PCA Forums

went out yesterday and got a new set of General Grabber HTS Tires for my car. that was not to bad for $488 less a $50 mail in rebate .
but what sucked was i also found out it was brake time . they gave me a price of $620.03 plus to do the brake job. I said thanks but no thanks .(just look over there estimate and it didn't list the cost of pads. it list all the rotors,calipers ,labor to do the job but not the brake pads) {i know that was a error they would of found before i drove away if i had them do the job} I know from the physical inspection they had me do it is time. also i have been feeling a caliber acting like it locking up every now and then.
so i did take there advice and went to my local auto parts shop and got what they said was needed . but I'm taking it a step farther I'm also got replacement rear brake shoes. I also bought Wagner pads and Bendix shoes.
what your thoughts buying name brand shoes and pad worth the extra costs.
learn a while back not to buy the really hard pads like those that are called things like cop stopper or super stoppers. last time i did the pads kill the rotors in know time . the pad material was to hard. anyway here is a list of what i bought today.
1qt brake fluid $4.95
1 set of Wagner Thermo Quiet -brake pads with a $20 rebate (mail in) $60.92
2 new rotors $32.98 ea.
2 rebuilt wheel calipers $54.70 EA plus core depot of $51.00 ea
1 set of bendix rear brake shoes $36.68
1 bottle of 90w gear lube $4.95 (for my boat motor)
tax - 6 % = $23.05
total before returning caliber cores ($407.21)
after core returned ($305.21 )
total time to do the job
1 hr each way to friends shop .
$15 - $20 to buy him lunch
1-2 hours car on the rack.
the car will have front and rear brakes replaced today or tomorrow
Grand Total should be right around $350.00
also just looked over there bill it was for only replacing one rotor not both of them .
so if i don't use i be saving a extra $35.00
thats some really good money the shop was going to make for 2 hours of labor time !
the car has just over 86,000 miles on it and a 2002 saturn vue. that I have overload for a good 3000 miles of driving on this last set of brakes.

If it had been a VW dealer they would have quoted you $850.00.

I paid $4.95 for an O-ring for a coolant fitting at my local VW stealership last fall. No aftermarket equivalent available.

I've learned a valuble lesson in the last 10 years. DO NOT BUY the low end pads (NIX THAT, I MEANT ROTORS). They are as soft as putty no matter what pads you use with them & will wear very quickly & likely warp within 3 years. This is my experience with all 3 of my cars. For the pads, semi-metalic are fine for any normal person. Cheapies leave dust everywhere & as you noticed, the high end ones have special issues.

The trick is not to buy "white box parts". Those are the cheapest and usually from China. I always ask for parts made in USA first or Canada, then last Mexico.

Good luck with that. Eighty percent of the rotors sold as aftermarket replacements are sourced in China.