I have a 06 Nissan Titan 5.6L pickup at 60k miles now and brakes are squeeling. This is my first time getting brakes replaced. Im debating whether to let the dealer or aftermarket places such as (Meineke, Midas, JustBrakes, etc) service my brakes. Can anyone offer me some advice to which one would be better off going to for the quality and price?
Dealership or aftermarket places for brake job?
- Thread starter Highroller
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The dealer will be very expensive vs the aftermarket places.
If you went to the stealership they would put some good semi-metallic or as an upgrade cheap ceramic pads. I would buy good ceramics like Raybestos QS and DIY, if you arent' sure about brakes, then take it to any aftermarket shops. Watch while they are replacing the pads.
Depends on the dealerships but mine has a lower rate for breaks. However on most Japan cars I like to have the OEM pads. Just seems to work better especially in the noise category. Aftermarket likes to get into all kinds of their own material compositions and the imports seem to be picky. The ceramics would probably be OK though.
That seems to be ideal, ill look into buying aftermarket pads and bring it to a shop. Any ideas as to the average cost for a a regular brake pad/shoes job at a dealership or let's say at midas?
Check your local dealers prices first. I work at a Ford dealer and we run very competitive specials to compete with the aftermarket. Some aftermarket pads are ok, but I've always had the best luck with OEM, no matter what the application. OEM pads will usually outlast the aftermarket ones too, at least on Fords. On my old Toyota Supra the OEM's were better than anything else I tried.
I would steer clear of the brake job chains, those $99.00 brake jobs turn into $700.00+ by the time they get done selling you stuff you don't need. Midas would be a lot better than them, but check your dealer first.
I would steer clear of the brake job chains, those $99.00 brake jobs turn into $700.00+ by the time they get done selling you stuff you don't need. Midas would be a lot better than them, but check your dealer first.
I have not used Midas, but Meineke. I will never go back for brakes. When I went it was for a Sentra. They sold me Lifetime brakes. I am not sure they will let you bring in your own pads. Maybe an independent shop would. Anyhow, my experience with Meineke was the pads lasted only 20,000 miles. They replaced rear shoes but did not adjust properly. So, after 20,000 miles of doing poor work previously they charged me $50 for new front pads. They wanted to charge to adjust the brakes shoes they neglected to adjust properly and wanted to turn the rotors they installed. I paid for the $50 labor to install new pads and have never gone back. I would beware of chain shops. In my experience they will try to up sell items that are not needed and have done poor work. Since then I learned to adjust rear shoes and install front pads myself. Car Talk has a nice data base of recommended independent mechanics:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html
Through them I found a reputable independent shop for things I can not do.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html
Through them I found a reputable independent shop for things I can not do.
The lowest cost is buy parts, OEM or aftermarket , online and take them to a small independent garage to have it installed. Labor cost to replace two front disc pads in my area is about $45-$50, including re-surface rotors.
The problem is finding a honest and competence mechanic/owner that know how to do the job and don't try to rip you off with extra un-necessary works.
I had these jobs done for my '00 E430 for a total labor cost of $350:
4 shock absorbers
16 spark plugs (2 plugs per cylinder)
Rear pads and flush brake fluid
Flush coolant fluid
Flush transmission fluid
Oil + filter
The problem is finding a honest and competence mechanic/owner that know how to do the job and don't try to rip you off with extra un-necessary works.
I had these jobs done for my '00 E430 for a total labor cost of $350:
4 shock absorbers
16 spark plugs (2 plugs per cylinder)
Rear pads and flush brake fluid
Flush coolant fluid
Flush transmission fluid
Oil + filter
Titans had a lot of problems with factory pads and rotors. I heard that on some of them, it wasn't uncommon for a driver to go through pads and rotors every 20k or so!
I would have the work done at an independent shop. If you don't mind some occasional squeaking, get a set of HAWK HPS pads and a set of premium aftermarket rotors (Centric Premium, Raybestos Advanced Tech, etc).
I would have the work done at an independent shop. If you don't mind some occasional squeaking, get a set of HAWK HPS pads and a set of premium aftermarket rotors (Centric Premium, Raybestos Advanced Tech, etc).
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Originally Posted By: Highroller
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Hawk and EBC are two excellent aftermarket brake mfg's. Raybestos and Bendix are two good/very good aftermarket brands.
