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Front Brake Job $$

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OK, just got the beast back from the shop - had the steering drag link and upper coupler done as well as left U joint. In process shop guy tells me that the rig needs rotors/calipers/etc and the damage will be roughly $600 :--) .

Seems pretty steep to me but looking at all the past brake threads here didn't really turn up any figures for this kind of work. Is this figure 'for real'?

Mike
 
they always tell you that! :-laf :-laf



loaded (w/ pads) calipers probably cost ~$50 a piece... rotors probably cost about the same...



if the rotors aren't warped (pulsing through the pedal) I wouldn't touch them... if the truck isn't pulling to one side when you brake hard, I wouldn't touch the calipers... if the brakes aren't squeaking, I wouldn't touch the pads! :p



shops always push brake jobs because people think "man, I GOTTA have brakes!!!" and they're SO easy to do... you could swap out a set of loaded calipers in under an hour start to finish if you were taking your time.



Forrest
 
and I'm not affraid to admit that I'm a "pad slapper"... when my brakes start squeaking, I put pads on it... don't touch the rotors... they make them so thin that you're luck to get one turn out of them. when the rotors warp, I buy new ones. brakes are one of the biggest scams in the automotive world!



Forrest
 
Well, using Express Auto Parts as a guide, here is a breakdown of the parts prices:



Calipers - $32 each

Rotors - $129 each

Pads - $45 set (cheapest)



So, about $375 for parts by the time you get new axle seals, maybe more depending on your local supplier. Is it worth $200 to have someone do the work?;) As long as it's a reputable shop that you know will do it right, it may be, especially when you consider having to mess with the hubs, knock the studs out and drive them back in to change the rotors, etc.
 
Here's a suggestion on doing your brakes... . it has worked for me since the first time I did the brakes about 8-9 years ago and, ever since.



I pull the wheels and then remove the calipers. I fasten the calipers up above the rotors securely. Loosen the reservoir cap and let it sit loose on top... .

You'll need to go easy on the next step cause it'll squirt brake fluid pretty good.

While the calipers are off the rotors, you can use some c-clamp vise grips and compress the piston back into it's bore. Be sure to have a catch pan handy cause it will push fluid out of the reservoir.

Then I have someone push on the brake peddle while I watch the piston start to come out... I want it come out far enough to pass the part were it was when I removed the caliper. This process seems to help keep the piston running "a bit free'r" and I have less chance of pulling one way or another when I am done the job.



Next I get a good hand drill (or even better an air drill/tool) I mount a rubber backed sanding disk, oh, say, 250 grit on the drill.

Then I tip the disk at an angle onto the rotor face and fire up the drill. You may need to give the rotor a twirl with you hand to get it rolling but you can actually use the sanding disk to run the rotor around while the sanding disk takes the glaze off the rotor. After a bit, I tip the disk the other way and do the same thing. It leaves a nice crosshatch pattern on the rotor and works good for taking the glaze off.

Just move from in the inside of the rotor near the hub, outward to the outside edge an back.

Then I turn the wheel so the rotor is angle outward and away from the truck and do the same thing on the inside surface right were the dust shield is open and you can see the rotor.

Works great !!!! I repeat this a few times and then I use the same disk to "freshen up" the brake pad surface a bit.

You can use 250, 300 grit to do this. Don't go too fine on the grit rating cause you actually want a rough surface on the rotor face.



When I'm done, I open up the brake reservoir and fill it up. I go below and loosen the brake bleed screw and let it dribble out into a catch pan.

As it dribbles out, I keep topping up the reservoir so it doesn't go dry.

Soon the fresh fluid is at the bleed screw and then tighten it up.

This works on the fronts but I haven't tried it on the back ones yet.



The next step is to use the drill with a good stiff wire wheel and really dress up the caliper slides... I use brake clean to rinse them off when I have removed all the rust and garbage, then I use good anti-seize on the moving parts.



I know this seems like alot of work but once you've done it a couple times it's a snap to do and works great.

So far, I have not had to turn my rotors even once. I "miked" them recently and they were well within runout spec and thickness was barely below "new" value.



I haven't worked out anything like this for the back brakes yet but I have found a way to get them to "adjust up" really easy...

