Cost to "replace" brakes?

I'm always grumpy after I get car repair done, because of strong
suspicions of having been ripped off. (I'm a pretty clueless car
owner.) Any idea whether replacing my 2001 Dodge Neon's front tires and
all brakes (but not rotors) for $500 was way off, somewhat off, or spot
on?

TIA.

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm always grumpy after I get car repair done, because of strong
> suspicions of having been ripped off. (I'm a pretty clueless car
> owner.) Any idea whether replacing my 2001 Dodge Neon's front tires and
> all brakes (but not rotors) for $500 was way off, somewhat off, or spot
> on?
>
> TIA.
>

It really depends a lot on the cost of the tires. What sort of breakdown do
you have as far as the charges are concerned?

--Geoff

Yeah - a break down would have helped The mechanic has just scrawled
a list, with no individual costs. He avoided questions about brands,
and warrantees ...

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Yeah - a break down would have helped The mechanic has just scrawled
> a list, with no individual costs. He avoided questions about brands,
> and warrantees ...
>

Was this on an estimate or a bill? If it's on a bill that's the time to
refuse to pay without a breakdown of costs. If it's on an estimate then if
they don't want to break down the cost it's time to find a different
mechanic. Either way, it sounds like time to find a different mechanic.
The price sounds kinda high but knowing the tire prices would help.

Hope that helps some,

Tom Heintz "Mopar Maniac"

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 wrote:

> Yeah - a break down would have helped The mechanic has just scrawled
> a list, with no individual costs. He avoided questions about brands, and
> warrantees ...

You, uh, didn't ask these questions before you handed over the keys?

I have no idea why, but dealing with mechanics feels so rushed I
usually end up making foolish decisions (which would explain why I'm
left feeling ripped off/foolish). Definitely time to change mechanic,
maybe even cough up for dealership work, atleast they itemize and
document everything.

You will get ripped off on brake jobs if you go to one of those specialty
brake shops.There motto is nobody leaves wiyhout spending at least 500
bucks.There mechanics get paid a percentage of the entire bill including
parts,and there parts are really expensive.they will find parts you need
to replace.There big move is when they say I CANT GIVE YOU THE LIFE TIME
WARRENTY WITH OUT REPLACING THIS PART.Skip the life time warranty,its a
sales pitch.
Master Mechanic

<< Yeah - a break down would have helped The mechanic has just scrawled a
list, with no individual costs. He avoided questions about brands, and
warrantees ... >>
____Reply Separator_____
Wow! Did you figure the price of the Vaseline you used into your final cost?
Dry cleaning/washing your trousers from the grease they absorbed while laying
around your ankles on the shop's floor??

Yeah - a break down would have helped The mechanic has just scrawled
a list, with no individual costs. He avoided questions about brands,
and warrantees ...

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm always grumpy after I get car repair done, because of strong
> suspicions of having been ripped off. (I'm a pretty clueless car
> owner.) Any idea whether replacing my 2001 Dodge Neon's front tires and
> all brakes (but not rotors) for $500 was way off, somewhat off, or spot
> on?
>
> TIA.
>

It really depends a lot on the cost of the tires. What sort of breakdown do
you have as far as the charges are concerned?

--Geoff