My Acura service department did an inspection of my brakes and told me that I have 2mm left on my front (Brembo) pads left. The adviser said the rotors should be replaced whenever the Brembo pads are replaced. The service adviser said it would cost $390.60 for the pads and $580.84 to replace the rotors which equals $971.44!

I don't know much about car mechanics but they've got to be kidding! What are others paying to get the front Brembos pads and rotors replaced? If I went to an independent mechanic, what should the going rate be? Any suggestions for good pad brands? Will ceramic pads reduce brake dust? What are the advantages/disadvantages of ceramic pads?

 

Man your dealer is really trying to give it to you. Take it to another dealer. My dealer charged me around $300. That was about $100 for the pads and the rest was for labor and to turn the rotors. Your dealer is full of it. As long as the rotors are not severly warped or anything like that they can be turned.

 

2G TL-S brakes are similar to 3G without Brembo's. Local dealer labor rate is $96 per hour.

I'd have to say that your dealer is not too far out of line with mine considering our 3G Brembo Rotors and Pads are more expensive parts. Not saying it's not highway robbery - it is - just that all the theives seem to be charging about the same.

I did DIY on the '02 and got Racing Brake Slotted Fronts, StopTech Slotted Rears, SS Brake Lines and ET500 Pads for ~$600/$650. Great set up; very happy.

RB makes rotors and pads for the 3G with Brembos too. Check out heeltoeauto.com and look fo rthe "Build You Own Brakes" link for your car.

mmade22 got (IIRC) StopTech Front and Rear slotted for his MT from (again, IIRC) Excelerate - he posted a thread with pics.

Also check the Sponsor section of the Black Market for Mr. HeelToe and Excelerate brake parts/kits.

 

:arrggh: 5 Minute edit.

Just re-read the original post.

Is that price for Fronts ONLY? If so, they are charging ~double what it "should" cost.

 

Yes, Bearcat, that's for the FRONT Brembo only! T

hanks for the quick replies too. I'll contact other Acura dealers and see what they charge. Otherwise, it looks like I'll be lsearching for an independent mechanic.

 

They are charging alot for those pads. They are over 100 for those brembo pads though

 

Acura of Brookfield in Wisconsin quoted $410 to replace the front Brembo brake pads and resurface the rotors.

It was $275 to replace the rear brake pads and resurface the rotors.

2004 Acura TL, 6MT.

 

That seems like a good price.

@$971.44...i would crazy laugh right out of that dealership

Ceramic pads are nice, i used those 3 different times on my other car. Less brake dust on rims and i notice they are less noisy. I usually bring my rotors to Napa/Auto parts place to have them resurfaced.

 

Also you can buy Ceramic Pads at almost any AutoPart store like Napa. Hawk Brake Pads also makes a good Ceramic.

http://www.hawkperformance.com/performance/ceramic.php

Also there is a store finder, so if you don't want to order online you can do it in person.

 

Damn, these prices are steep. You guys should learn to do your own work. I'm getting ready to do my rear brakes and it's only gonna' run me ~150 for new rotors and pads. It's not hard!

 

Just an update:

Went to my trusted local mechanic today and got my front rotors resurfaced and put on new pads for ... drum roll.... $216. No ceramic pads but I can live without them.

My mechanic's draw dropped when I told him Acura wanted almost $1,000 for new rotors and pads.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

 

what a coincidence! i was just told exactly the same thing today -- 2mm left (and i could tell i needed new brakes, so i believe them). i was quoted brake price $240, and with rotor resurfacing and labor a total of about $440 for the fronts only.

looking on the internet, it looks like you can find brembo's for around $150-180 (before tax and shipping), so that isn't too bad.

i thought it was kinda pricey at first, but i'm going to proceed since it sounds like half what you were quoted up north there... :

 

How many milege on your car? I have 17,890 miles on 07 TL-S, but delaer told me I have 2mm left on front pads.

 

i'm fairly gentle on my brakes -- i'm at about 38K miles and i could feel them getting spongy so i knew it was time.

 

I just ordered new pads (front and back) for our 2005 6mt, cost $90.00 for all the pads, ebc ultimax type.
I have not checked the pads lately, but I like having the parts on hand for when I feel like doing the work.

I would seriously doubt I need new rotors, and I dont generaly pay someone to remove metal (make thinner) my rotors, if they are real bad, I get new ones, if they are not real bad, I leave them alone.

I did not price rotors.
On many cars you can get new ones for $25.00, and the place close to me charges $20.00 to resurface them!!!!

Brett

 

I just dropped off my 05 6mt at the dealer for A1 service. They called me and said that my front and rear brakes and rotors need replacing and I have about 4000 miles left on them. They said the job would cost $1739 but if I do it now they can do it for $1533 . It makes me think that they're really overcharging if they can just knock off $200 like that, but I have no idea how much it should cost.

Anyways, I told them I didn't want to do it right now, because honestly I can't afford it . I'm thinking I could try and buy the parts myself and then let the dealer install them. Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

You may want to think about taking your car to a Honda dealer rather then the Acura dealer. All of the prices seem a bit high. Although the pads for the Brembo are expensive by themselves.

Heeltoe and Excelerate both offer pads that are great quality and are cheaper then the OEM Brembo pads. This really is an easy install and doing all 4 wheels with slotted/drilled rotors and pads it was in the 400 range! This is my next project that I need to get done.

Good luck!

 

the price is in the labor not the parts... you can buy the parts and do them yourself.. a brake job is not hard at all..

 

Not hard at all if you have the tools, the facilities, and know WTF you're doing.

Otherwise, I'd have it done by a professional. Brakes are too critical for safety to futz with.

 

Haha, so they were charging me a grand for labor, eh?

Thanks for the advice. I'll buy my own parts and take it to Honda for the install. Which rotors/pads would you guys recommend as a good alternative to the OEM brembos?

 

bought a full set of rotors (slotted and drilled) and pads off ebay for 280. paid an independent shop a C-note to do the install and bed. never been happier with the set-up.

 

Were those the OEMs?

 

nope. i wanted some pads that wouldn't dust. got them on Ebay. did a lot of research, was even gonna go with a vendor here, but went with the full set plus pads on Ebay. no dusting at all. i HATED the OEM pads with a passion for that very reason. just driving home from the car wash would result in dust recollecting again on the front wheels.

 

i just called my dealership. my cars hit 40k miles on my 05' 6mt and they are gettin squeaky in the front. just got quoted $434 with tax. im thinking thats fair going on what you guys are doing

 

We charge $480 + tax here in SoCal for brimbo front pads and resurface rotors. and American Honda does not recommend you replace the rotors every time you need front brakes unless they are damaged to the point that turning them would put them below specs. that service dept should be drop kicked! I hate greedy advisors that give us all a bad name you should call the B.A.R on them!!!!

 

$480 is too much. The dealers in the NYC area are quoting around $415. If you're a regular customer, they'll likely give you a 10% discount off of that. Acura of Manhattan did mine for $373.50 plus tax.

I'll still go to the dealer to have my brakes done as they use the lathe that resurfaces the rotors on the car. That way, the new surface is perfectly perpendicular to the wheel's hub and spindle.
.
.

 

our labor rate here is $110 an hour and we charge 2.5 hours using the on car lathe