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Hawk and EBC are two excellent aftermarket brake mfg's. Raybestos and Bendix are two good/very good aftermarket brands.
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Originally Posted By: Highroller
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Yes, the Raybestos Advanced Technology ceramics are excellent. I've used a set on an '06 Corolla and it a vast improvement over the original pads. Make the part # starts with ATD.
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Yes, the Raybestos Advanced Technology ceramics are excellent. I've used a set on an '06 Corolla and it a vast improvement over the original pads. Make the part # starts with ATD.
Raybestos makes good products.
Akebono brake pads are good. I used them on my dad's Lexus ES300 and they matched the factory feel perfectly.
NAPA Adaptive one pads have been excellent in my dad's Pontiac G6.
Wagner ThermoQuiet pads work well. Wagner also has a new line of products made with "Laser shaped friction" but I don't know how good those are.
Akebono brake pads are good. I used them on my dad's Lexus ES300 and they matched the factory feel perfectly.
NAPA Adaptive one pads have been excellent in my dad's Pontiac G6.
Wagner ThermoQuiet pads work well. Wagner also has a new line of products made with "Laser shaped friction" but I don't know how good those are.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Raybestos makes good products.
Akebono brake pads are good. I used them on my dad's Lexus ES300 and they matched the factory feel perfectly.
NAPA Adaptive one pads have been excellent in my dad's Pontiac G6.
Wagner ThermoQuiet pads work well. Wagner also has a new line of products made with "Laser shaped friction" but I don't know how good those are.
I used the Adaptive One pads in my Saturn. While they work great, they took a very long time to seat. They're also very expensive compared to the competition.
Raybestos makes good products.
Akebono brake pads are good. I used them on my dad's Lexus ES300 and they matched the factory feel perfectly.
NAPA Adaptive one pads have been excellent in my dad's Pontiac G6.
Wagner ThermoQuiet pads work well. Wagner also has a new line of products made with "Laser shaped friction" but I don't know how good those are.
I used the Adaptive One pads in my Saturn. While they work great, they took a very long time to seat. They're also very expensive compared to the competition.
This is a great story.
I did the rear brakes for my 94 Camry in February and did not get all the spring clip hardware on properly. I knew that but it was getting cold and dark and I said I would fix it latter. (And my hand were really cold in NY).
Of course I did not and the brakes lasted maybe 30K miles.
I brought it into Mavis Tire (in NY) and asked for their $59.95 brake special, since this is a 94 car.
They checked things out and said I needed pad + rotors for $250, but would do pads for the $59.95. I told them do pads and that I knew some brake hardware was missing and it was in a box on the PS seat.
(I had to order the brake hardware that was missing as I lost it, no way they had it in stock).
They finished the car and my box of brake hardware was unopened. I asked and the service manager said they would have used the correct hardware, not to worry.
I talked to the tech, who had a speech and hearing impediment and I gathered he had not used any new hardware, meaning they did the brakes and still left missing hardware. When I showed him the box of hardware, he said right-rear, so I knew he was aware. He took the car back in and installed my new brake hardware on that side.
The service manager was full of [censored], he was [censored] I did not go for the full $250 brake job and could care less.
Had I not asked more closely, I would have had a poor brake job.
I did the rear brakes for my 94 Camry in February and did not get all the spring clip hardware on properly. I knew that but it was getting cold and dark and I said I would fix it latter. (And my hand were really cold in NY).
Of course I did not and the brakes lasted maybe 30K miles.
I brought it into Mavis Tire (in NY) and asked for their $59.95 brake special, since this is a 94 car.
They checked things out and said I needed pad + rotors for $250, but would do pads for the $59.95. I told them do pads and that I knew some brake hardware was missing and it was in a box on the PS seat.
(I had to order the brake hardware that was missing as I lost it, no way they had it in stock).
They finished the car and my box of brake hardware was unopened. I asked and the service manager said they would have used the correct hardware, not to worry.
I talked to the tech, who had a speech and hearing impediment and I gathered he had not used any new hardware, meaning they did the brakes and still left missing hardware. When I showed him the box of hardware, he said right-rear, so I knew he was aware. He took the car back in and installed my new brake hardware on that side.
The service manager was full of [censored], he was [censored] I did not go for the full $250 brake job and could care less.
Had I not asked more closely, I would have had a poor brake job.
