Got the airbag recall done today and they said I needed front pads only, no rorors
. Claim the price is due to Brembo pads. Can't seem to find anything that shows Brembo pads for my RL BUT, $600 seems excessive...by a LOT.
Any guidance appreciated

 

dealers will ask for 600-900 brake changes.
thats the norm.


the parts cost about $100.

 

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard

 

The Nissan dealership tried asking the same for my friends Altima.

I ended up changing the pads for way less.


Its a skill the dealer is betting you don't have. And since it's brakes, the thing that stops your Car, they make it seem as if it's super important and can charge as much as they want

 

They don't call them stealerships for fun.

Out to steal your monies

 

OP, do yourself a favor- buy some simple automotive tools, find the service manual online for your car (I suggest using the search bar here on AZ), read the section on pad replacement and go to town on your car!

it is a very easy job to do. Even for a rookie, I wouldn't put it past "medium" in terms of difficulty. You'll learn a bunch and appreciate your car just that much more.

parts should be like $80. If you have any issues, AZ is here to help.

 

Say what you will but, I have a solid history of screwing up all things automotive, severed a tendon in my wrist changing wifes oil, bending ALL the valve stems on a Fiat coupe after changing the thermostat. I've become fairly adept at home projects, just not cars!
I've searched P/N 45022-SJA-050 which is the Acura OEM($165) but, nothing specifically Brembo and several sites suggest the suppliers may vary. I can't seem to find anything that offers Brembo branded, what's up with that?

 

They aren't Brembo. They are Advics. Go to your local parts store and buy some ceramic, performance pads. Take those to a reputable brake shop and ask them to install.

 

Yeah, dealer said the use Brembo. I found Brembos site and they don't list brake pads for the RL at all

 

It's not the first time nor the last. Dealers commonly have no clue what they are talking about on the RL. The calipers and pads are Advics. There is no disputing it.

 

Oh well, my search has turned up another local dealer using OEM, $200! Given that prices for just OEM pads is $160-170, seems like a bargain

 

this should cost 200 tops indeed. plenty of shops will change ur brake-pads. easy and warranties even allow u to do it anywhere if im not mistaken.

 

$600 for ???Brembos vs $200 for OEM from an Acura dealer, no brainer. I liked the sales staff at the first back when we leased the TL but, this service dept is ridiculous, won't be going back there and sorry I let them do the airbag. 3Xs the amount and I believe they plain lied about Brembo.

 

Where are you located? If in Northern Virginia I'd be more than happy to do a quick wrench session to show you how to do this, Ive done it multiple times for friends when I saw the bills they were presented just to change pads. When they saw how easy it is with basic tools they were more pissed off the shop could charge so much.

 

Akebono pads are $40 on Amazon for the fronts, you decide if the savings are worth it to you. I can do the fronts in an hour or less and that includes jacking up the front and taking the wheels off. Rears cost the same and are just as easy to do, watch you tube videos and you'll see how easy it is to do, there is an rl video iirc.

 

I deeply appreciate your kind offer, I'm in NY though. Just play it forward to someone local. I'm comfortable with $200 for the job and won't have to worry I botched the job since it's my wifes DD.

 

Wait. Hold on. Slow your roll. There is no such thing as Brembo brake pads for the RL. Just delete that from your memory. That service advisor or technician doesn't know what they are talking about. $600 for brake pads is insane. That should not even be an option.

You say $160 for OEM. Does that include labor, or is that just parts? If it's the whole job, that's decent, but OEM pads are worse than aftermarket ceramics no matter how you slice it. Double check because I bet that is $160 for just the pads. You can buy great pads for $50-70 and have them installed for a similar price. It's your money. Do whatever you want, but if you get a brake job or parts through the dealer, you will be ripped off.

Also, please do a search. There is already a brake thread literally right under this one. We don't need two threads on the same topic with the same misinformation.

 

I appreciate the advice! My apologies on this additional brake thread, I wasn't hearing grinding or any noise so I didn't check that thread until you pointed it out.
Now, having read it, I'm more confused than ever on which pads to get and have no idea if I need calipers or any other attendant parts. I did ask the $600 dealer if that included rotors(thinking MAYBE that's why the price was sky-high) but, he said rotors were fine and weren't included in that price.

 

You should never need new calipers. You may benefit from a rebuild, but I would just start with pads. What are you confused about? Brake pads wear down and have to be replaced. Rotors do not have to be replaced or lathed with a pad change regardless of what they try to sell you. Rotors only need replacing when they have become too thin for the calipers/pads to properly grip.

Dont to over think this. You need new brake pads. You can pay for decent OEM ones, or you can buy aftermarket. Both will stop the car. Changing the pads will be the same procedure as just about any other car. You don't need a dealer to do it.

 

My confusion is brand/type, ceramic, carbon, NAPA, OEM? I checked NAPAs online site but, their configurator shows nothing for the Adaptive One. Using the OEM P/N 45022-SJA-050 only yields the Acura brand

 

IMO, buy ceramic. Brand doesn't matter so much.

