$800 to change brake calipers and hoses

I had to get the 2001 4x4 inspected here in MD in order to get it titled and registered. The mechanic said the calipers were bad (it was braking crappy). He is wanting to charge $830 to replace them with re-manufactured calipers. I have no idea if this is a fair price or not. Is this something I can just do myself or should I just pay to have it done. Basically, they wont pass it for inspection until the brakes are remediated.

 

My mechanic charged me like $450 for full front brakes on my 2nd Gen last year; The calipers came from Rock Auto (because I wanted red calipers, otherwise I would have gone OEM). I forget where the pads and rotors came from. The $450 included labor, which itself included flushing the system and adding new brake fluid. I would get a second opinion.

 

called another couple shops. All in the 800 range. I guess thats the going price around here. Damn mechanics. MD has me held ransom with this state inspection crap. Cant get the car titled or registered unless the brakes are fixed and pass the inspections.

 

Oh my God! They want your vehicle to be safe and road worthy? That is horrible! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you go through this extremely difficult time in your life.


Stop complaining and go get your damn brakes fixed so you don't plow into a school bus full of kids.

 

Easy DIY. However, if you have to ask if you can do it yourself...give me doubts.

 

Rip off. Just do it yourself. Youtube it

 

The truck brakes just fine, it pulls slightly to the right when you slam on them. I figured I would need to replace the pads or something after I got the car registered/titled. Also its not about not wanting the car to be safe. Its charging 850 for caliper replacement (not rotors and pads with it) when the parts cost sub 200. That means you are charging 650 for 2 hours of labor. Ya, kinda steep if you ask me.

 

As said DIY or pay the man.

 

Not sure if you need special tools to bleed the brakes yourself. Mechanic made it sound like it was a PITA to bleed properly.

 

Shops mark up parts like crazy! You can get remanufactured calipers for under a 100 bucks a piece for the front. Pads 50 bucks for a good set! The hoses you can get for around 15 bucks a piece. So your mechanic is charging over 500 in labor! Which is definitely on the HIGH end!!! I've done this job so many times and it takes me no more than an hour and a half...And that's including bleeding the brakes!!! (fronts only) You can do it your self. Its a fairly simple job especially with new calipers! You can get calipers, pads and new rotors on ebay for around 250.

 

Nope, its easy with 2 people. But can be done with one.

 

Yes it’s a pretty easy job and you can absolutely do it yourself with some basic stuff but it does take some level of mechanical ability and you also have to bleed them. Some struggle with this part some don’t. I would maybe watch a few videos on YouTube and get an idea if it’s something you want to do yourself or not but I think you can handle it. Price seems a bit high to me but you have to factor how they determine price. Shop rate is probably around 100 bucks an hour. Changing the Calipers probably pays around 1 hour per side maybe 1.5. So that’s 2-3 hundred. Hoses probably another .5 per side. Bleeding brakes .5-1 hour then you have the parts. Shops will usually mark up parts but not always but I have personally seen markup as high as 30% so it’s not all that hard for them to get to that number. I would agree with the others have done this job myself many times. It’s pretty simple and I think you can handle it.

 

Appreciate the breakdown. After watching some videos It looks like its something I can do myself, but i'm on a time crunch, I found another shop with 4.9/5 reviews on google who will do it for cheaper. I think ill just pay this time and focus on other areas that need repairs like some peeling clear coat and rust chips in the paint. At least I am good at painting

 

Yeah I get that. Just out of curiosity what did he say was actually Wrong with the calipers that required they’re replacing?

 

did he also tell you that if you take this truck right now it will explode

 

He said it was pulling to the right which meant one of them was not compressing right. Said mostly likely the pistons were shot.

 

I’d swap the rotors, pads & calipers from a kit. If all new parts. Its not that hard

 

By "special tools" you need a piece of hose and a plastic bottle... LOL And with these special tools bleeding is something you can do your self. YouTube it...Its simple!

 

Just when braking, right?