Car repair - what would you have done?

[Tenbatsuzen]

There's a local car place by me that's always good about fixing and patching tires and being friendly.

My brakes fried on my truck, and I took it in for repairs. It needs new pads on front and back, plus new rotors on the front.

The price was pretty high - about 700 bucks. I called a few other places, including Midas, and they all quoted me anywhere between 400-700 bucks over the phone.

I already burned a day working from home to get this repair done, so I gave the OK for the repairs even though it was on the high end of what I was quoted. My thought was, if I take it off the lift at place A, they'd charge me an inspection fee anyway, and then I'd have to take it to another place and their estimate once it's on their lift could be wildly different than what I was quoted over the phone.

I'm also trying to rationalize it that I'm helping local business.

Am I crazy?

[drjoek]

You did the right thing
Someday when you need a favor they will be there for you. I always trust the local guy when ever I can even if it cost a bit more

[RAAMONE]

You did the right thing
Someday when you need a favor they will be there for you. I always trust the local gay when ever I can even if it cost a bit more

freudian slip?

[Bellyfullasnot]

I would have used Pep boys or a Sears auto as a rough idea for a quote and then I would have done it myself. Brakes are not as hard as everybody makes them out to be. The last time I paid for a brake job it was 2 years ago in Feb. and I had no choice. It was my wife's car and we were leaving for a Disney road trip in a day. It ran about 500. and I was annoyed that I didn't check them when it was warmer. I'm usually on top of stuff like that but I was too worried about making money for Disney.

[Marc with a c]

freudian slip?

ha

[LordJezo]

Oof.

Did you even consider doing your own brake pads and rotors? It's as simple as changing your own oil. Would only take a couple of hours and you could it get it done for a quarter of what you paid. $700 is nuts. On my Impala I spent $150 for ceramic Hawk pads for all four wheels and I bought fancy slotted / drilled rotors for $175 off eBay, once again a set of four, and that's going high end, I could get standard stuff for $50. I just ordered new rear pads for my car and plan on switching them this weekend, should only take about an hour.

I think most people are just scared of the concept of changing brakes. It's usually "Oh man, I am not messing with my wheels!" but it's actually very easy to do once you figure it out. If you can jack the car up and get the wheel off then you can change the pads.

Unless it is a real truck, like a semi or something, but everything that has your standard disc brakes are easy to do.

[Kris10]

How much was the inspection fee? How old is this truck (year, miles?) What time of day was it? And how close to the next place?

All this depends on my answer.

[drjoek]

freudian slip?


I meant to write Guy not Gay No really GUY
Im not one of those
I.....I......

Oh enough pretending

:wub:Hi Marc with a c :wub:

[RAAMONE]

I meant to write Guy not Gay No really GUY
Im not one of those
I.....I......

Oh enough pretending

:wub:Hi Marc with a c :wub:

the funny thing is that the letters a and u are so far away from eachother on the keyboard

[Bellyfullasnot]

Just remember, if it's front wheel drive the car/truck can roll if you jack up the front. Invest $20. in a chilton's or Haye's repair manual for your car.

[Tenbatsuzen]

How much was the inspection fee? How old is this truck (year, miles?) What time of day was it? And how close to the next place?

All this depends on my answer.

I don't know what the fee was; probably 50 bucks. It's a 2003 with 45K miles. I dropped it off this morning. And the truck was drivable to other places.

As for doing my own repairs...

It's funny how confident I am when it comes to fixing computers, but completely gunshy when touching the inner workings of my truck. I *can* replace a radio, but totally afraid of changing the oil.


Also, I have issues with midas. The last time they did work on my car, they fucked up my electrical system and I had to go back again for them to fix it.

[Marc with a c]

I meant to write Guy not Gay No really GUY
Im not one of those
I.....I......

Oh enough pretending

:wub:Hi Marc with a c :wub:

wha?

im not local.

[Tenbatsuzen]

wha?

im not local.

bullshit, you pour over craiglists of a 300 mile radius.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I meant to write Guy not Gay No really GUY
Im not one of those
I.....I......

Oh enough pretending

:wub:Hi Marc with a c :wub:


I heard your a fan of gay gayerson

:king:

[drjoek]

bullshit, you pour over craiglists of a 300 mile radius.

