Is Midas a rip off? YES (brakes) UPDATE 2: Saved $450!

[KaBudokan]

I took my '91 Civic in to have the brakes checked on it. They've been squeaking for a while, and I haven't had the time to have it checked out. So, I drop it off, ride my bike home, and call them back for the estimate.

I'll have a more detailed list of what they "suggested" having done in a bit, but... It was basically reaplcing the front calipers, left rotor, left CV boot, service the rear brakes, etc.

The total came to $762.49! That seemed like a LOT more than what I was expecting. I told the guy not to touch it, and I would take it to my regular place and have them check it out. (I was going to take it there, but they couldn't take it until Thursday.)

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to cars, but that just seemed like more than what it should have been. Of course, the guy I talked to had tons of suggestions for things that "I better take care of now before it turns into something else," but still...

Oh well. Just wondering if anyone else has any good/bad experiences with them and whether they are "honest" or not?

 

[TwinkleToes77]

I know nothing about cars but i do know that if brakes start squeeking then its time for a replacement and possible a rotor replacement depending on how long ya went on dead brakes.

 

[Mallow]

I remember a lot of investigative reports about 3 years ago about brake repair companies. I don't remember midas being specifically mentioned but "Just Brakes" was a definate place to steer clear of. I think in general there are so many questionable things that can be done about brakes people are often taken.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: KaBudokan
I took my '91 Civic in to have the brakes checked on it. They've been squeaking for a while, and I haven't had the time to have it checked out. So, I drop it off, ride my bike home, and call them back for the estimate.

I'll have a more detailed list of what they "suggested" having done in a bit, but... It was basically reaplcing the front calipers, left rotor, left CV boot, service the rear brakes, etc.

The total came to $762.49! That seemed like a LOT more than what I was expecting. I told the guy not to touch it, and I would take it to my regular place and have them check it out. (I was going to take it there, but they couldn't take it until Thursday.)

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to cars, but that just seemed like more than what it should have been. Of course, the guy I talked to had tons of suggestions for things that "I better take care of now before it turns into something else," but still...

Oh well. Just wondering if anyone else has any good/bad experiences with them and whether they are "honest" or not?

I'd get a 2nd opinion from another shop first. I've only used Midas once because they had a special on oil changes, but the one I went to was pretty nice and professional. Your mileage may vary.... (no pun intended)

 

[KaBudokan]

Well, I don't have anywhere I necessarily need to drive before Thursday, so I think I'll pick it up and have it checked out at the other place. I've been there once before. I found the place through a mechanic rating site on the web, and they had great reviews. A few people said the prices could be a little steep sometimes, but the place was honest (which clueless people like me need). They hooked me up the first time I went there, and I was planning to return.

I was actually going to a Brakes Plus shop this morning, but apparently they moved it since I was last there, so I saw the Midas and pulled in.

 

[gregshin]

I had to replace my 2 rear rotors and 2 pads last week. The 1st shop was firestone and they wanted to charge me $350 for the whole job...the only problem was not knowing which parts they used.

I went to another shop and decided to go with OEM BREMBO rotors and peformance Stillen pads. The total including laber came out to $200 =) The downside was waiting for the parts to come in. Parts are cheap...its the labor that they are gonna rape you on. If you're in socal i can refer that shop to you.

 

[Mr N8]

The parts alone for that car should cost around $100 - $150. Labor should only be 1 hour. Yeah, get a second opinion.

 

[SyahM]

That seems a lot, and i think half of it is from labor cost. You could save some money by going to asian mechanics that usually charge half of the american mechanic's labor fee. But, make sure the asian mechanic receive good reference from your friends or relative. Ask around and i'm pretty sure you could save $100 if not $200.

$762.49 is what i paid to replace my clutch!!

 

[KaBudokan]

I'm in Denver. It seemed REALLY high. When I finally said I was going to take it to my regular shop for another opinion, he said he could add some coupons... or to call them, get an estimate for what I needed done, and then call him back and he would see what he could do.

I think I'll take it to the other place on Thursday and THEN decide who I am going to bend over for.

 

[nakedfrog]

You wouldn't happen to have a link to that mechanic rating site, would you?

 

[KaBudokan]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
You wouldn't happen to have a link to that mechanic rating site, would you?

http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Garage/mechan-x/find.html

 

[Rudee]

Don't forget to get the Stem Lube.