Adaptive one part number for RL is ADO AD7996: https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p...996_0230136810

Search for 'Brake Pads/Shoes' - 2006 Acura RL | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Brake Pads for Cars, Trucks & SUVs

 

Thanks! I've found the Adaptive One set for $44 and will likely go with them. However, despite being told by the $600 dealer the rotors were OK, I went to a shop yesterday to get a price if I supplied the pads and they said I need rotors, too? It has almost 66K miles and I don't believe the rotors have ever been changed before.
Now I'm wondering how much additional labor to do brakes AND rotors?

 

Not sure if 2012 is much different but its 2 bolts holding the caliper that require removal to get to the rotor and maybe a set screw I think. Thats the way it is on the 2007 anyway.

I'd ask why they think you need new rotors if you havent anyway. Thats not a lot of miles to require rotors but guess that depends on driving style.

 

You can buy ebc red on ebay for $90 bones and all you need to change pads is a 21mm socket and a pair of needle nose lol.

 

I doubt your rotors need changing at 66k. The only reasons to change rotors are because they are too thin or because the pads were worn down to metal and damaged the rotors (this would make awful grinding noise when braking). I agree about asking why they need to be changed. Are they too thin? What are the measurements? My rule of thumb is two sets of pads per set of rotors if they are not damaged.

If you do need rotors, I would just buy Centric from Amazon. Changing rotors should not increase labor costs.

 

Seems very high.... I bought brand name slotted,,vented,and drilled rotors with carbon/ceramic racing pads and had them installed for 520$ total... dont fall for it lol

 

They said the rotors are very thin but, they haven't been making any noise and seem to work fine. So, I'm in a quandary about replacing the rotors while doing the brakes

 

Here's the deal with rotors. The calipers have to squeeze the rotors between the pads. The friction will wear down both the pads and rotors. There is only so much range of motion the caliper has before it can no longer squeeze with proper force to create enough friction to stop. A thin rotor is the number 1 reason to replace them. I would ask what the measurements were as the service manual has specs for the RL caliper range of motion. If it's any concern, just buy two new ones for $100.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking Centric

 

I recently did a complete rebuild. Bought some old calipers, rebuilt and powder. Everything cost me about 800 for all 4 with the rotors and installation. Color is Hawaii blue but it looks purple. They messed up so I got the PC for free.

Brakenetic Rotors

 

OK, Got the NAPA Adaptive One pads & Centric(StopTech?) UP rotors today(12540066). I had gotten a quote from a local shop, pads only $60 but, now I'll have to see what they want including rotors.
At any rate, it's less than half what the dealer wanted for just pads

 

The $600 the dealer going to charge is for pads and resurface rotors, think list cost for Acura pads is a little over $200

 

Here it's $425 for Acura's with brembos including a resurfacing of the rotors.

 

Thank you VA. It is members like you that make this forum great! Offering free help/advice to those that are less informed.
As for the RL calipers, it is a quad piston "Brembo like" design that makes compressing them a little different than traditional single piston calipers. I did purchase a special tool from Amazon that made the job a snap.
If you end up buying your pads from autozone or similar, they do offer free tool rentals to do the job right.
Good luck 👍

 

Ha! Brembos! A few years ago (like 8!) My Acura dealer (60+ miles away) told me that BS, gave me a ridiculous price BECAUSE of "Brembos". Dealer also said (without looking- mind you) that he guarantees, my discs will be out of spec, and will HAVE to be replaced.
I high tailed it to the local Honda dealer (6 miles away) that laughed, explained they are NOT brembos and did mine for under $250.00. All pads replaced, and just a simple turning - and the rears didn't even need it!
Saved not only on the unnecessary work that would have been done, but the Honda dealer charges less $$ per hour.
Probably could have gotten it done at an off brand local shop, but Honda treated me very fairly, and he says there are 3 other guys with RLs that get work done in their shop, plus 250 wasn't bad! (and they gave me a rental for over night for free because I got there late in the day.

 

Adaptive One $51
Centric UP $160
Installation $100 from a local shop I've purchased tires from in the past
$311 total compared to dealer price and no rotors. In hindsight should have probably gone NAPA Ultra Premium pads.
Now looking for front ceramic pads for my V70, apparently the NAPA aren't ceramic for this car but, Brembos are.

 

Congrats. Sure beats that cold 600 bucks for brake pads!

 

I realize this an Acura forum, specifically RLs but, after replacing the front brakes & rotors I began searching for the same on my Volvo V70. There are many brands/varieties available for both BUT, the pads offered for Volvo all seem to imply issues, noise, dust, sensor compatibility, etc. The consensus seems to be stay with Volvo brand pads. I'm completely ignorant on the technology of brake pads but, if ceramic pads work great on my RL, why wouldn't I get the same results on a Volvo? I plan to use the identical Centric 125 series rotors I put on the RL

 

Sensors? Pads are literally just a section of material that press against the rotor. I can't imagine what a sensor could detect that the material would change.

 

I have no clue. The shop that did the RL simply said, no problem doing the Volvo unless sensors were involved. I'm more baffled by what I've read about type, OEM, Ceramic, etc. I thought it would be ideal to check the brake type while putting on new rotors