Car talk again, this time related to brakes--update

[rml]

How come everytime I went to replace the brake pad , the shop always told me that I have to replace the rotor? It happens to me with 5 of my previous vehicles. Different repair shops invloved.

Is this a scam or is it I because I always went there too late?


Please share your experience.

Thanks



***04-15-2002

I brought the truck to another shop today and the shop told me that the rotors are fine. He also told me that it is not "metal to metal" (1st shop told me that and told me not to drive that truck). Thanks for the advice from you all.

 

[tm37]

IF the pad is down to metal THEN you need to replace the rotor as well.

How often are you checking the levels of the pad.

If you replace one rotor you should replace the other.

 

[Lvis]

It can be a scam. What they do is measure the thickness of the thinnest part of the rotor, if it's less than the minimum thickness allowed, you get to buy new ones. If they are thick enough they can put them on a lathe, and machine them smooth again. Not unheard of for a shop to sell you new ones, even if you could get by with the old..

 

[dman]

As above, look at the pads and rotor, if the rivits in the pad are even with with the surface, you waited too long to remove them. If the rotor doesn't look smooth (deep groves) then it needs replacing. Some minor rotor uneveness can be fixed by resurfacing, which is cheaper than replacing them (usually).

Also, if you brake hard/often (or at high speeds) you can warp the rotors and resurfacing them may not be able to fix that, thus they'd need to be replaced.

OR they could just be charging you for work you don't need. If you don't trust them get a second opinion somewhere else. Or do it yourself.

 

Scam, out of the hundreds of brake jobs I do a year, about 35% need rotor replacement.

 

[tcsenter]

On a side note, these shops can charge upwards of $70.00 for a rotor you can buy for $30.00 and install yourself, if you're so inclined.

Just remember to clean the protective oil off the new rotor using brake cleaner before installing else your brakes will smoke for a week.

 

[Ornery]

What kind of car is it? If it costs $10.00 to resurface the old rotor, and you can buy a new one for $18.00, what would you prefer?

 

[rml]

The shop told me that I need to replace rotor with 5 of my previous cars.

I think it is a way to get more money rather than the car actually needs one. And that is the reason I asked for people experience with brake shop.

I will asked for 2nd opinion.

BTW, they charge $70 each on parts for each rotor plus labor.

 

[Ornery]

If the part's that damn expensive, forget it. It's only $25.00 for new rotors on my Lincoln. I'm not sure if I'd resurface those or replace them, but I'm so cheap, I'd probably have them turned.

It's getting so there are fewer and fewer things a do-it-yourselfer can do on cars. Brakes are still able to be tackled by most people. Doesn't the fact that these guys keep trying to screw you, give you enough incentive to have a go at it?

 

[Evadman]

screw that. you only need new ones if they are blued or warped beyond saving. there is a limit to how thin they can get before replacement, and that is nowhere near every brake job. you are being scammed if it happened on all 5 cars you brought there. It is easy money. buy rotor for $30, charge $60 and $35 for labor.

 

[rml]

***04-15-2002

I brought the truck to another shop today and the shop told me that the rotors are fine. Thanks for the advice from you all.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: rml
***04-15-2002

I brought the truck to another shop today and the shop told me that the rotors are fine. Thanks for the advice from you all.

What was the name of the shop you took it to?

 

[Ornery]

1st shop told me that and told me not to drive that truck

There ought to be a law! Some of these fvckers are worse than lawyers! :disgust:

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Ornery
1st shop told me that and told me not to drive that truck

There ought to be a law! Some of these fvckers are worse than lawyers! :disgust:

There is a law you can report them to the BOAR (bureau of Automotive Repair)

Check with your local state/county government.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Ornery
1st shop told me that and told me not to drive that truck

There ought to be a law! Some of these fvckers are worse than lawyers! :disgust:

Agreed. In the opinion of some shops half the freaking cars on the road are ones that fit in the "Man I wouldn't take it far in this state" situations

BTW, they charge $70 each on parts for each rotor plus labor

Holy sh*tkabobs batman. Bend over, baby!

Glad the other shop isn't trying to rip you like the first one. It's always good if you can find a mechanic you trust who won't screw you. Roger needs to open up a chain

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Ornery
1st shop told me that and told me not to drive that truck

There ought to be a law! Some of these fvckers are worse than lawyers! :disgust:

In Michigan there is a law that a shop can hold a vehicle if the brakes are deemed unsafe. This came from our friends :disgust: at AAA. By law if the vehicles brake are inoperable then the shop can hold the vehicle until repaired or towed to another repair facility.

I have used this a couple times with bad brake lines, but not worn pads or rotors.

 

[Ornery]

"By law if the vehicles brake are inoperable then the shop can hold the vehicle until repaired or towed to another repair facility..."

That's all well and good, but these guys were trying to rip him off, plain & simple. Nothing to do with safety! I'd call a newspaper, TV station and/or BBB and have these guys explain to them about their business practices. :|

 

[rml]

If the brakes are really unsafe, I will agree that it should be banned from driving. But the fact is that the truck breaks well with no problem, I just noticed some squeaking noise and brought that for a brake check up. The bad shop is TiresPlus (formerly Firestone) It must be individually owned. There will be some honest TirePlus stores in US, I just being unlucky to find one that is dishonest.


Many years ago, I went a goodyear shop for doing a oil change and the shop told me that I have a bad CV-joint. I let them fixed it and later my friend brought his car in for oil change, he was told that his CV-joint was leaking also. Later that year, I heard on a TV station cover story that some shops tried to rip people off by offering cheap coupons on oil change and tune-up and then told the customer that their cars have other problem.

That is the reason why I want to see whether rotor replacement is common or just this shop is being dishonest.

Thanks again

 

[Ornery]

Always demand your old parts back from them. Mark them in some way before they're removed, but it sucks to have to do business with people you can't trust.

It's about time for a consumer vigilante to pay these worms a visit, headlining the names of the shops pulling this crap. I wouldn't mind seeing my taxes used for just such a purpose!