 

[lepper boy]

just because your breaks are squeaking doens't mean that you have to have all new rotors/drums/breakshoes ect... They could just be dirty inside... now if by saying squeaking you meant Grinding sound.. different story..
d

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: KaBudokan

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
You wouldn't happen to have a link to that mechanic rating site, would you?

http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Garage/mechan-x/find.html

Thanks

 

[squirrel dog]

go pick your car up and tell them thanks, but no thanks . They are attempting to rebuild your car not just fix the brakes.Find a shop that will give you a fair estimate for brake work($125.00 per axle at most)

 

[Rogozhin]

THat's way too much

I'm doing my own brakes tommorow with the parts I've ordered.

Saab 900 turbo (car)

Brembo OEM rotor-$30.00
Right front caliper-$40.00+$60.00 core charge
Metalmaster Pads (full set)-$35.00

I've done brake work before and it's not difficult-this will probably take maybe 1.5 hours and I am going to bleed the system too.

What I'm going to do today is call up midas tell them what I need to have done and let them give me an estimate-since I know what the parts cost and how much time for labor if they try to gouge me it will be conspicuous.

Rogo

 

[Cuular]

I've found midas to be one of the most crooked repair places I've taken my car to. They tried the same thing with me, and the total came out to over 700.00. With 3 or 4 "emergencies" that if I didn't get them fixed right then and there would cause the car to fail.

I refused service that day, took it the next day to another midas, about 5 miles away from the first one, and got a completely different list of things that "needed" to be done, including different "emergencies". Took it into the dealer for a second opinion, they replaced the pads, and said every thing else was good.

When I showed them the list's from the two midas shops, they started laughing, and said I was at least smart enough to get more than one opinion.

Your mileage may vary, but from what I've seen with 3 cars, I wouldn't trust anything midas told me without taking it to another non-midas place for another opinion.

 

[BigSmooth]

I actually had a decent experience with Midas... sure, they tried to charge me for whatever they could but thankfully I know enough about my car to know what I did not need. It was during some sale they were having and it ended up being cheaper than other chains I've been to (and FAR cheaper than the dealership, which is a total ripoff).

That total does sound too high, though. Definitely have it checked out elsewhere.

 

[Mill]

Midas= Massive rip-off unless you are buddies with the manager.

 

[LeeTJ]

I went to pep boys in NJ.

had Oil changed, 4 rotors, front right side turn signal light, 4 sets of pads = $600.00

it didn't seem low, but it didn't seem exceedingly high either.

my only complaint is that the rotors are rusting, but i'm not sure that is avoidable. do they make stainless steel rotors?

 

[Pepsi90919]

rusting rotors aren't an issue, the rust 'burns off' on the surfaces once you start using the brakes.

 

[KaBudokan]

OK, so here's the total itemized estimate:

Description Parts Labor Total
Service Rear Brakes .00 20.00 20.00
Carkeeper Rotor 70.99 .00 70.99
Carkeeper Rotor 70.99 .00 70.99
Brake Pads (BP) 39.99 50.00 89.99
RMFG Calipers (CR) 117.99 26.00 143.99
RMFG Calipers (CR) 117.99 26.00 143.99
Brake HW (DH, DK) 25.99 .00 25.99
Bleed and Fill 8.99 10.00 18.99
CV Boot Installation 29.99 86.00 115.99
==============================================

With Tax, etc. Total $762.49

I checked prices on some of this stuff online, and their prices were pretty out of whack.

EDIT: Sorry, I tried to line it up, but that's pretty difficult to read. :| (It ook out my spaces. )

 

[morkinva]

Outrageous, don't go there. I hate when places try to get you to pay for their vacations :|

 

[DrPizza]

half the problem is from their pricing policies... they're charging you labor for taking off the calipers to change the rotors. Then, they're charging you the labor to take off the calipers to change the calipers. Then, they're charging you labor to take off the calipers to change the pads... Plus, they jack up the price of the parts by at least double. That's WAYYYYYYYYYYY too much.

I think someone should start a class action lawsuit against these companies... just to change their practices...
Audit them for the number of hours of labor they're charging for, versus the number of hours of labor they're billing for. They're billing for FAR more hours than they are working.

btw, if you have to replace the calipers, get a loaded set. You get the calipers with the pads already inserted. Last summer, I replaced the front calipers (and pads) on a Nissan Pathfinder for about 80 bucks. The shop wanted over 400 to do it.

 

[cjchaps]

What work have you had done on the brakes before? You generally don't get calipers replaced unless they stop working.