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

Luked23 · #1 10-08-2007, 03:37 PM

Ok, I just bought a very used 300td. Got the brakes checked because there was a noticable grinding happening when depressing brake, and sound continued first few seconds of driving after braking.

I took it to a local Benz specialist and he said it would cost $1000+ to fix the brakes!?!?
What could possibly be wrong to cost that much for the brakes??

I bought this car for $900, it has some rust, runs ok, it seems like it just needs a bit of a tune up. 200,000 miles on it.

Should I spend the money to fix these brakes? Or am I getting ripped a new one?

Chris Bell · #2 10-08-2007, 03:40 PM

I don't know if their ripping you off or not. But, I do know that for about 150 or 175 dollars you can put new brakes on it yourself. New pads, rotors, and pad sensors. Not a hard job if your at all mechanically inclined.

#3 10-08-2007, 03:45 PM

If it needs rotors, it's a fairly time consuming job to replace the front rotors because the entire hub has to come off. That means cleaning+repacking the bearings and dealing with 22+ year old bolts holding the rotor to the hub.

ftav · #4 10-08-2007, 03:46 PM

Find out if you have damaged calipers. If they need to be replaced, that will up your cost signficantly. If the car didn't have the brake fluid changed at reasonable intervals over its life, the seals and/or bores of the calipers could be shot.

A pair of front rotors will cost you around $80-120 for both depending on where you get them. Pads might be as low as $40. So, as stated, you could replace the front rotors and pads yourself for under $200. If you find a reasonable mechanic, you are probably looking at around $400-450 for that job. If you have to replace both calipers and change the fluid, you could be reasonably charged close to double that (I think -- I'm not exactly sure how much calipers cost for your car but even if they were only $100 each you are talking $200 in parts, plus labor to remove them, the hydraulic lines might be in bad shape and need to be replaced as well, etc. It adds up quickly.)

Phil · #5 10-08-2007, 04:07 PM

You need more info to judge this but even looking at and expensive supplier I see front rotors at $37 and rears at $35, pads are cheap, bearings if you need are under $60 for both front sides total. See if you can find out what this person was going to replace. What year car is it? What are the symptoms of your brake issues? There are a lot of knowledgeable people here that could help determine whats needed. If it's just grinding but has good pedal feel it sounds like it might be just pads and either turning the rotors or replacing them.

Luked23 · #6 10-08-2007, 04:13 PM

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Here is all info I can give right now, Im going to talk to the mechanic tomorrow to see what he says is wrong.

My car is a 1980 300td, not turbo.

The symptoms where,
-Squeeling when braking that continued from the moment i touched the brake to about 4-10seconds after releasing brake pedal.
-Soft pedal
-Grinding sound when braking

Thats all that I noticed, I am no mechanic but I have done some work on cars. Never replaced brakes before though.

It sounds like I can do this job for under $1000 even if everything that could possibly be wrong with the brakes system is wrong...right?

#7 10-08-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luked23

It sounds like I can do this job for under $1000 even if everything that could possibly be wrong with the brakes system is wrong...right?

Maybe; in the worst case, the calipers are about $100 each and the master cylinder is another $100, plus the cast of the rotors. Depending what has to be done, $1000 may be OK including labor.

blindwolf · #8 10-08-2007, 03:44 PM

You will want to give your calipers a good looking out. They might be sticking and as long as you have the bakes off the car, replace the wheel bearings and races.

rrgrassi · #9 10-08-2007, 03:45 PM

While you are replacing the front rotors, plan on repacking or replacing the wheel bearings, and replacing the grease seals, as that adds about $60 more to the parts price.

alabbasi · #10 10-08-2007, 04:11 PM

Check the prices out on fast lane. You have a brake master, steel lines that can be had any any auto store, brake hoses , calipers, discs , pads and shoes (for parking brakes). I would still be surprised if you spend more then $500 in parts.

#11 10-08-2007, 04:12 PM

Can you tell us exactly what he is planning on doing for this price?

Luked23 · #12 10-08-2007, 05:09 PM

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

Phil · #13 10-08-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luked23

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

That should be in there. Check with Fast Lane in the Buy Parts section at the top of this page, You should be able to get a good price on anything you need.

kerry · #14 10-08-2007, 07:00 PM

There's another issue you need to think about in my opinion. A $900 MB can turn into a very expensive car in short order if you don't do your own work.(as you're learning) I see only two choices: Fork out the money to a mechanic or learn to do a lot of maintenance work yourself. Now is the time to make the decision before you start putting money into it. Is the car worth the $$ or the learning effort you will need to expend.

jbach36 · #15 10-08-2007, 07:43 PM

You don't have to take it to an MB specialist. A Goodyear or other place can do just as well.

Also, troll the less upscale areas, I'm talking places where American citizens who have lived here their whole lives, still do not yet speak proper English. Their MB specialists could probably do ok on a simple job.