2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Call all Brake Experts...

[CCCRAM]

Or did I spend too much...



So today I went to Midas to have my brakes checked. Turns out their diagnosis is that I needed new rotors and pads. They showed me where there were cracks on the rotors, identified by Midas as "heat cracks". Their recommendation was I needed to replace the rotors as they could all the way across the rotor at any time and catastrophic brake failure. The pads were down to 10%. When it was all said and done, we got new rotors and pads for $520.



Now I am fairly handy and have done a number of things to maintain my truck, although not the brakes.



Did I pay too much?

Did they treat me like a sucker, or was it just time for brakes?

What would have been the cost if I could have done it myself?

If I wanted to do it myself, where could I have found out how to do it? I don't think there's a TDR how-to on that.



I appreciate any comments!

 

[Hammer]

250-300 for a good set of rotors... .

75-100 for a good set of pads... .



Labor and installed for what you did,I'd say you did about the average.



The are enough posts on brakes here for you to do about any type of work on them if you use the search engine. its really not that hard if you have all the parts around to do the job without running around gathering them while you work.

 

[wcjp]

Did your Midas brake job come with a warranty?

 

[CCCRAM]

Did your Midas brake job come with a warranty?

Yes, I previously had brake work at Midas and they did honor the free brake pads (not labor, however). Saved me about $120.

 

[Cummins Thunder]

Being that you did not pay for pads it seems high to me.

Go to your local auto parts store and get a manual for your truck. Read about servicing the brakes and see if its for you.

 

[Cowboy]

CCRAM<I think there must be a reason the place is named MIDAS, as all "brake specials", the price charged compared to the work done is excessive, I am average in mech. ability,(would not attempt a complete rebuild on my engine),but brakes are noyhing more than nuts n bolts just replaced my front pads and rotors,they were like new,but I need more stopping power,going for 450 -500 HP requires good brakes I bought slotted anddrilled rotors and metalic pads from brakeperformance.com for 194. 51 including shipping,took 3 days to recieve them, and5 hours to install them didnt have a 1-3/4" socket for the front spindle nut,so NAPA had it 13bucks EL CHEEPO (only use it once every 100,000 miles) next time try it, you will probably find something more usefull to do with that 300 bucks you save

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

How many people do you know of that have had "catastrophic brake failure"? Personally, I know of none. (At least not in the way the Midas techs were insinuating. ) I'm not saying that I recommend driving around on heat stressed rotors, either, but I think that people are oftens times scared into replacing things before the need is absolutely there. The way it's been for me in the past is that whenever I got the bad news it couldn't come at a worse time, financially, for me. I expected to have a $100 bill or so and then they come out and tell me $300-$400.

I now avoid places like Midas like the plague and do all my own work. It takes a little longer sometimes and I have to occasionally invest in a new tool, but I enjoy doing the work and my butt hurts alot less when I'm done!

 

[Cowboy]

sorry, dialup kiked me off my reply was lengthy,but here is the gist ,I just replaced my front rotors and pads for 194. 51 got them @ brakeperformance.com slotted,crossdrilled and anodized big differance in stopping power,for less than half what they gouged you for next time try it yourself, you will be suprised at the ease that you can save hundreds

 

[Cowboy]

Wyoming cowboy , ranchin makes it hard to give sombody money to do stuff we can do just as good and not have to drive all the way to town and have it done at thier liesure

 

[2Rowdy]

Never known anyone to go to midas and need rotors.

 

[OldCrank]

Front brakes

Swapping rotors on those 4x4 hubs can add some extra time, so $520. 00 seems okay. If you are getting heat checking and/or cracking on those rotors, you should look into a performance setup for your next go 'round.

 

[jelag]

We turn lots of drums and rotors, mostly on larger equipment but have done our share of Ford and Dodge rotors... I can't remember ever telling a customer with a Ford or Dodge rotor it was unsafe unless the crack was through the rotor or it was too thin...

Almost all rotors and drums have heat cracks (checks). . almost all of them are superficial to the operation of the drum or rotor... We have seen a lot of Ford 350-550 rotors that are cracked from one side through to the vent in the center and of course their scrap...

This reminds me of my daughter and her Yukon. . at 30K and needing brakes because the tires shop said so... a second opinion found that the pads were 60% left. .

You mention this is your second trip to them, as they gave you a set of pads yet your truck only has 96K... My 05 currently has 95K and is still on the first set and our 04 went to 160K before the first brake job... did you see the pads that were down to 10%...

I can't of course second guess them. . but there are a lot of un-answered questions. .

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Wyoming cowboy , ranchin makes it hard to give sombody money to do stuff we can do just as good and not have to drive all the way to town and have it done at thier liesure

True enough... .



Another thing to keep in mind with places like Midas, or Wal-Mart, or possibly even Sears is that often times the techs there have little to no experience when they start, and often times learn from guys who have no qualified training themselves. I worked at wal mart for two years changing oil, batteries, and tires when I was in school and I saw plenty of them come and go. Many of them could literally not walk and chew gum at the same time. (They could however manage to get loaded everynight and still hold a job... for awhile, anyway. ) My point is that I would not trust Midas for anything ever again. I have been down the Midas road for mufflers and brakes and been screwed everytime. They did in fact do the work, but they wouldn't honor the warranty unless I would buy new hangers, or clamps or some dumb thing everytime. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[CCCRAM]

My main concern was if I could avoid this next time by doing so myself, and what resource could I use to learn it myself. I think the TDR and/or the magazine could do profile like they do on so many other part of the register related to how to do a competent brake job, what to watch out for, etc. I have turned to the

TDR for so many other things and I was hoping to get some help here...



Also I do appreciate all the comments so far!

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I would spend the $$ and buy the factory manual..... worth it's weight in gold.

 

[Missouri Mule]

and you can get the factory manuals at Geno's Garage.

 

[jelag]

I don't know where I got mine... But it was on CD I think from another TDR member back in 04... I keep a copy of it on several computers...

 

[CCCRAM]

Where can I get the cd?

 

[MMeier]

Swapping rotors on those 4x4 hubs can add some extra time, so $520. 00 seems okay. If you are getting heat checking and/or cracking on those rotors, you should look into a performance setup for your next go 'round.

Or learn to drive it a bit easier !!

 

[WilsonF]

I waited till one showed up on ebay think it was 35. 00.
Floyd