Mechanic's Said My Calipers Are Frozen, Am I Being Charged Too Much For This Job?
#17
IIRC, when I had this happen to me 2 years ago, the shop I took it to replaced both front calipers, rotors, pads, and brake lines for around $1000-1100. Just throwing the info out there.
#18
The prices seem to be a full MSRP price. So I wouldn't label it a complete "rip off" and getting charged too much. as there aren't too many magic bean items added, perhaps just the brakepad charge. But you definitely are paying full price-probably close to the same as at a Lexus dealer without the dealer experience.
I suppose it also depends what's the shop hourly rate, is it $150/hr like the dealership or $80/hr.
You can probably (easily find another place that will save you an hour of labor or so off that price, and definitely on the parts if you bring your own ($84 for pads? lol), so a couple hundred in your pocket.
This isn't a complex job, any full service, or even just chassis shop can do it.
I suppose it also depends what's the shop hourly rate, is it $150/hr like the dealership or $80/hr.
You can probably (easily find another place that will save you an hour of labor or so off that price, and definitely on the parts if you bring your own ($84 for pads? lol), so a couple hundred in your pocket.
This isn't a complex job, any full service, or even just chassis shop can do it.
Last edited by raytseng; 04-21-11 at 12:02 PM.
#19
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Try Rockauto.com -- buy the two front calipers; prob less than $200 total when your core is returned to them. Have your guy re-install the calipers, with the new brake pads and then bleed your lines. Should not be more than another $200 in labor.
Why is he purchasing new hoses? For $80.00 you can get stoptech stainless steel lines; that is if your lines are truly bad.
Why is he purchasing new hoses? For $80.00 you can get stoptech stainless steel lines; that is if your lines are truly bad.
#20
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This happened to one of my front calipers on a 2000 gs4. The metal on the inside bore of the caliper that houses the main pin gets rough and binds on the pin. My mechanic just banged the pin out and smoothed the rough surface of the hole out with a gun cleaning rod/ brass brush.
But from the way it sounds the OP either doesn't have tools, a place to work, or the urge to DIY. Something along those lines. Because yeah, brake jobs are about the easiest/cheapest maintenance one can DIY..
And there are options galore, rebuild the calipers yourself for dirt cheap, get remans fairly cheap, braided hoses, LS400 or supra brakes rotors/calipers, great pads like EBC/Hawk/Stoptech for under the $84 for whatever pad they quoted, etc... All those options are well under the almost $800 he is quoted...
#21
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Just buy the front caliper repair kit...its pretty cheap...no more than $50...and DIY.
I rebuilt my calipers (LS400) myself before installation....I recommend everyone to do this.
In fact, do a search...there should be some service manual instructions to rebuild calipers.
Pete
I rebuilt my calipers (LS400) myself before installation....I recommend everyone to do this.
In fact, do a search...there should be some service manual instructions to rebuild calipers.
Pete
#22
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I went to this mechanic named rich on Atlantic and Crescent in brooklyn... Real cool dude, i met him last year, but wasnt able to get the work done due to me leaving the city for a min.
When i was there he also pointed out i needed struts, which is true. The cars steering was terrible, pulling to one side, rumbling sound over bumpy roads.
For 620 i got struts, a caliper and the car is running brand new rite now. No noises nada. Riding as clean as the day i bought it with less than 80 miles.
I left the old caliper, **** it. Good work was done so its cool.
Now that my caliper is free i shud see my mpg's go back up to norm.
Bottom line BK DUDES STAY AWAY FROM MINHS auto...
Go to rich on crescent and atlantic.
When i was there he also pointed out i needed struts, which is true. The cars steering was terrible, pulling to one side, rumbling sound over bumpy roads.
For 620 i got struts, a caliper and the car is running brand new rite now. No noises nada. Riding as clean as the day i bought it with less than 80 miles.
I left the old caliper, **** it. Good work was done so its cool.
Now that my caliper is free i shud see my mpg's go back up to norm.
Bottom line BK DUDES STAY AWAY FROM MINHS auto...
Go to rich on crescent and atlantic.
Last edited by Heydreezy; 04-21-11 at 05:27 PM.
#23
Good point, the slide pins could be sticking not the pistons, since it's a single sided caliper. As the slide pins are prone to surface rust.
But from the way it sounds the OP either doesn't have tools, a place to work, or the urge to DIY. Something along those lines. Because yeah, brake jobs are about the easiest/cheapest maintenance one can DIY..
And there are options galore, rebuild the calipers yourself for dirt cheap, get remans fairly cheap, braided hoses, LS400 or supra brakes rotors/calipers, great pads like EBC/Hawk/Stoptech for under the $84 for whatever pad they quoted, etc... All those options are well under the almost $800 he is quoted...
But from the way it sounds the OP either doesn't have tools, a place to work, or the urge to DIY. Something along those lines. Because yeah, brake jobs are about the easiest/cheapest maintenance one can DIY..
And there are options galore, rebuild the calipers yourself for dirt cheap, get remans fairly cheap, braided hoses, LS400 or supra brakes rotors/calipers, great pads like EBC/Hawk/Stoptech for under the $84 for whatever pad they quoted, etc... All those options are well under the almost $800 he is quoted...
#24
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There is probally a DIY pad change tutorial on the site here somewhere which would detail out removing the pins.
Yeah brake cleaner, and probally some 320 sandpaper if there is surface rust. Then apply some brake grease and reinstall..
#26
What is difference with supra brakes and ls400 brakes and what years fit our car are the rotors bigger also? And if u do this upgrade which cars stainless steel brake hose should be used? Are there performance diffedrences? Any need for changing out master cylinder or anything?
#29
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What is difference with supra brakes and ls400 brakes and what years fit our car are the rotors bigger also? And if u do this upgrade which cars stainless steel brake hose should be used? Are there performance diffedrences? Any need for changing out master cylinder or anything?
The supra's are a direct bolt on, the LS400's are bulkier and require RCA's and/or grinding of the spindle. Just search it up, there's DIY's for both right there for the reading.
#30
99 thanks for the explination :-) that was very good exactly what I was looking for.. Aluminum ones must be way lighter.. but I wouldn't want to mess with all that. If I have the 16" std 7spoke wheels that are on the 2001 style would that rim be large enough to utilzie the Supra brakes? I'm surprised all these guys are telling this guy to do LS400 upgrade when it requires all these modes and RCA's... it wouldn't just be calipers and rotors then..
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