npolite

All I can say is I'm shocked.

I went in this morning to my local Acura dealership for my annual state and emission inspection. I checked everything the week before to make sure everything was at least minimum.

So their advisor comes over and says the rear pads are at minimum (I'll get to this at the end) and that the rotors are below the limit for resurfacing. Total cost $500 for new rotors and pads. The front ones were around half way worn out. The rotors are warped from the deposits which I know about. So they wanted to replace them as well as the rotors for $550. Also they try to push very hard their engine cleaning for $100.

All in all, the bottom line I asked them is do I pass inspection? He said yes. The front ones while have problems they do not need to be done now.

The rear ones, I will need to check the inner pad this afternoon or tomorrow. I went out in their recommendation and bought the new pad and rotors. Checking the pads, I think they are around 40% still good.

I understand that people need to make a living but WTF. I would expect that they just tell you this and say you have around another year before you need to take action on the front and a few more months on the rear.

I had put the Hawks and Brembos on the front but took them off because I didn't have enough time to break them in. That's going to be the project for tomorrow.

npolite

Update: The inner rear pads were a bit lower. Replaced rear rotors and pads this afternoon.

V-dub-R

If you don't mind me asking, why do you go to Acura for your inspection? you should know you're gonna get fukd.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

tech says stuff about your car, SA's job to sell you the work to be done. your SA makes it sound like it's imperative that the brakes be done NOW.

i have a pretty good rapport with my dealer, and while they tell me about the condition of the brakes and other wear items, they NEVER push the premature maintenance items on me. they tell me, your brakes are down about 40%, nothing major, but just so you're aware, you'll need new pads in the near future. they even go as far as showing me things on the car that i need to be aware of, but not critical. my PS pump is a little weepy, but nothing crazy. they showed me what was going on in the shop with the hood up. the tech gives me his 2 cents, my SA gives me a price and they both tell me what will happen should the part completely fail. that's it. no hard sells. they let me dictate how i want to proceed with said items.

not all dealers are out to get you.

the upside, you have resolved your pricey brake job yourself, despite your dealer trying to pry more money out of you.

TexasHonda

I suspect both mechanic and SA get a cut of all sales. Talk about conflict of interest!

That's why I do everything I can do myself.

good luck

npolite

Well quite frankly I have had issues in the past with many shops over torqueing the bolts on my car. I try to stick to a dealer even for the inspection and this is the only place I have felt comfortable with for the minor things.

I have to drive a good distance even though there is a local Acura dealership by my area. I have heard too many problems with the local one though both are owned by the same owner.

I do believe that anything under $100 and they dealer isn't paying for their workers. That's why they try to sell you I'm guessing at least $250 on any visit.

I think the SA knew I wasn't going to get anything done that's why they passed my inspection. The inner pads were a bit more worn but not to the point they would hit the wear indicator. I guess they figure if I have to bring it back, someone will lose another hour inspecting it again and not get paid for it. That's probably why they just pass you if you can't cause harm until days later.

And from their write-up on the receipt, the rear rotors would be below specs IF they were machined. They were fine for use but I replaced them. I don't know if they would fail me next year if they were below specs.

dmassott

curious as to which dealer you use?

miner

It is good that you have the mechanical aptitude to be able to do the rotor/brake work yourself. In my earlier years I would tackle a job like that bit not these days.

nothome17

I kind of had a similar experience. Like 2 years ago they told me that my clutch needed to be replaced ASAP but I told them that I'll do it some other time. From that day on, clutch replacement stays on the paper work whenever I had a oil change done.

Currently, clutch still grabs strong. Well i'm sure the clutch probably needs to be replaced now since I've had the car for almost 9 years now. I do drive in San Francisco once in awhile and bay area traffic is crazy.

npolite

Yeah I guess it is different for each person. I support my parents since my dad had a stroke when I was 9 years old and my mom has a medical condition in which she can't over exert herself so I figure if this is something I can do I'd rather help my parents with my savings over giving it to a greedy dealer, especially one that pushes unneeded services.

They should be ashamed for the people that know nothing about cars. But greed has no conscious.

Aman

Wait... So they want more than a thousand dollars to do brakes!?!? That's the most insane quote I've ever heard.

nj2pa2nc

the acura dealer I now use the majority of the time only recommends service. Most of the time it is things that are not necessary. Have not fallen for their overpriced add-on service. I miss my regular dealer in Pa. They never tried to sell me these ridiculous things.

nothome17

Guess for them not selling enough cars they have to make it up some how, some way. Like un-needed recommended services, valve adjustment, etc..

Aman

Valve adjustment is actually in the owner's manual, is it not? Around 110k miles.

npolite

Well this was for rotors and pads. I think the List price for the rotors are 100-110 a piece so $400 for the rotors, $120 for the pads plus the labor.

d1sturb3d119

iTrader: (1)

Just buy aftermarket and work on it yourself or find a different shop. Some dealerships can be really bad like this one. Ridiculous.

npolite

I guess you didn't read all of the post . I did this myself already, just pointing out how some people would have been ripped off.

d1sturb3d119

iTrader: (1)

Oh my bad

npolite

No worries