I can be there in 65 minutes if I hurry.:wink:

[Marc with a c]

i don't go for new jerseyians.

[drjoek]

i don't go for new jerseyians.

Im from Connecticut, blondie

[Marc with a c]

Im from Connecticut, blondie

oh. um. ba ba ba...

go whalers

[King Hippos Bandaid]

i don't go for new jerseyians.

c'mon , He'll give you a Free Teeth Cleaning,



with his Cock.....

:king:

[Tenbatsuzen]

I heard your a fan of gay gayerson

:king:

Oh shit.

Hippo, you're fucking brilliant.

[Marc with a c]

i dont like the way this thread is going.

matty you did the right thing.

you're a stand up guy, or lazy. tbd.

[LordJezo]

What year / model / make is the truck?

Most people are afraid to touch their car because they have never been shown what to do. But then most people wont even open their computer case because they are afraid of all the wires. You already said you work on your pc so working on a bigger machine is not too much harder. You should start with learning to change your own oil, that one can be figured out in only a couple of tries and once you get it down you'll feel silly about spending all that money on having someone else do it with questionable parts. Changing it yourself not only saves money but allows you to customize what you want in your car by picking out your own oil and filter.

How about the air filter? Have you tried that one? Air filter is even easier than doing your own oil. Lets start there.

[RAAMONE]

i love how on rf.net threads about car repair can turn gay by the first post

[Tenbatsuzen]

What year / model / make is the truck?

Most people are afraid to touch their car because they have never been shown what to do. But then most people wont even open their computer case because they are afraid of all the wires. You already said you work on your pc so working on a bigger machine is not too much harder. You should start with learning to change your own oil, that one can be figured out in only a couple of tries and once you get it down you'll feel silly about spending all that money on having someone else do it with questionable parts. Changing it yourself not only saves money but allows you to customize what you want in your car by picking out your own oil and filter.

How about the air filter? Have you tried that one? Air filter is even easier than doing your own oil. Lets start there.

I have in fact replace the air filter.

The problem with changing the oil is that I live in an apartment complex and I don't have easy access to materials if something goes horrifically wrong.

[drjoek]

What year / model / make is the truck?

Most people are afraid to touch their car because they have never been shown what to do. But then most people wont even open their computer case because they are afraid of all the wires. You already said you work on your pc so working on a bigger machine is not too much harder. You should start with learning to change your own oil, that one can be figured out in only a couple of tries and once you get it down you'll feel silly about spending all that money on having someone else do it with questionable parts. Changing it yourself not only saves money but allows you to customize what you want in your car by picking out your own oil and filter.

How about the air filter? Have you tried that one? Air filter is even easier than doing your own oil. Lets start there.

Which one are you
Click or Clack?
http://weeklywire.com/ww/06-22-98/memphis_socvr-1.gif

[Jujubees2]

Which one are you
Click or Clack?
http://weeklywire.com/ww/06-22-98/memphis_socvr-1.gif

Those guys are the best. I love listening to them and I get their weekly Car Talk Puzzler.

[Kris10]

I don't know what the fee was; probably 50 bucks. It's a 2003 with 45K miles. I dropped it off this morning. And the truck was drivable to other places.

As for doing my own repairs...

It's funny how confident I am when it comes to fixing computers, but completely gunshy when touching the inner workings of my truck. I *can* replace a radio, but totally afraid of changing the oil.


Also, I have issues with midas. The last time they did work on my car, they fucked up my electrical system and I had to go back again for them to fix it.

LOL I won't dare touch my radio but I change my own oil. My dad taught me early on how to do basic things with my car from oil changes to tire changes. I'm afraid of fucking up anything electrical though so I'd look at the radio & cry.

I would have just left it there since it is low on miles and a '03. Midas has always been good to me on my '97 but there comes a point when you can only put so much $ into a car before it's time to invest in a new one. Thats why I was asking how old and how many miles.

You must live close to work! I have an '07 I got in July and already have 14,000.

[buzzard]

I concur that you did the right thing,otherwise I'm laffing too phucking hard to say much else! :king: & the c said it faster,funnier as well as meaner than I could!:lol:

[Hottub]

Always try to go with your mechanic. I've been going to Al for 20 years. He gets the job done right, he is honest, and has no problem doing me little favors. The few times I've gone to one of those chains, I've regretted it.

