$400 to replace front brake pads!!??!

[Rio Rebel]

When I got the message from the dealer that my front pads needed replacing, I laughed inside (the car is only 18 months old, and has about 29,000 miles on it). Then they told me it was $389 to replace the pads and I almost fell out. WOW.

So I went on the internet and checked things out, and these pads really ARE $200 (plus installation labor), and they really DO wear out this fast. In fact, some people are reporting that they needed to replace them UNDER 20k miles. Unbelievable.

I went to a couple of Acura owner sites, found a good set of replacement pads (the duralast gold cmax ceramic pads from Autozone, which many people recommend), and changed them myself in 40 minutes. Lifetime replacement on the pads, less brake dust, and I can't tell a significant difference in stopping power so far.

I usually don't do any of my own maintenance work these days - don't have time and I make enough that I'm willing to pay someone else to do it. But for $330 difference, I couldn't swallow this one.

I still can't get over these brakes...

 

[zerocool84]

You gatta pay to play.

 

[NutBucket]

Yep, Brembos are really that expensive. Just wait until you price rotors.

Personally, I wouldn't touch duralast pads if they were going on any sort of sporty car. Call it bias I guess. But then again I'm guessing you really don't care about having Brembos either....or rather you don't really need that serious of a brake setup.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

How people spend $38,000 on a car and then complain about $200 brake pads is mind boggling to me.

I changed my rear brakes a few months ago. Dealer cost was $280 for pads + labor. I spent $80 on top of the line Akebono pads, $20 on the tool set, and $50 on labor.

 

[Jumpem]

Any car with Brembo's will be costly to maintain. And high performance pads are intended to wear sooner. Can't believe you replaced them with inferior cheap ones though.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
How people spend $38,000 on a car and then complain about $200 brake pads is mind boggling to me.

I changed my rear brakes a few months ago. Dealer cost was $280 for pads + labor. I spent $80 on top of the line Akebono pads, $20 on the tool set, and $50 on labor.

It's the same type of people who buy a car that "requires" premium to run at it's intended power levels but then put in regular cus it's cheaper. You gatta pay to play.

 

[helpme]

Of course they are going to charge you for performance brand name parts that are shipped as OE... What eaiser way to make money!

Are the OE pads even ceramic? I'm sure the duralast gold will be fine, though any lifetime pad has to be low on stopping power in order to last long.

While $200 may seem expensive, I pay about 175$ a front set for Carbotech or Hawk race pads for my OEM SRT-4 calipers... and they only last... 800 miles !

Fortunatly, it balances out since my TSX uses cheap pads

 

[reallyscrued]

You're not familiar with the brembo brand, are you?

Research performance parts if they come with your car. Also, there is a page in your owners manual that gives intervals at which parts need to be replaced.

You should've bought a top end Accord.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
How people spend $38,000 on a car and then complain about $200 brake pads is mind boggling to me.

I changed my rear brakes a few months ago. Dealer cost was $280 for pads + labor. I spent $80 on top of the line Akebono pads, $20 on the tool set, and $50 on labor.

It's the same type of people who buy a car that "requires" premium to run at it's intended power levels but then put in regular cus it's cheaper. You gatta pay to play.

Hmm what's that rattling sound...

 

[T2urtle]

i just did hawks HPS on my g35, my non-brembo pads were $60 and the brembo designed pads were $80-100.

Dealerships don't always give you the best pricing, they are just conveniences because they stock all the parts there. I'm sure you could of bought pads and took to a place to get it replace for $50 labor.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Yep, Brembos are really that expensive. Just wait until you price rotors.

Personally, I wouldn't touch duralast pads if they were going on any sort of sporty car. Call it bias I guess. But then again I'm guessing you really don't care about having Brembos either....or rather you don't really need that serious of a brake setup.

You can pick up Brembo rotors for $90 for a pair... (Honda Accord from the other thread).

The TL-S rotors are $238 for a pair though...

The cheapest TL-S rotors on tirerack are $128 /pair...

Sportier car = bigger bills.

 

[onza]

I would check here

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=104

I'm a member there and I think there are aftermarket brands that perform better if not better than the OEM pads.. I could be wrong because i own a TL non type S version.

 

[StageLeft]

I personally think you made the right choice. The pads you put on where a better use of your money.

Luxury brand though and then on top of that you have the "race tuned" version of the car, so it's not that surprising.

Personally, I wouldn't touch duralast pads if they were going on any sort of sporty car.

I assume he's not bringing it to the track, though, so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I can see where some of you took this as whining. I could write a long response, explaining my actions and my perspective, but I suspect it would be a waste of time.

I was probably foolish to think that this was a place where people would see things the same way I do, but I truly understand. If someone came into a different forum, telling me how they saved a lot of money by replacing their Paradigm speakers with a new set of Sony's, and it sounds just as good to them, I would probably react pretty similarly to some of the responses in this thread. So no worries.

I was surprised at the cost of the brakes. I am happy with my decision, and I am happy with the way my car performs with the substitute pads. Cheers.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: onza
I would check here

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=104

I'm a member there and I think there are aftermarket brands that perform better if not better than the OEM pads.. I could be wrong because i own a TL non type S version.

Thanks for the tip. That's actually one of the places I went, and it helped me choose the duralast gold cmax ceramic. Several other owners used these and were happy with them.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: reallyscrued

You should've bought a top end Accord.

He actually did.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Personally, I wouldn't touch duralast pads if they were going on any sort of sporty car.

I assume he's not bringing it to the track, though, so it really doesn't matter.

Perhaps, but a set of track/street pads make driving more enjoyable IMHO. So far Hawk HPS is about the right balance.

I was probably foolish to think that this was a place where people would see things the same way I do, but I truly understand. If someone came into a different forum, telling me how they saved a lot of money by replacing their Paradigm speakers with a new set of Sony's, and it sounds just as good to them, I would probably react pretty similarly to some of the responses in this thread. So no worries.

Bingo, you hit the nail right on the head. Although, I always wonder why people "skimp" on brakes given they are such a vital safety system.

 

[alkemyst]

you could easily need pads in 29k.

You should be able to find pads cheaper outside the dealer.

Brembo rotors are actually not too expensive.

I need DBA for my fronts (297x30mm), I can take brembos in the rear (297x17 or so)..they were only $100 the pair.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Any car with Brembo's will be costly to maintain. And high performance pads are intended to wear sooner. Can't believe you replaced them with inferior cheap ones though.

not true...you can put a basic street pad on them and get just the kind of mileage a stocker would...

 

[thescreensavers]

Ha only that much? how about 25k miles on a Q7 1600 bucks for all 4.

 

[canadageek]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Yep, Brembos are really that expensive. Just wait until you price rotors.

Personally, I wouldn't touch duralast pads if they were going on any sort of sporty car. Call it bias I guess. But then again I'm guessing you really don't care about having Brembos either....or rather you don't really need that serious of a brake setup.

Brembo rotors are pretty cheap actually. unless you're talking about ridiculous cross drilled and slotted ones that 90% of people will never notice a benefit from anyway.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: canadageek

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Yep, Brembos are really that expensive. Just wait until you price rotors.

Personally, I wouldn't touch duralast pads if they were going on any sort of sporty car. Call it bias I guess. But then again I'm guessing you really don't care about having Brembos either....or rather you don't really need that serious of a brake setup.

Brembo rotors are pretty cheap actually. unless you're talking about ridiculous cross drilled and slotted ones that 90% of people will never notice a benefit from anyway.

shit son, panties drop at the sight of dem slots and dimples.