brake pads/rotors pricing

[nimbus2007]

Hi,

I don't have room to do it in so someone's doing it for me. replacing pads and rotors on all four corners. I want to stick with OEM

Dealer quoted me the parts as follows:

front pads - $75/set
rear pads - $68/set
Front rotors - $127 each x2 = $254
Rear Rotors - $121 each x2 = $242

Total is $639 plus tax (I assume)

is this reasonable? also, how much fluid do i need?

thanks all

[ptsmh73]

There are lots of places that offer genuine Honda parts at discount prices, including site sponsor HondaAcuraPlanet.com. Do a GOOGLE for Honda parts and see how many come up. Some places may even offer free shipping, etc, so its worth shopping around. You don't say how many miles you have, but I would question whether you need to replace the rotors. Usually, new pads will suffice. You would save almost $500 compared to your $639 quote.

[nimbus2007]

thanks ptsmh73.

dealer already mentioned last December's service visit that pads were getting low. they needed to re-surface them and new pads on all corners (3mm). It currently has 50k on them

unfortunately, I can't do hondaacuraplanet.com or the other online merchants as we're leaving Sunday for a trip and can't risk not getting the parts by Friday. I know, should have planned ahead ;-(

anyway, parts dept. said if I buy from them I can return the rotors if I don't need them as long as they are sealed.

thanks again

[whizmo]

These prices appear reasonable for dealer prices for OEM parts.

I wouldn't take the dealer's word that the brakes need to be replaced NOW. If your trip is not very long, you might easily be able to finish the trip and do it afterwards. Brake jobs are highly profitable for dealers and they'll generally recommend replacement anytime the wear is more than 60% or so with the rationale that it is "better safe than sorry" and that it is possible the brakes might be marginal before you bring it in again for service. They don't get down there with calipers either measuring it - they eyeball it and put a number on the service form. If they're short of work, the amount of pad left over seems to shrink. Amazing how this happens.

Likewise rotor replacement or resurfacing is often a "knee jerk" recommendation by dealers as it adds to their profit and runs a lower risk of brake squeal afterwards. Most of the time, you can get rotors to work acceptable for two or three sets of pads. I don't resurface - I just replace rotors every two or three sets of brake pads.

I'd go on your trip and just replace pads afterwards. I just saved you $700.

- Mark

[n2da2nd]

Originally Posted by nimbus2007

Hi,

I don't have room to do it in so someone's doing it for me. replacing pads and rotors on all four corners. I want to stick with OEM

Dealer quoted me the parts as follows:

front pads - $75/set
rear pads - $68/set
Front rotors - $127 each x2 = $254
Rear Rotors - $121 each x2 = $242

Total is $639 plus tax (I assume)

is this reasonable? also, how much fluid do i need?

thanks all

Damn, that's too expensive. I've just recently had a brake job done on my 07 Corolla with 30k miles (I know, it's irrelevant. Please bear with me 'til the end)

I started paying attention to the brake since it had made a squeaking noise and the steering wheel was jerking while I applied the brake at 45mph. The shop I had the brake done charged me $200 for everything included lifetime warranty on the parts. 30k miles and I have to have the brake replaced, unbelievable!

If you lived in Miami, I could recommend you the shop I had mine done. The manager is super nice and the price is reasonable. It may be more since your car is a SUV, but I'm sure it's nowhere close to $600+

[ptsmh73]

Originally Posted by nimbus2007

thanks ptsmh73.

dealer already mentioned last December's service visit that pads were getting low. they needed to re-surface them and new pads on all corners (3mm). It currently has 50k on them

unfortunately, I can't do hondaacuraplanet.com or the other online merchants as we're leaving Sunday for a trip and can't risk not getting the parts by Friday. I know, should have planned ahead ;-(

anyway, parts dept. said if I buy from them I can return the rotors if I don't need them as long as they are sealed.

thanks again

At 50K, it is highly UNLIKELY that the original rotors are shot. Buy them as insurance if you want, but DON'T open them becuase I think you'll be bringing them back for a refund.

[nimbus2007]

thanks all..

by the way, the prices I posted are just parts. I tried calling 3 dealers around and these were the cheapest ones. I am having an independent shop do the brakes. I'm only supplying the pads and rotors. I also don't like re-surfacing the rotors. at this point I don't trust the dealer touching my car anymore. I don't mind spending the money as long as I know it's what was done, which I'm unsure of now with them.

I am not sure my rotors are that bad yet, but I'll let the indy shop tell me what they find.

anyway, thanks for the opinions and feedback. I'll let you know what we decide

[samc]

I doubt changing rotors as well. I own an 06' and my rotors look just fine to me. I bet the dealership was giving you salesman talk just to work brake service into your wallet. And if you're still in doubt take a few pictures of your rotors for us and let us be the judge.

With that said if $75 and $68 are the prices for pads then your final cost should be $143. And whatever you're paying your friend for the work (a bottle of rum?).

You do not necessarily need to change your fluid. If they are low then certainly top off otherwise you don't need to do it.


And while I type this how many miles do you have? Again my o6' has 56k miles and the pads as well are pretty good. I bet yours are not as low as you think they are. Again pics + us be the judges.

[nimbus2007]

ok samc, I have 50k on the Pilot. I'd say 35-40% highway.

you must have mis-read my post. The rotors were $127 front and $121 rear (each) so x2 = $496

[samc]

Sorry I edited my post, I meant the pads were $75 and $68 respectively.

But again considering you do the same type of driving as me with a few less miles, your pads should be fine as well.


EDIT: BTW: Are rotors really $127/121 each????? That seems very high. Then again I never bought rotors for my pilot (since I didn't need then yet) but I know aftermarket rotors can be had for $127 or $121 for the pairs.

[2010exl]

When you step on the brake at about 45 mph, does the car stop smoothly or does the steering wheel or brake pedal pulsate? If it stopped smoothly, the rotors are not warped.

The only other reason the rotors would need to be resurfaced is if the pads wore down to the metal backing and scored the surface of the rotor.

There is a minimum thickness for the rotor, and at 50k miles, it is very unlikely that they will be too thin. Honda uses very high quality brake rotors and you should have no problem with just putting on new pads and leaving the rotors alone for now. Make sure he removes the caliper slide pins and lubricates them.

This is not true for all manufacturers......Audi for instance uses a much softer rotor, and those cars almost always need new rotors when replacing the pads due to the protruding edge on the outer circumference of the rotor that forms and cuts in to the pad sensor wire.

[fishingdan]

Yeah, unless you are having a problem, your rotors have a lot of miles remaining. Honda rotors are better than many manufacturers. Before my Pilot, I had an Acura TL and put 125 on the original rotors with re-surfacing at a couple of points at the dealer (a key point from my experience with my Honda/Acura dealers. I watched them resurface the Acura rotors on the car with very fine cuts). My 04 Pilot got to 90k before I replaced the rotors. They could have gone longer.

[nimbus2007]

**UPDATE**

all of you were right, rotors are still in good shape indy shop did the following:

front/rear pads replaced
brake flush (dirty as hell)
tires rotated (free since they were off already )

p.s. dealer didn't give me a hard time returning the rotors.

thanks all