Worth the money or should I do it myself?

[R18Civic]

First off I should start by saying last time I enjoyed working on cars I was 100 lbs lighter.

My 2019 Malibu is making a clicking noise when I brake (only when driving next to a building or wall) and also makes a groaning noise when braking a low speed. It seems to be getting worse and has been present since I purchased the vehicle in 24, but the clicking is new.

Google AI said it could likely be from pads rattling on broken or incorrectly installed shims.

I have wagner rotors and bosch pads waiting to be installed. I am wondering if I should tackle the issue myself with no brake diagnostic experience or pay my mobile mechanic $475 to do all 4 corners of the vehicle.

 

[JavierH19]

Mechanics especially mobile ones do it so fast they don't care about doing it right. I take my sweet time very thoroughly cleaning everything and using a little sil glide on every point while they race to slap it all together sometimes putting the wrong pad on the side they're supposed to go on or forgetting which of the two slide pins goes where since they're usually different but still tighten and burn rubber out of there to the next job. No thanks I'll always do it myself until I'm physically unable to anymore.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

First off I should start by saying last time I enjoyed working on cars I was 100 lbs lighter.

My 2019 Malibu is making a clicking noise when I brake (only when driving next to a building or wall) and also makes a groaning noise when braking a low speed. It seems to be getting worse and has been present since I purchased the vehicle in 24, but the clicking is new.

Google AI said it could likely be from pads rattling on broken or incorrectly installed shims.

I have wagner rotors and bosch pads waiting to be installed. I am wondering if I should tackle the issue myself with no brake diagnostic experience or pay my mobile mechanic $475 to do all 4 corners of the vehicle.

Shops by me charge like $500 per axle with a coupon.

 

[Oillover]

I am wondering if I should tackle the issue myself with no brake diagnostic experience or pay my mobile mechanic $475 to do all 4 corners of the vehicle.

Find a better mechanic who's not mobile.
Especially one with a good reputation in the area.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Clicking sounds like the CVT axle.

 

[dfarr67]

I don't generally mind paying for GOOD work- but it's so rare these days I make time to do it myself.

 

[wlk]

Become friends with someone who knows how to work on cars and learn from them. Either pay them in cash, favors or food and beverages. Yt university can help you as well. Stay off ai, they have no clue

 

[DCDG]

i am all about doing it myself i knew Jack about brake work but taught myself well and now well seasoned for the job. If the computer said an axle takes an hour I take two its my work my car my time and I am in no need for the rush. The same love, labor and detail goes into a friend or family members auto.

 

[R18Civic]

I'm going to tackle it myself, just purchased some combo wrenches to go with my socket sets and power tools.

 

[Chris142]

Shops by me charge like $500 per axle with a coupon.

Labor only?

 

[slo town]

OP, forget about doing the actual repair; be it brakes or a CV joint, but you should check the pads and brake rotors yourself. Don't fix them, just check them. If any pads are down to metal you need to know that.

Scott

 

[DCDG]

I'm going to tackle it myself, just purchased some combo wrenches to go with my socket sets and power tools.

View attachment 350644

 

[R18Civic]

I know there's meat on the pads, when my mechanic replaced the rear knuckles the rear pads had a 1/2 inch of pad material on them. I'll check the fronts my next day off.

 

[DCDG]

I know there's meat on the pads, when my mechanic replaced the rear knuckles the rear pads had a 1/2 inch of pad material on them.

I know it sounds counterintuitive to pull the tires off and not replace the brakes and hardware, but sometimes all the brakes need are a good cleaning and lubing of the slides. My wife's 24 Rogue at the time had around 18,000 miles and the brakes felt funny found out the slides were near bone dry and at least one had to be tapped out.