$1000 to fix my brakes?!?!?!? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tangofox007 · #1 10-08-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbach36

A Goodyear or other place can do just as well.

In my opinion, a chain tire store is that last place you want to go for anything.

#2 10-08-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

In my opinion, a chain tire store is that last place you want to go for anything.

Yup, I would go to the goodyear place to buy goodyear tires, but that's about it.

toomany MBZ · #3 10-09-2007, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luked23

I have a Haynes Manual, is the procedure in there?

Yes, chapter 9.

Ken300D · #4 10-09-2007, 11:36 AM

If you have worked on cars before, then there is nothing particularly special about the MB that we can't talk you through doing yourself.

However, if you really need someone to do this work for you, then you need to talk to more places and get another quote for the work. $1000 is too high. Even when you consider that $1000 today is worth about what $500 was five years ago (in terms of importing Euro parts).

Ken300D

Luked23 · #5 10-09-2007, 09:40 AM

What about Midas??

you know, trust the midas touch?

nhdoc · #6 10-09-2007, 09:50 AM

In response to your initial post the price can be either a bargain or a rip-off but without knowing exactly what they are proposing to do it is impossible to say which. Dealers are known to charge well in excess of $1000 just for pads and rotors on 4 wheels, so assuming that's all he is quoting for it is a rip-off. As others have said, the parts are cheap (relatively) and if all you need is pads and rotors the whole job can be done for $200 or so in parts plus your time. The tech doesn't know what needs to be done until he starts doing it so your $1000 quote could easily be $2000 or even more once he determines you need 4 rotors and brake hoses or hard lines replaced as well.

Yes, there is nothing more costly than a cheap Mercedes...hear these words. If you can't or don't want to work on the car yourself, then either be prepared to have it cost you more than driving a new car or sell it and buy a Toyota.

dbn1066 · #7 10-09-2007, 12:10 PM

For what its worth...
I recently approached $700 for brakes on my 82. Now, I too had no real experience with brakes on these cars. However, I had the old family mechanic who does know what he's doing perform the job with me at his side, sort of teaching me as he went along. No chain car care center or otherwise will let you in the shop, let alone, teach you as they go. A manual is no match for a human imparting experience. Now I know what to do and will save $$$ next time. Oh, btw, I replaced the pads, rotors, calipers, and hoses in the rear. Fronts were good for now. I think $1K for pads, rotors, and calipers all around with labor is in the ball park. All the parts for my rear job approached $500 (all OEM name brand stuff- don't skimp on brake parts!)

Hatterasguy · #8 10-09-2007, 01:28 PM

Its an old car, you shouldn't buy these cars if you cannot do the work yourself. Especialy this kind of work, brakes are cake.

It probably needs, new rotors and pads all around. Maybe new front or rear calipers, if not both. If your doing calipers you change the hoses on a car that old. Since the car is so old you don't just remove parts, everything is a battle. The E brake is probably a mess, I'm sure the shoes are shot. The bearings need to be repacked etc.

Depending on what he is planning on doing $1k could be right.

vstech · #9 10-09-2007, 11:30 AM

first, do you have decent tools?
this is fixable yourself fairly simply, but you need floor jack, jack stands, impact wrench, impact sockets, and impact allen sockets.
parts are a small part of the equation, as are diagnostic skills to know what NEEDS to be replaced, and what you can get by with.
brake shoes are a given, you may need calipers, master cylinder, rotor, bearings, flexible and hard brake lines, etc. unless you live near mountains, you can probably get by with just new pads, and fresh fluid.
John

Phil · #10 10-09-2007, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

first, do you have decent tools?
this is fixable yourself fairly simply, but you need floor jack, jack stands, impact wrench, impact sockets, and impact allen sockets.
parts are a small part of the equation, as are diagnostic skills to know what NEEDS to be replaced, and what you can get by with.
brake shoes are a given, you may need calipers, master cylinder, rotor, bearings, flexible and hard brake lines, etc. unless you live near mountains, you can probably get by with just new pads, and fresh fluid.
John

Just curious, why do you need all those tools to do this? I've done a lot on my car and many others and never had a floor jack or impact wrench.

toomany MBZ · #11 10-09-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

Just curious, why do you need all those tools to do this? I've done a lot on my car and many others and never had a floor jack or impact wrench.

I'll agree with you on that. A floor jack is hardly mandatory, yet helpful and fast. Impact tools are also helpful and fast, yet not necessary.
I'll also agree with Hatterasguy, about working on these things. If you don't want to learn how to DIY, have time, somewhere to do the job, etc. you're going to be out a lot of cash having someone else do it for you. Good luck.