I can speak for Fords. From the mid 90's and up the OEM pads were great and didn't wear the rotors much. My 96 Contour front pads lasted 60,000++++. And they still had usuable life left. I was able to use the same rotors and not turn them. I purchased Ford OEM pads again and NOT Motorcraft pads. The Motorcraft pads are cheaper in price but do not last as long. My 2002 F-150 developed a sticking caliber on the drivers side at 19,000 miles. I saw the passenger side pads and they were barely worn. Under factory warranty Ford turned the roters and used Motorcraft pads. At 38,000 miles the pads were worn down and the rotors were shot. I'm a guy but I brake really conservatively. I had my independent shop replace the pads and rotors with Raybestos pads and rotors at less than the dealer using Motorcraft parts. So far it stops quietly and without any vibration. The cost of the front brake job here in northern NJ was $350 including 7% sales tax.
My wife just had her factory rear pads and rotors on her 2005 Explorer replaced at 47,000 miles. And she brakes real hard. her front brakes are still ok according to the dealer. Her bill was $900 but it included replacing the parking brake shoes which rusted and fell apart and her Ford ESP Premium plan "excludes" that.
.
Whimsey
My wife just had her factory rear pads and rotors on her 2005 Explorer replaced at 47,000 miles. And she brakes real hard. her front brakes are still ok according to the dealer. Her bill was $900 but it included replacing the parking brake shoes which rusted and fell apart and her Ford ESP Premium plan "excludes" that.
Whimsey
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Highroller,
Are you only replacing pads? I have no experience with Titans, but the vehicles I have worked on replacing brake pads is one of the easiest DIY jobs. And a 2006 vehicle operated in Texas should have no rust to aggravate anything. Finally, before you let someone else do it you may want to inspect the pads and rotors yourself so they don't pull a fast one on you.
Are you only replacing pads? I have no experience with Titans, but the vehicles I have worked on replacing brake pads is one of the easiest DIY jobs. And a 2006 vehicle operated in Texas should have no rust to aggravate anything. Finally, before you let someone else do it you may want to inspect the pads and rotors yourself so they don't pull a fast one on you.
It's all about finding a good shop gentlemen... Found mine, a bit out of my way, but worth his weight in gold. Gotta love that the shop owner does 80% of the wrenching himself.
BearZDefect,
Yes, i plan on just replacing the pads and probably bleed out the brake system. Might do the rotors in the future. I would really like to do this myself since i like to work on my own truck. I've been researching and looking up info. on brake jobs myself and found that it is pretty simple once i get the hang of things. It's just that the streets around my house and my parking space aren't flat level surfaces for jackstands(my parking space is uphill)and the garage is packed (my parents used it as a storage place
). Time seems to be a factor and I dont think i have any other secure places to do this job. Thanks for the concern. The rotors seem ok but the pads are thinning down.
Yes, i plan on just replacing the pads and probably bleed out the brake system. Might do the rotors in the future. I would really like to do this myself since i like to work on my own truck. I've been researching and looking up info. on brake jobs myself and found that it is pretty simple once i get the hang of things. It's just that the streets around my house and my parking space aren't flat level surfaces for jackstands(my parking space is uphill)and the garage is packed (my parents used it as a storage place
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Highroller
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Yes, the Raybestos Advanced Technology ceramics are excellent. I've used a set on an '06 Corolla and it a vast improvement over the original pads. Make the part # starts with ATD.
+1 The raybestos AT pads & rotors are excellent. I have a brake job due soon on my GMC Yukon and will be using them. MY parts guy gives me a lifetime warranty on the pads so I will be buying one set of pads and will keep this turck for another 100k miles. The AT rotors are very good also.
Originally Posted By: Highroller
Luckily I may seem to know a mechanic who owns an independent shop who can probably charge less for the labor. Can anyone recommend a premium ceramic brake pad? So far i have heard of Raybestos being fairly decent brake pads.
Yes, the Raybestos Advanced Technology ceramics are excellent. I've used a set on an '06 Corolla and it a vast improvement over the original pads. Make the part # starts with ATD.
+1 The raybestos AT pads & rotors are excellent. I have a brake job due soon on my GMC Yukon and will be using them. MY parts guy gives me a lifetime warranty on the pads so I will be buying one set of pads and will keep this turck for another 100k miles. The AT rotors are very good also.
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