Mechanic's Said My Calipers Are Frozen, Am I Being Charged Too Much For This Job?
04-20-11, 05:14 PM
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Mechanic's Said My Calipers Are Frozen, Am I Being Charged Too Much For This Job?
Sup guys first post on this new sn, was posting under another name...
So my 1998 GS3 caliper on the left side has been sticking bad.
The wheel does not move freely.
I can feel it when i brake, and it makes clicking noises when i turn...
I took my car to this place in brooklyn that came well recommended by a friend on crescent st. Dudes were hella cool, i mean really COOL!
They told me I should replace my caliper, and the cost to replace would be $450.
I thought to myself thats a lot of money. I was told id need to replace the brakes as well because the caliper wore them down, and not to worry about the rotors rite now.
Fast forward 3k miles later, I was refered to another shop called MINHS auto in brooklyn...
Took it there, got a oil change to feel em out. So far so good, but then I was told the caliper on the right size was completely frozen. And that i should repair both, because its done in pairs.
I was given an invoice... Here it is. The price to change only the front right side alone is over $750. Vs the other shop's 450. Not sure what to do, or what price point i should be looking at.
Im considering going back to the first shop after seeing this new estimate. I went to and get their estimate again. Those dudes were extremely cool, and they ONLY work on lexus cars. I went in and saw 5 GS 2nd gens chillin around. They know their stuff.
Is this too much? And should be asking for a rebuilt caliper, or should i should ask for the calipers to be rebuilt.
Im a broke college student, and basically im looking for a cheap alternative. Im keeping this car for about 1-2 more years so a rebuilt caliper wouldnt bother me.
Ty guys.
So my 1998 GS3 caliper on the left side has been sticking bad.
The wheel does not move freely.I can feel it when i brake, and it makes clicking noises when i turn...
I took my car to this place in brooklyn that came well recommended by a friend on crescent st. Dudes were hella cool, i mean really COOL!
They told me I should replace my caliper, and the cost to replace would be $450.
I thought to myself thats a lot of money. I was told id need to replace the brakes as well because the caliper wore them down, and not to worry about the rotors rite now.
Fast forward 3k miles later, I was refered to another shop called MINHS auto in brooklyn...
Took it there, got a oil change to feel em out. So far so good, but then I was told the caliper on the right size was completely frozen. And that i should repair both, because its done in pairs.
I was given an invoice... Here it is. The price to change only the front right side alone is over $750. Vs the other shop's 450. Not sure what to do, or what price point i should be looking at.
Im considering going back to the first shop after seeing this new estimate. I went to and get their estimate again. Those dudes were extremely cool, and they ONLY work on lexus cars. I went in and saw 5 GS 2nd gens chillin around. They know their stuff.
Is this too much? And should be asking for a rebuilt caliper, or should i should ask for the calipers to be rebuilt.
Im a broke college student, and basically im looking for a cheap alternative. Im keeping this car for about 1-2 more years so a rebuilt caliper wouldnt bother me.
Ty guys.
Last edited by Heydreezy; 04-21-11 at 05:46 PM.
04-20-11, 05:27 PM
#2
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The parts list is 2x more expensive than you can find the parts elsewhere. That re-manufactured caliper is nothing special. That item number for the pad set is just your standard OE pad. Labor... well. that seems a little high too. $80 to replace a caliper... ok... It really doesn't take that long to replace a caliper. And I guess $64 to bleed isn't too bad. Replacing them in pairs isn't unreasonable.
04-20-11, 05:47 PM
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The parts list is 2x more expensive than you can find the parts elsewhere. That re-manufactured caliper is nothing special. That item number for the pad set is just your standard OE pad. Labor... well. that seems a little high too. $80 to replace a caliper... ok... It really doesn't take that long to replace a caliper. And I guess $64 to bleed isn't too bad. Replacing them in pairs isn't unreasonable.
Also is it really necessary to perform the extra tasks. I just looked the the hoses this afternoon with a jack, my dad and i didnt notice any issues. I feel like im paying toooo much.
Im just shocked that its 700 cash FOR ONE caliper replacement. So for 2 im looking at what close to 1k probably.
Im going back to the first mechanic tomorrow, those dudes seemed really cool. Their customers seemed to be really happy, and didnt get any weird vibes from them. They appeared to be knowledgeable as well, all they work on is lexus cars.
04-20-11, 05:49 PM
#5
No matter where you go your gonna get charged labor, the bigger the overhead the more out of your pocket. Why are your lines being replaced? are they leaking? Prices are bout right.
Remember to ask for ALL old parts back to confirm they were replaced..
If you can get the calipers and pads.. i will do it for $150
Remember to ask for ALL old parts back to confirm they were replaced..
If you can get the calipers and pads.. i will do it for $150
04-20-11, 05:54 PM
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No matter where you go your gonna get charged labor, the bigger the overhead the more out of your pocket. Why are your lines being replaced? are they leaking? Prices are bout right.
Remember to ask for ALL old parts back to confirm they were replaced..
