Journal FortKnox's Journal: Ask the dot: Any gearheads? 15
I have an 01 Pontiac Grand Am (V6). Here's whats wrong:
Left front caliper is locked, it burned the rotor.
Intake Gasket is leaking pretty badly.
I need 4 new tires.
His quote? $2200
I call bullshit. A complete replacement of the front brakes is over $700? I think $300 is a bit much!
The intake gasket is a bit over $800. That I can see...
So that makes new tires + balancing over $400.
I may be a geek that doesn't know much about tires, but I know when I'm being taken for a ride....
Anyone know of more reasonable prices? I'm tempted to go to the dealer, cause if I'm paying anywhere close to that, I want it done right...
Left front caliper is locked, it burned the rotor.
Intake Gasket is leaking pretty badly.
I need 4 new tires.
His quote? $2200
I call bullshit. A complete replacement of the front brakes is over $700? I think $300 is a bit much!
The intake gasket is a bit over $800. That I can see...
So that makes new tires + balancing over $400.
I may be a geek that doesn't know much about tires, but I know when I'm being taken for a ride....
Anyone know of more reasonable prices? I'm tempted to go to the dealer, cause if I'm paying anywhere close to that, I want it done right...
Caliper and rotor (Score:2)
Had a caliper get stuck on a 1984 Mercury Lynx (Ford Escort) several years ago. My father and I replaced the caliper, brake pads and the damaged rotor for about $130, and it took us about an hour. This was approximately 15 years ago. Taking that into consideration, I would estimate that doing the same today would be about double for the parts and would cost maybe $100 for the labor (assuming $65/hr for 90 minutes), for somewhere around $350 as a reasonable amount to pay for just the rotor and caliper job. D
Go for the breakdown (Score:2)
The brakes I could see being expensive - he's also having to replace that caliper, right? As for tires, do you really need them right now, and what kind of tires do you need? You could go as low as $300 or so if you catch a sale at one of the tire stores, or as high as the sky. That all depends on what kind of driving you do
Re: (Score:2)
Rebuilt is OK for non-safety-critical parts, but I don't know that I'd trust a rebuilt caliper.
I've never had to replace a caliper and therefore don't know how much they run, but new rotors for a FWD GM vehicle should be dirt-cheap (they were ~$20 each for an '83 Celebrity I used to own) and pads are fairly inexpensive as well (maybe $20-$30 for two wheels). Using $100 as a WAG for the cali
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What size tires? (Score:2)
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I put 17inch low profile speed rated directional tires on my old Eclipse. Retail price $1200 for a set of 4. (My uncle owned a tire store, I got them for his cost, $700.) They were great tires. Really gripped the road. I could take sharp curves at 90MPH without skidding or slipping.
FK, get SEVERAL quotes from different shops, including the dealership. Read reviews online and call the BBB. Regardless of price, these people are working on something you use to transport yourself and family. You do N
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Doesn't sound too out of the ballpark (Score:2)
My two cents (Score:1)
Who the hell knows if you are being ripped on tires? What make, model, size of tires? $400 is okay for tires a little better than stock if the size is average (which on a Grand Am, they likely are:)
SJ might be right about the rotor/caliper replacement. Again, it depends. Does the wheel spin? If so, you are being screwed. Replacing a caliper and a rotor is a pretty quick job. The real sticky situation is parts. The Grand Am you refer to is pretty common,
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The tires, don't seem to bad... I must have worded it wrong.
The gasket? Sounds reasonable. They have to take like 2/3s of the engine off to get to it.
The brakes were my issue. He wants to replace both pads, and rotors, and 1 caliper... then clean and readjust the back drums... Just seemed excessive to me, but he is the master mechanic, and I've trusted him in the past.... I just don't have $2200 to drop...
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sounds about right. (Score:1)
I just had the front brakes replaced on my wifes van, shoes and rotors, for $145 at the dealer, but they give us good rates on labor as repeat customers.
I got a quoted for 450 to do the same think at another shop. but I think they are crooks.
4 tires for the Van were $650 installed and they were mid-range.
The when I get new tires on my Jag it will be about 950 - 1200. I have to get Z Rated tires.
Brakes will be 600 all around because I need rotors. The mechanic that I
Things NOT to save money on (Score:2)
Understand that a good set of tires and breaks are your main line of defense in avoiding accidents so don't cheap out on them.
Beyond that, check what the favorite repair place is at your office, maybe get a competitive quote.
Sounds like the real issue (as highlighted by other posters) is trust. Do you trust the mechanic or not?
Well? (Score:1)
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Wife called and bitched about how we came in for brakes the weekend before and they said there was nothing wrong. Plus I had a break service coupon. Cost just a touch over $2k for everything, including tax and all that.
Drives great, but, best of all, the drivers side window, which didn't work before, started working. I figured to fix it, it'd cost over $600 for replacement parts to the motor in the door, but I'm guessing something just went loose in the engine, and they fixed it when th