Generally brake work is desirable in most shops. As to the price of the OP`s estimate, sounds high. Just a week ago the radiator was replaced in my 95 GMC for $940.00. I replaced said radiator myself 10 years ago for just over $400.00. A brake job with cables last fall was $840.00 which I questioned and the shop owner showed me the price of parts to which I asked if that was the best price out there and he replied they are all the same. The work described here was at two different shops one of which is a long time family friend. It`s discouraging that I can no longer do my own work and I`m not interested in what's out there in the market.
Small independent shop quoted outrageous brake repair price. Is this the norm?
- Thread starter 97prizm
- Start date
I would but unfortunately my current security job doesn't afford me anything newer. Hence why I want out and found someone to assist me with a job in my career field. And yes I've seen the NHTSA crash footage and I'm shocked it was ever given a pass in crash tests.
I will. Rockauto has parking brake cables at $24.79 per side and a drum & shoe kit for both sides with all hardware for $86.79 The wheel cylinder is $20.99 per side. So all in $178.35 . Not sure if the kit includes wheel cylinders. So even if you double the price on parts thats $356 plus labor I'm still trying to figure out the $1066.78
No shop is going to use RA prices, even if they use RA parts. That is typically where they make their profit - parts mark up. Not saying its right, just saying it is. There have been many threads on that here.
If you use Napa parts pricing, plus add another 20%, you might be close. 100 bucks each for drums. 75 bucks each for cables. 50 bucks for the shoes, brake cylinders, maybe a brake line. 500 or so for parts sounds about normal for shop rates, plus shop fee this and that.
They likely don't want to do it - 17 year old drum brakes - what could possibly go wrong / sarc. I am the last one to defend some of these shops, but I wouldn't touch an old drum brake repair for under a grand either. Maybe one of those specialize brake places?
This is why my vehicles have been to the shop exactly twice in the last 20 years outside of warranty.
Just one more thought: aftermarket parking brake cables have yet to fit well for me on trucks. Not sure I've ever replaced one on a car.
Now granted you won't be finding OEM cables for a Neon today, but it's one more potential headache for the shop.
Also if you look at a typical pricing matrix I'm guessing at least a portion of the brake parts fall into 50-100% markup?
I dunno, it's expensive. Shop around or do the work yourself.
Now granted you won't be finding OEM cables for a Neon today, but it's one more potential headache for the shop.
Also if you look at a typical pricing matrix I'm guessing at least a portion of the brake parts fall into 50-100% markup?
I dunno, it's expensive. Shop around or do the work yourself.
In my experience, I've seen up-charges for older cars. Many places around here will not work on vehicles older than 10 years.
Too much liability, too many opportunities for something else to go wrong. It's even on their paperwork.
I hear your pain on this, but the shop gave you THEIR price based on what they know, and also what they don't know. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it or not to move ahead with that.
Some of the shops will work on older cars, but you sign their work order with a huge disclaimer that they "assume no responsibility for ancillary breakage or parts needed due to age".
Part of the issues with having older cars.
Too much liability, too many opportunities for something else to go wrong. It's even on their paperwork.
I hear your pain on this, but the shop gave you THEIR price based on what they know, and also what they don't know. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it or not to move ahead with that.
Some of the shops will work on older cars, but you sign their work order with a huge disclaimer that they "assume no responsibility for ancillary breakage or parts needed due to age".
Part of the issues with having older cars.
That's the same price for new front pads and semi-floating rotors on my 2015 BMW.
They are simply saying they do not want this work. Go to another shop. Problem solved.
Thank you. I thought the price seemed unrealistic for my neon. I'm picking it up shortly to take it to a closer repair shop that has done great work for me in the past. I'll post the new quote shortly.
It's 2023 NOTHING is cheap and or reasonable anymore.
Vote with your wallet. It’s a free market.
I'm still cheap. Pretty unreasonable most think though.
Honestly, $500 for labor is probably about right.
Most shops are getting $100 per hour or more.
Standard brake job is 2 hours labor, add an extra hour for wheel cylinders and bleed brakes.
Ebrake cables can easily take 3 hours or more.
A shops going to markup the parts some, anywhere from 40%-100% depending on the shop.
They also aren't getting economy stuff off rock auto. They are going through a local trusted parts store.
Shops have to warranty their work so most will shy away from off brand parts that may fail and cause a come back repair.
Last economy car drum brake job I sourced parts for, shop retail parts prices for good quality name brand parts were around about:
Drums $90-100 x2
Shoes $80
Hardware kit $40
Figure $50-75 for wheel cylinders x2
Ebrake cables $100 each x2
Most shops are getting $100 per hour or more.
Standard brake job is 2 hours labor, add an extra hour for wheel cylinders and bleed brakes.
Ebrake cables can easily take 3 hours or more.
A shops going to markup the parts some, anywhere from 40%-100% depending on the shop.
They also aren't getting economy stuff off rock auto. They are going through a local trusted parts store.
Shops have to warranty their work so most will shy away from off brand parts that may fail and cause a come back repair.
Last economy car drum brake job I sourced parts for, shop retail parts prices for good quality name brand parts were around about:
Drums $90-100 x2
Shoes $80
Hardware kit $40
Figure $50-75 for wheel cylinders x2
Ebrake cables $100 each x2
"They don't want to work on it so here's the price" and "We have no idea how to do it so we are sandbagging a lot just in case" are what I think is going on. I can give you an example:
My local Pepboys want to charge me mounting plus balancing for each wheel to replace the TPMS, plus the TPMS sensor and labor to program it. That's like $60 per TPMS labor cost, without replacing the tires.
My local American Tire just charge me $10 because they can deflate and pry the tire off a bit, then replace the TPMS with what I provide, and program it afterward for me.
I don't think the "manager" or "tech" at my Pepboys know what they are doing.
Another example:
My local Wheel Works want to charge like $500 to install a camber kit on my Mazda5 because they have to take the exhaust off to get to it, my local mom and pop tire shop did it without, and charge me $110. They did say they can only one install instead of adjustment back and forth to tune the camber angle. I have to do the research to tell them how many "turns" from hard stop to set on the internet, luckily I got that right.
My local Pepboys want to charge me mounting plus balancing for each wheel to replace the TPMS, plus the TPMS sensor and labor to program it. That's like $60 per TPMS labor cost, without replacing the tires.
My local American Tire just charge me $10 because they can deflate and pry the tire off a bit, then replace the TPMS with what I provide, and program it afterward for me.
I don't think the "manager" or "tech" at my Pepboys know what they are doing.
Another example:
My local Wheel Works want to charge like $500 to install a camber kit on my Mazda5 because they have to take the exhaust off to get to it, my local mom and pop tire shop did it without, and charge me $110. They did say they can only one install instead of adjustment back and forth to tune the camber angle. I have to do the research to tell them how many "turns" from hard stop to set on the internet, luckily I got that right.
Last edited:
Or it's a 20 yr old Neon and the shop doesn't want to get married to it, so they're quoting it the "go-away" price.
Exactly. If its a busy shop, they can pick an choose. Other work that is profitable with less time invested may be out there.
