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

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Fvck Midas. Rude customer service, too expensive, and crappy parts. I got my brakes replaced about two years ago at Midas (spent $400 bucks) and three months ago the brakes were squeeking like mad. I took it back to them under the lifetime guarantee and they got very rude.
 
Originally posted by: 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. 🙁 )
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That's too much for CV boot replacement and calipers. For that amount of money, they better installed you a new remanufactured axle which is better in the long run! Run, run run with your car!
 
Replace the calipers?

That should be a very rare occurance. The only thing to really go wrong with calipers are the seals.

Generally on CV joints/boots is just as cost effective (labor wise) to replace the entire half-shaft than just the boot. It's generally the same amount of work to do just a measley boot.

amish
 
When in doubt, take it to a dealership. If the dealership's prices are lower than a local shop, you know you're getting screwed.
 
I'll report back after taking it to the other machanic. It would be interesting to take it to another Midas though. lol
 
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Replace the calipers?

That should be a very rare occurance. The only thing to really go wrong with calipers are the seals.

Generally on CV joints/boots is just as cost effective (labor wise) to replace the entire half-shaft than just the boot. It's generally the same amount of work to do just a measley boot.

amish
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🙂 You must not live up north, in the "rust belt". I've had sticking calipers several times on different vehicles... Usually, though, I just polish them and lubricate them well...
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Replace the calipers?

That should be a very rare occurance. The only thing to really go wrong with calipers are the seals.

Generally on CV joints/boots is just as cost effective (labor wise) to replace the entire half-shaft than just the boot. It's generally the same amount of work to do just a measley boot.

amish
Click to expand...

🙂 You must not live up north, in the "rust belt". I've had sticking calipers several times on different vehicles... Usually, though, I just polish them and lubricate them well...
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I don't think you're suppose to lubricate brakes. In fact aren't you suppose to remove all packing grease from the rotor before installing it? There's nothing wrong with rust on a rotor. It only happens when you let the car sit a few days in rainy weather.
 
Ouch, damn glad you didn't have them do it. What's really bad is when a place you trust is trying to rip you off. About six months ago the right front rotor on my car had a huge gouge in it. The pad was cutting into the rotor and I needed to get them replaced. Took my car to a shop that I trust, said I needed new pads, calipers, and rotors for around $450. Took it to the dealership was quoted pads and rotors for $225, calipers are fine. Definitely not going to take my car back to the independant shop.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Replace the calipers?

That should be a very rare occurance. The only thing to really go wrong with calipers are the seals.

Generally on CV joints/boots is just as cost effective (labor wise) to replace the entire half-shaft than just the boot. It's generally the same amount of work to do just a measley boot.

amish
Click to expand...

🙂 You must not live up north, in the "rust belt". I've had sticking calipers several times on different vehicles... Usually, though, I just polish them and lubricate them well...
Click to expand...

We get plenty of rust here in Utah, but I've never had a sticky caliper.

I don't think you're suppose to lubricate brakes. In fact aren't you suppose to remove all packing grease from the rotor before installing it? There's nothing wrong with rust on a rotor. It only happens when you let the car sit a few days in rainy weather.
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He's talking about the calipers. There's no harm in lubing them.

amish
 
thanks, Amish, correct.

Never lubricate the rotors or the pads...
Actually, never lubricate the rotors or the surface of the pads that goes against the rotors... for whatever reason, they make a lubricant that goes on the back of the pads that's supposed to do something for stopping noise. The caliper has a piston that slides in and out... that's the part that gets the lubrication.
 
Well

I just called midas and asked for a quote to do the right front caliper, rotor, and a front set of brakepads.

Their estimate was $355

My cost for parts at the place I purchased was $165

It will take me maybe an hour and a half (I don't know what the book says though).

SO lets say 60dph @ 2hours for midas

thats $120 in labor and $235 in parts.

Man they are a scam.

My caliper was sticking and wore the pads down to metal gouged the rotor beyond repair and warped it-if you don't flush your brake fluid regularly the pistons in the caliper can rust and not back off when releasing the pedal.

rogo
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
thanks, Amish, correct.

Never lubricate the rotors or the pads...
Actually, never lubricate the rotors or the surface of the pads that goes against the rotors... for whatever reason, they make a lubricant that goes on the back of the pads that's supposed to do something for stopping noise. The caliper has a piston that slides in and out... that's the part that gets the lubrication.
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Got it, my mistake. My car has chronic caliper problems and they're sealed so I've always been forced to get a rebuilt set when I change the rears. Luckily, since it's the rear, I don't change them often.
 
Originally posted by: 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.
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I love that story. And so many people automatically think that dealerships are a rip-off.
 
That must have been one hell of a squeak if it requires replacing rotors and calipers.

Seriously, as has already been pointed out, they are very likely screwing you, and unless your brakes were making a metal-on-metal grinding sound, replacement of all that stuff is probably unnecessary.

Most pads have a wear indicator that will start making a very annoying squealing sound (much more so than the usual brake squeal) and you will hear the difference before any damage has been done.
 
Originally posted by: Rogozhin
Well

I just called midas and asked for a quote to do the right front caliper, rotor, and a front set of brakepads.

Their estimate was $355

My cost for parts at the place I purchased was $165

It will take me maybe an hour and a half (I don't know what the book says though).

SO lets say 60dph @ 2hours for midas

thats $120 in labor and $235 in parts.

Man they are a scam.

My caliper was sticking and wore the pads down to metal gouged the rotor beyond repair and warped it-if you don't flush your brake fluid regularly the pistons in the caliper can rust and not back off when releasing the pedal.

rogo
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how is that a scam?? do you expect them to do the work for free??

 
Well, I just picked the car up from my regular mechanic. The car did need rotors. (They should have been replaced the last time the pads were done - before I had the car.) It didn't need new calipers or CV boots. It also didn't need a new pipe on the exhaust (which Midas had said, and wasn't included in the $762 quote).

Total cost from Tillery Imports: $313

Keep in mind that this is a place that usually works on BMWs and other European cars. Good thing I waited. 😀
 
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