I raise the rear of the truck up on a good floor jack, start the truck up and at an idle, I slip it into reverse... . once the tires are turning real good, I apply the brakes firmly, then I put the trans in "D" and let it go thru the gears till I'm in 3rd and they're turning pretty good, then do the same thing... put on the brakes hard.

If you repeat several times you'll have breaks that are nice and snug and will work well for about 4-5 months until you have to tweak em again...



Well, that's my idea guys... try it, you may find it works great for you to.



pb..... :D:D:D
 
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rotors/calipers/etc and the damage will be roughly $600



While I'm a do-it-yourselfer as you guys are, please allow me to comment on the above as it was the original question... . so don't shoot me.

My son owns/operates an independant auto repair shop, and his prices are on the low side for this area of Ct. From what I've seen, this seems to be a normal price for all new good quality parts and labor.

What you would get at his place would be:

1st he would show you why you need them.

He skim cuts all new rotors to insure trueness.

High quality pads and calipers with steel pistons (he does not like the cheaper "phenolic" ones).

Any seals or whatever else that's in there that needs replacing.

A good road test afterwords.

A guarantee.



Now I'm not promoting his shop, just saying that if the shop you are working with is a good one, and you feel confident with their work, they use top quality parts, it is worth the $600... . especially when brakes are the issue.

Using the numbers that Dan posted below (200) that's about 3 + hours labor rate.

Hope this helps.



That being said I did a Forrest "pad slap" job (actually cheap NAPA loaded calpiers) 55 k miles ago when I first got my truck... . :D And its still good but the pads are getting thin. :eek:



Jay
 
brakes

I would like to add a comment on pad condition. When the pads get near their wear limit, they can shed the lining instantly if for any reason you have to make a really hard stop. You are then immediately grinding the rivet heads into the rotors. You have just ruined a rotor. If you drive an empty truck, this is probably not ever going to happen to you as you can stop with less pedal pressure and torque on the rotors/pads.



I have had a problem with the pads wearing out on the outside and little or no wear on the inside. I have had the rivets grinding and ruined two sets of rotors. Now this is in a total of over a million miles on the four trucks.



So, check the pads often enough to know what wear is occuring, if it is irregular, the calipers are not free on the mounts and are applying more pressure on the piston side. If one is thin (about 3/16 of an inch) change it. Keep your old pads and you can get extended life by changing out a thin pad. You will almost certainly need to do this on one or the other of the pads before the full life of the set is realized.



When you service the truck, check to see that the calipers are lubed so they can move on the mount.



I also do what Bushwacker suggests with the cleaning and freshing the rotor surface. Along with cleaning the mounts for the calipers. I have ground out some wear from the rivet heads. I will even tollerate a minor and I do mean minor tremble on the pedal since this will kick the pads away a hair and allow free turning rotors.



And as Jay said, on the money, I would not do the brakes for less than the 600 if all the parts mentioned are in fact installed. But that is one of the reasons I do my own work since some shops will use ones lack of knowledge to sell unneeded parts. And in fact, even reputable shops are 'covering their ***' with full deal brake work because they don't want to be involved in a accident settlement.



Brakes are about as important as anything. If I am going to be involved with a front to rear crunch, I want it to be with the guy behind me and not the guy in front of me.



James
 
I did not do my own work until a shop with a good reputation did my old '92 chevy that had worn only one set of tires and brakes at 78000. As part of their inspection, they looked at the rear on only ONE side. At 120K ,she was ready to go again as the front was down to the rivets. The OTHER back wheel drum could not be removed by any means short of a 10 pound sledge! After the second repair,I checked the rear drums,and after only two months,they were rusty with NO never seize. I do my own brakes now!

I think that some shops use soft pads just to avoid complaints about squeaky brakes.

I also remove and never seize and grease the ''non-servicable'' front bearings on the '02. I made a ''kind and gentle''pulling jig that is really easy to use. This is the PM that's gonna pay off big in the future.
 
Guys - thanks for all the information. Put a couple of hundred miles on the rig this weekend and am really happy with the work the shop did - feel like they went 'above and beyond' with the steering repairs. Also had the chance to 'stomp' the brakes a couple of times at 60-70 mph and the front end was all over the place so brake work is called for. Checked parts prices for rotors, loaded calipers, brake hoses,etc and have come to the conclusion that $600 is really a decent deal give the quality of work this shop has done for me so far.

Mike
 
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