Gvac, you know Al, right? Great Guy.

[Death Metal Moe]

Replacing your rotors and pads have to be one of the easist things that even non-car guys can do themselves to save cash.

Most rotors come off after you remove the caliper, and the pads slide in after you move the caliper back in.

You are probably looking at less than 250 in parts if you shopped around, and you could finish the job, not knowing a lot, in 2 hours.

You are paying about 75% mark up on parts and the rest is labor. Of course you may not have all the tools you need right there, but almost everyone has a friend with some stuff in their garage. Or even if you have to buy a few tools, you will have them for the future to save yourself the labor again.

[drjoek]

Always try to go with your mechanic. I've been going to Al for 20 years. He gets the job done right, he is honest, and has no problem doing me little favors. The few times I've gone to one of those chains, I've regretted it.

Gvac, you know Al, right? Great Guy.
Are we back to the gay talk here?

[Marc with a c]

my ears are hot again

[Tenbatsuzen]

Replacing your rotors and pads have to be one of the easist things that even non-car guys can do themselves to save cash.

Most rotors come off after you remove the caliper, and the pads slide in after you move the caliper back in.



Ah, that's the trick. My truck's rotors aren't like that.

[Gvac]

Gvac, you know Al, right? Great Guy.

Al is a maniac, but a damn good mechanic. The fact that he's insane don't make him a bad person, though.

I'm a big proponent of supporting the 'little guy' and I wouldn't bring my vehicles to anyone other than my regular mechanic.

[buzzard]

Always try to go with your mechanic. I've been going to Al for 20 years. He gets the job done right, he is honest, and has no problem doing me little favors. The few times I've gone to one of those chains, I've regretted it.

Gvac, you know Al, right? Great Guy.

what do you say AL?????

[Kris10]

Gvac, you know Al, right? Great Guy.

Tub, your talking like the 3 of you weren't together last night.

[Marc with a c]

Tub, your talking like the 3 of you weren't together last night.

you have to talk to gvac like that.

[Kris10]

you have to talk to gvac like that.

Don't think Gvac and I have spoken 2 words to each other ever!

[Marc with a c]

Don't think Gvac and I have spoken 2 words to each other ever!

he's old and forgetful

[Gvac]

But memorable...

[Gvac]

Oh, and hi Rouskie. :bye:

[JPMNICK]

it's only money. so if you got beat for 200, whats the difference you know the guy and it got done quick.

[Kris10]

Oh, and hi Rouskie. :bye:

LOL Hi Gvac! :clap:

[sr71blackbird]

Always go to Sears auto repair

[lleeder]

You should have had Dave call the repair shop as you and negotiate a better price.

[Death Metal Moe]

Ah, that's the trick. My truck's rotors aren't like that.

OH, well that sucks bro. If they're pressed on, you did the right thing.

[Reynolds]

I've been known to let my brakes go for long enough to completely disintegrate the rotors, metal filings flying all over every time I stop, squeaking at every little move. I stopped being embarrassed about all the noises my shitbox makes. People give me funny looks and I just laugh. The other day I drove over a median that I didn't see and got propped up on top of it putting all the weight on my exhaust like a teeter totter. 200k miles wtf am i gonna do, fix it?

[Death Metal Moe]

I've been known to let my brakes go for long enough to completely disintegrate the rotors, metal filings flying all over every time I stop, squeaking at every little move. I stopped being embarrassed about all the noises my shitbox makes. People give me funny looks and I just laugh. The other day I drove over a median that I didn't see and got propped up on top of it putting all the weight on my exhaust like a teeter totter. 200k miles wtf am i gonna do, fix it?

Umm, by allowing your break pads to wear down to the rotors, you just added an extra $150-$250 in parts alone to your next brake job. The point of changing pads when you hear the squeakers is to save the rotors. Plus you're getting HORRIBLE braking out of your car, don't tailgate anybody unless you want to find out what happens when metal on metal doesn't break as well as you had hoped.

And if that's your only ride, yea. You fix it up as cheaply as you can. If you have another ride or enough money to just buy cars at well, then you treat the one you have like a piece of shit. I never had that luxury.

[BoondockSaint]

I spent $565.91 on tires, alignment, an emission leak, and inspection today. I got off easy.