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Reasonable price for front brakes + rotors (01 Civic)? Or DIY (friend works on cars)?

M

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
Just got my oil changed a few days ago and mechanic told me my front brakes are at 0% and I need new rotors (never been replaced, can't be machined anymore). I do hear squeaking when I'm backing up (no foot on the brakes) and braking isn't what it used to be.

All the garages are closed today so I won't be able to do price comps until tomorrow. The placed I went to told me it would be ~$280 for front brakes & rotors.

So I have a few questions:

1) What is a reasonable price? I looked briefly and the parts don't actually cost that much.
2) Does paying cash give you any kind of leverage?
3) How hard is it to buy the parts and DIY? I have a friend who works on cars for fun so I figure if it's something relatively simple I could just go out and buy parts with him and have him do it and pay him. Could also learn something in the process.

If I'm going to be able to save a decent amount of money ($100+) I wouldn't mind spending some time to buy the parts with my friend and have him do it. I also need new struts and sway bar and struts are something like $125 for my car so if I saved enough on this service I could get those taken care of as well.

Thanks!
 
Parts should not cost more than 100 even if you use good parts. You don't need a lot of tools to do the brakes provided it's not a press-fit for the rotor. It takes 30 minutes for me to do an axle including replacing the rotors. Buy your friend a 6 pack of beer and he should take care of you.
 
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My parents were just quoted $550 for front brakes (calipers, pads, rotors) on their 02 Civic EX coupe. So, I'm going over on Tuesday to do it for them. Brakes aren't hard to do.

Do you actually need a new sway bar, or just new bushings? It's rare for a sway bar to go bad...
 
jlee said:
My parents were just quoted $550 for front brakes (calipers, pads, rotors) on their 02 Civic EX coupe. So, I'm going over on Tuesday to do it for them. Brakes aren't hard to do.

Do you actually need a new sway bar, or just new bushings? It's rare for a sway bar to go bad...
Click to expand...

Calipers too? What would make a caliper go bad on a not-that-old car? Rust?
 
arrfep said:
Calipers too? What would make a caliper go bad on a not-that-old car? Rust?
Click to expand...

One of the calipers is seizing up...probably a lack of lubrication on the slide pins over time.

I priced it out from Autozone and I can get a pair of loaded calipers (calipers with hardware and pads) and rotors for $187.xx. Sounds like a plan to me.
 
jlee said:
One of the calipers is seizing up...probably a lack of lubrication on the slide pins over time.

I priced it out from Autozone and I can get a pair of loaded calipers (calipers with hardware and pads) and rotors for $187.xx. Sounds like a plan to me.
Click to expand...
The boot was OK on the seized caliper?

EDIT: Er, I meant caliper piston but...
 
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If you go to a Les Schwab they quote for new parts including calipers. Whether you need them or not.
 
jlee said:
One of the calipers is seizing up...probably a lack of lubrication on the slide pins over time.

I priced it out from Autozone and I can get a pair of loaded calipers (calipers with hardware and pads) and rotors for $187.xx. Sounds like a plan to me.
Click to expand...

Rockauto is also pretty good.
 
May also want to check out Advance Auto. Buy the parts online, use a coupon code to knock a big chunk off, then pick up parts at the store.

I used "BIG50" a couple of weeks ago buying plugs and coils for the RX-8. Ends up being $50 off of orders over $200.
 
rockauto and amazon used to be my number one go to place

now its advance with the coupons. most cases i got silver pad and rotors for about 90$ and $20-30 off and its golden.
 
Advance Auto sounds like a good idea. I really don't know anything about this stuff though, so for example with brake pads I don't know if I should get silver, gold, or ceramic. I guess just pick "most popular"?
 
For your rotors, do not buy the cheapest ones. They will not last long and will warp.
For your pads, get the mid or top grade, preferably semi metallic ones if they have it
for that model car. They last longer, stop better and are more fade resistant than the
cheap pads. This is good for all types of driving especially if you do a lot of hilly roads.
 
eh... i tend to get the cheapest rotors because most are at $20-30 and they are throw away prices for me. I haven't had on warp on me. Of all the cars i've worked on and replaced, which is about 30 rotors, none had a warp in them when i asked about the car afterwards.

Pads wise, i've used the silvers and golds. Most golds are ceramic. I normally tell people to try and get ceramics, overall less dust and better bite in terms of braking. It all pends on people's price range at the time.

Your not going to notice too much with whatever combo you go with. Ceramics do tend to last a little longer. Most cars/people i do brakes for seem pretty happy that i can get them a simple brake job for about $100-150. Braking sometimes might not be like original but its 100% better then what they came in with.
 
Thanks for the tips. We got pads, rotors, and a replacement sway bar link (one of mine was broken) for $115. Payed him $70 so all in all $185, about $100 less than mechanic would charge just for pads & rotors, not to mention the sway bar link (which he'd probably charge at least another $100 for). Going to replace broken rear struts and busted thermostat next weekend - probably getting all-in-ones ($250 for a pair) so don't have to bother renting a compressor.
 
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