EPS CL

Welp, here's the story.

A while back I took my car to the brake place to complain that my brakes were no good. They told me that my front rotors were toast, my rears needed resurfacing, I needed new pads, and a caliper rebuild in the front. I thought they were full of shit on the calipers, so I had them do the rest.

After a few months of driving it, same symptoms occurred (shaking above 60, etc.) Took it to them and they told me it was because the calipers were binding. I said fine and had them rebuild the calipers and resurface the rotors, replace the pads (warranteed) and that was that...until now.

I had a slight accident where I lost control of my car and hit a curb pretty hard. As a result, I know for a fact that I bent three wheels. I replaced all four wheels and tires and got new springs and shocks and several alignments and wheel balancings.

NOW the main issue. I took my car this past weekend because of vibration when braking and general vibration above 60. They told me that my rear brakes were toast and that THAT was the reason for my fronts suffering. Here was their conclusion:

Front Rotors: Fine
Rear Rotors: Need Replacement
Rear Calipers: Need Rebuild
New Driver Side Front Axle Needs Replacement

He quoted me a total of 830 bucks for the entire job. The rear brakes alone were over 400 and the axle was 250 or so installed. Then general shop bullshit increasing the total.

Now I'm left at a crossroads. The car is a nice car, but isn't worth that much...especially compared to the cost of redoing the brakes. I was thinking that I could do the following MYSELF:

Leave the front rotors alone
Replace the rear rotors with ones from the group buy
Buy a new driver side front axle from Autozone for like 80 bucks
Do most labor myself (except the axle)
Be happy

Does anyone have any input on this? Should I also get new matching front rotors? Also, how much effort is it to replace a front axle (how much labor am I looking at)?

Thanks!

sixfifty

oddessy swap FTW!

Nakamichi

Does your your car only vibrate or does the steering wheel vibrate when you brake as well?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

That's actually not a bad deal, this is coming from someone who spent at least a grand on my brakes on the CL the last 2 brake jobs that I did. But if you think you can do a lot of the labor yourself, do it.

STL+3.0CL

For what you described $830 seems like a decent quote!

SwervinCL

Its all easy to do yourself if your at least a little mechanically inclined.

EPS CL

I'm thinking I can just get some brakes off of the group buy and do them myself, along with the driver's side front axle. I've heard its a bitch to do. Any ideas?

EPS CL

The car vibrates above 60 without braking due to the incident I had with my car. I knew that I must have bent or busted something.

The car also vibrates when braking because the brakes are fubar.

starboy2nv

iTrader: (2)

the best advice... if you cant do it or you feel like its a task that you cant handle...get your own parts...this way, the mechanic wont rape you with that...and let them install it for you...

FULLRACE

you guys out of your fukcing minds ? brakes should cost no more than 300-400 tops. Go on ebay get some real Brembos front and rear, Greenstuff pads and do it yourself.

starboy2nv

iTrader: (2)

and what about his calipers? smarty..

EPS CL

Would the rear calipers need a rebuild anyways?

Nakamichi

The axels aren't that bad. No more than 2 hours depending on your skill level. If you feel comfrontable removing rotors, calibers and and arm it's not too much more left. Just bring out the trusty HELMs manual. Just remember to pick up tranny fluid before doing this.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

I blew out both of mine on seperate occasions loosing my whole brake system, and had em both replaced with new ones, you may wanna get em rebuilt if the mechanic says there's something potentially wrong with them.

ShavedH22CL

Are you guys serious. If you go to auto zone the calipers are going to be like 50-60 a piece. so we will say 200 for fronts and rears. then you can get rotors for 30 bucks apiece 120 and pads are cheap as hell in total you should spend 400 bucks and do it ur self and save all the labor charge.

milkman

ShavedH22cl is absolutely correct. The job that you discribe should take no more than one Saturday, and if your lazy Saturday and Sunday morning. Ohh yea. I dont think whats bent is your axle. Its probably your control arms. If your axles were bent when you hit the curb you would really be Sh!t out of luck. The axles have a shear point that would have snapped so your transmission would not be destroyed. So before your go to autozone and shell out like $60 bucks you should jack your car look at your axle boots and see if they're torn. Then look at the shaft of the axle and see if its bent bent. If not look at the steering control rods on the driver or passenger side. Pay special attention to the side that took the hit from the curb. My guess is one of those puppies is going to be a litte worse for wear. I know the dealer and auto shops have to make money but $800 dollars. Let grandma and none mechanically inclined women pay for their services. Best of luck.

A friend will help you move... A real friend will help you move a dead body. Trade mark Milkman