If you can get the calipers and pads.. i will do it for $150
Remember to ask for ALL old parts back to confirm they were replaced..
If you can get the calipers and pads.. i will do it for $150
I bet they can be rebuilt easily. Tomorrow my goal is to find someone who can rebuild the caliper, or replace it cheaply 5-600 maybe.
Also all lines are good, from what i see, no leaks.
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04-20-11, 08:06 PM
#11
I don't get the extra labor to change the pads. They specify the labor to change each caliper for $80 ea, which the act of replacing a caliper entails having to remove and reinsert the pads weather or not your buying new pads or reusing the old ones. So the additional $64 to install pads seems excessive.
If your brake lines rubber jackets are cracked/dry rotted, deteriorating, or leaking then yeah replace them. If you going through all that I would hope they are doing a complete fluid change not just a bleed..
Dunno man, the parts prices don't seem too awful high for buying parts at a shop, of course you can always get better deals to order online, but if your not gonna DIY and must rely on a shop then I would pick who you feel more comfortable over the cost alone..
If it were me, and a caliper was truly seized or sticking, then I would replace them in pairs. (or rebuild them, easy to do and the kits are cheap, but most shop don't rebuild as it takes a bit of bench time and they want the car in and out)
If your brake lines rubber jackets are cracked/dry rotted, deteriorating, or leaking then yeah replace them. If you going through all that I would hope they are doing a complete fluid change not just a bleed..
Dunno man, the parts prices don't seem too awful high for buying parts at a shop, of course you can always get better deals to order online, but if your not gonna DIY and must rely on a shop then I would pick who you feel more comfortable over the cost alone..
If it were me, and a caliper was truly seized or sticking, then I would replace them in pairs. (or rebuild them, easy to do and the kits are cheap, but most shop don't rebuild as it takes a bit of bench time and they want the car in and out)
04-20-11, 10:16 PM
#12
My mechanic had a good caliper laying around his shop and gave it to me. And did the labor for about $100 as a friend discount.
I mean since I know him he gave me the caliper for free, but that labor is ridiculous
BTW I just reread your post and you must be talking about my boy Rich that has his shop on crescent st. He definitely does good work and he's the one who changed mine.
They will obviously suggest you order a new caliper but they wont torch you on labor
I mean since I know him he gave me the caliper for free, but that labor is ridiculous
BTW I just reread your post and you must be talking about my boy Rich that has his shop on crescent st. He definitely does good work and he's the one who changed mine.
They will obviously suggest you order a new caliper but they wont torch you on labor
04-20-11, 10:58 PM
#13
That's about what it takes, although the double dipping of charging for the calipers to be swapped AND the brake pads wouldn't pass as legal here in CA. Over in NY? Who knows. I would request that they only charge you to r&r both calipers, even the combination of the hoses is suspect. If they want your business, they may bite.
You could also go the other route and buy a pair of loaded calipers and some braided lines from rockauto, autozone, napa, etc... then install them yourself. It is really not that difficult.
The exact times quoted for this job in Shopkey, the SnapOn shop management system, are 1.4 hours to do BOTH calipers. There is no combination for the hoses, the complete time is .9 hours for both. When I talk about combinations, each job is usually quoted separately. Where you have to remove the wheel, caliper and pads, disconnecting one end of the brake hose, to change out the caliper, it obviously will not take as long from that point to change the brake hose as if you were ONLY changing the brake hose. Same deal with the pads.
1.4 hours, book time. That is all you should pay. + or - 10%.
BTW bleeding the brakes is part of the initial labor to swap the caliper, along with the pads. If I didn't make that clear.
You could also go the other route and buy a pair of loaded calipers and some braided lines from rockauto, autozone, napa, etc... then install them yourself. It is really not that difficult.
The exact times quoted for this job in Shopkey, the SnapOn shop management system, are 1.4 hours to do BOTH calipers. There is no combination for the hoses, the complete time is .9 hours for both. When I talk about combinations, each job is usually quoted separately. Where you have to remove the wheel, caliper and pads, disconnecting one end of the brake hose, to change out the caliper, it obviously will not take as long from that point to change the brake hose as if you were ONLY changing the brake hose. Same deal with the pads.
1.4 hours, book time. That is all you should pay. + or - 10%.
BTW bleeding the brakes is part of the initial labor to swap the caliper, along with the pads. If I didn't make that clear.
04-21-11, 01:28 AM
#14
Like others have said it seems like there is a like of redundancy in charges. You can't replace a caliper without bleeding the brake system....when you replace a caliper you have to at least install new pads. To replace a caliper you are talking about 5 lug nuts and two bolts. You have to compress the pistons also but it just seems really high on the labor. Also, if the caliper was stuck and "riding" the rotor there is a very very good chance that the rotor is warped. The rotors at the absolute minimum should be turned if not replaced.
04-21-11, 05:16 AM
#15
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$750 is way too much , all u need is a 17mm wrench to remove the 2 caliper bolts and comes right off, u can upgrade to ls400 brakes for around $450 or less. Just my 2 cent .