakes and rotors all around for $600 ? That's not a bad price at all.

 

[CaptainHazelwood]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Meh. I'd wait until the sensors pop off.


Many cars only have only one wear sensor per caliper. I've seen the opposite pad worn down to metal plate and ruin the rotor before the light came on.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by philipp10
In what world are rotors in need of replacement on a 2018 car? Seems crazy.

All the time.

Maybe it is the area, but >75% of the front brake jobs I do will need new rotors. Either new rotors or resurface the old ones using an on-car lathe, but new is easier.

Almost all of the late-model cars seem to have brake pulsation issues, at least the makes that I work on. Starting to see the issue on Euro cars as well since they are switching away from the semi-metallic pads.


True. Car makers look everywhere to save weight and mass. Brake rotors are not exempt from cost/weight savings and I also see rotors needing replaced more often then, say, 10 years ago. Rotors are almost now a wear item and no longer able to resurface due to already being as thin as possible. Add the costs of new rotors being rather cheap and it makes no sense to resurface anymore.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by CaptainHazelwood
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Meh. I'd wait until the sensors pop off.


Many cars only have only one wear sensor per caliper. I've seen the opposite pad worn down to metal plate and ruin the rotor before the light came on.


Great point, but how often have you seen that and wouldn't the operator notice the horrible noise/performance?

 

[CaptainHazelwood]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by CaptainHazelwood
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Meh. I'd wait until the sensors pop off.


Many cars only have only one wear sensor per caliper. I've seen the opposite pad worn down to metal plate and ruin the rotor before the light came on.


Great point, but how often have you seen that and wouldn't the operator notice the horrible noise/performance?

On a few occasions I've seen asymmetrical pad wear that could have resulted in the same thing if not caught early enough, but only twice was it so bad it would prevented the owners from having to replace rotors, both on VW vehicles.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted by CaptainHazelwood
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Meh. I'd wait until the sensors pop off.


Many cars only have only one wear sensor per caliper. I've seen the opposite pad worn down to metal plate and ruin the rotor before the light came on.


Great point, but how often have you seen that and wouldn't the operator notice the horrible noise/performance?

Several times. You would be surprised how people will drive with brake noise until there are no pads left.

 

[Andrew1972]

Followup to next oil change (NO BRAKE WORK SINCE) same VW dealer with a simple oil change done today along with recall.

Service rep calls mr car all done $85 and everything looks great as it passed multi-point inspection check with all green checks

I was expecting them to state you need brakes since 10k had passed and they had asked last time as they were concerning.

I stayed mum but 10k miles ago they were asking me to replace brakes/rotors on rear end for $860!!!?

 

[supton]

Originally Posted by madRiver
Followup to next oil change (NO BRAKE WORK SINCE) same VW dealer with a simple oil change done today along with recall.

Service rep calls mr car all done $85 and everything looks great as it passed multi-point inspection check with all green checks

I was expecting them to state you need brakes since 10k had passed and they had asked last time as they were concerning.

I stayed mum but 10k miles ago they were asking me to replace brakes/rotors on rear end for $860!!!?

Maybe they needed to clear out you of the way, had a higher priced repair coming in? Maybe they figured you weren't going to have them do the job, ever?

Maybe the pads grew some lining and healed on their own...