96 Tacoma Front Brakes Special?

As a female I sometimes am wary when mechanics tell me my truck "needs" something or if something seems more expensive than it should be. The tire place told me I am in desperate need of brakes, which I'll buy since its been awhile since the last replace. However he's telling me its more expensive because this model's suspension is different and its not as simple and he has to take everything off and then repack the bearings and I don't quite understand what's going on as all of the videos I've watched for 1st gen don't say anything about this.
So... is the 96 suspension somehow significantly different that would cause a front brake job to be on the order of $600? If so would someone explain to me why and how it is different? Or is he full of crap?

 

You replacing the Rotors or Turning them on the truck?

 

2WD or 4WD?

New rotors, new pads, new calipers?

Just the front, or rear as well?

 

Does anybody still do this? With rotors being relatively cheap nowadays, compared to the labor involved with turning them.

 

Alice, if you could get the shop to give you an itemized break down of parts and labor that should include part numbers, and you post a screen shot of it, we can cross reference the parts and see what they are planning to use.

There is a good amount of lower quality aftermarket brake parts that the shops can choose from to really make a profit with, and tell you that your are getting OEM quality (while you are not actually getting).

 

It's good that you're doing your own research!

When we talk about 1st gen Tacoma's- they come in two primary versions. A 5-lug version, or a 6-lug version. You just need to count the number of lugs on the wheels. Given the fact that your mechanic suggested repacking the bearings, I would guess you have a 5-lug truck, as 6 lugs don't have that option. Either way, you need to pin that down before you watch videos on the process, as it will vary between the two.

 

Oh Yeah...I turn them on the vehicle everyday with a Pro cut....

 

Here is an FSM comparison between the 5 lug on the left, and the 6 lug on the right.

 

Take it to a different shop for a second opinion.

 

So it's just a floating single piston caliper? Why is he making it sound so complicated? Mechanics these days

 

I haven't done a brake job on a 5 lug, so I don't know why it would be more complicated. But there are several examples on these trucks of jobs being easy on one model and very difficult on another- look no further than the fuel filter on a v6 vs I4. The fuel filter is in a different location between the two, and the I4 job is much harder to do.

I am not saying the mechanic is right or wrong- just that the OP should determine what type of truck she has so she can make the right decisions.

 

Interesting.

What kind of savings does a person see going that route vs straight replacement?

 

a brake job here is about 250 to 275 to turn rotors and replace pads with OEM...if you replace rotors add the price of the rotors to that....same labor either way
turning them on the car also helps eliminate run out

 

It's not complicated at all. It's not as fast as our 6 lugs but it isn't $600 worth of work unless he's using OEM parts.

 

This is kinda the point.

 

Here's what the quote describes:
Mechanical labor to R&R front rotors and pads $375
[V#WOR001-p#6185]
ACT589 Brake Pad Set $75.35
[V#WOR001-P#6185
43512-35290 Bracke DISC $117.34

 

So instead of it taking 5 minutes a side, it takes 10. Big deal.

 

so hes 187.50 an hour?

 

He's expensive, and for a job that takes less than an hour.

 

yep..more than the dealers down here...somebody on here needs to go help Alice out with a brake job