Is my mechanic reasonable for a 2013 Jetta? Brake job

Mar 9th, 2022 10:02 am

#1

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 10:02 am

Is my mechanic reasonable for a 2013 Jetta? Brake job

Here are the findings:

Finding: Front brake pads at service limit
Recommendation: Front brakes have worn to backing material causing grinding noise when stopping. $526.72+HST to replace.

Observations
Driver side brake pads: 3 mm
Passenger side brake pads: 0 mm

And

Finding: Seized parking break arm
Recommendation: Left rear brake caliper has seized causing brakes to overheat. We recommend replacing the rear brake pads, rotors and both rear brake calipers. $774.05+HST

$1200 cash for the job. Is that reasonable?

Last edited by UNDFTDss on Mar 9th, 2022 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

Mar 9th, 2022 10:24 am

#2

goldenball: Deal Addict; Jan 30, 2013; 1269 posts; 351 upvotes; RICHMOND HILL

Mar 9th, 2022 10:24 am

what car, check rockauto to see how much for parts alone

Mar 9th, 2022 10:25 am

#3

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 10:25 am

goldenball wrote: ↑ what car, check rockauto to see how much for parts alone

It's a 2013 VW Jetta

Mar 9th, 2022 10:37 am

#4

goldenball: Deal Addict; Jan 30, 2013; 1269 posts; 351 upvotes; RICHMOND HILL

Mar 9th, 2022 10:37 am

UNDFTDss wrote: ↑ It's a 2013 VW Jetta

quote-replace-brakes-reasonable-2522201/

Mar 9th, 2022 10:44 am

#5

Webhead: Deal Fanatic; Sep 7, 2004; 8191 posts; 5356 upvotes; West GTEH!

Mar 9th, 2022 10:44 am

or check partsavatar:
https://partsavatar.ca/filters?gclid=EA ... gLBPPD_BwE

Not sure where you're located, there's a store location in Mississauga, Ontario.
And the other location is in Edmonton.

Last edited by Webhead on Mar 9th, 2022 10:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

Mar 9th, 2022 10:47 am

#6

macnut: Deal Fanatic; Oct 26, 2008; 6898 posts; 2715 upvotes; BC

Mar 9th, 2022 10:47 am

$1200 tax in is a fair price for an independent mechanic using acceptable quality rotors.

Doesn't matter as much about quality of pads and the 2 rear calipers.

+4

Mar 9th, 2022 11:06 am

#7

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 11:06 am

macnut wrote: ↑ $1200 tax in is a fair price for an independent mechanic using acceptable quality rotors.

Doesn't matter as much about quality of pads and the 2 rear calipers.

Zimmerman rotors for all 4. Here is the actual quote before cash discount

Images

+2

Mar 9th, 2022 11:10 am

#8

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 11:10 am

VW dealership gave me a quote for same parts = $1600 + $515 for labor. So about $2100 after tax.

Mar 9th, 2022 11:12 am

#9

booblehead: Deal Expert; Jul 30, 2007; 32206 posts; 19500 upvotes; Toronto

Mar 9th, 2022 11:12 am

$441 in labor for front & rear seems high to me. Maybe this is the new norm nowadays ?

My last brake job (pre covid) cost around $280 in labor (front & rear, rotors and pads replacement).

Last edited by booblehead on Mar 9th, 2022 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

Mar 9th, 2022 11:14 am

#10

macnut: Deal Fanatic; Oct 26, 2008; 6898 posts; 2715 upvotes; BC

Mar 9th, 2022 11:14 am

Yes, very fair price from your mechanic who will backup his work - unlike he would be inclined to do if you hand him self-sourced parts from Rockauto.

+2

Mar 9th, 2022 11:20 am

#11

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 11:20 am

booblehead wrote: ↑ $441 in labor for front & rear seems high to me. Maybe this is the new norm nowadays ?

My last brake job (pre covid) cost around $280 in labor (front & rear, rotors and pads replacement).

With the cash discount, consider the labor to be $360. And it might be a little longer due to the calipers?

+2

Mar 9th, 2022 11:20 am

#12

macnut: Deal Fanatic; Oct 26, 2008; 6898 posts; 2715 upvotes; BC

Mar 9th, 2022 11:20 am

Rear caliper replacement and servicing the seized parking brake adds to the labour cost over and above a standard 4 wheel pads and rotors job.

Mar 9th, 2022 11:25 am

#13

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 11:25 am

I just wanted to make sure this is reasonable and not price gouging. I need this fixed ASAP for work so I don't have the luxury of time to buy parts or compare too many garages. Anyway, thank you so much. I do truly love this community.

Mar 9th, 2022 11:27 am

#14

alexrok: Jr. Member; Aug 2, 2014; 122 posts; 74 upvotes; Nova Scotia

Mar 9th, 2022 11:27 am

Yeah thats not crazy for the quality of parts.
Calipers are expensive. Be sure to flush your brake fluid every 30,000 or 2 years from now on otherwise you'll be replacing them often.

If you wanted to save its also not much work to do that yourself, or at least do the fronts. I have found great pricing on PAGID brake parts from PartsAvatar.

+5

Mar 9th, 2022 11:31 am

#15

goldenball: Deal Addict; Jan 30, 2013; 1269 posts; 351 upvotes; RICHMOND HILL

Mar 9th, 2022 11:31 am

Webhead wrote: ↑ or check partsavatar:
https://partsavatar.ca/filters?gclid=EA ... gLBPPD_BwE

Not sure where you're located, there's a store location in Mississauga, Ontario.
And the other location is in Edmonton.

can you do pick-up?thx

Mar 9th, 2022 11:55 am

#16

Guest032984237: Banned; Mar 7, 2007; 5347 posts; 3012 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 11:55 am

The mechanic is proposing to replacing both rear brake calipers.

Potential problem I see is that these two calipers are not new. Because usually they aren't.

______________________________

Mar 9th, 2022 12:02 pm

#17

Dealfan7: Jr. Member; Oct 18, 2021; 149 posts; 125 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 12:02 pm

Does the quote include a brake fluid flush? If he's replacing both calipers, he has to at least power bleed both rears which will take care of half of it, and he's already got the brakes apart on the front so he should do a full flush while he's there. Then you should be in good shape for a few years.

+2

Mar 9th, 2022 12:04 pm

#18

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 12:04 pm

Dealfan7 wrote: ↑ Does the quote include a brake fluid flush? If he's replacing both calipers, he has to at least power bleed both rears which will take care of half of it, and he's already got the brakes apart on the front so he should do a full flush while he's there. Then you should be in good shape for a few years.

The quote includes brake fluids. Can I assume that a flush is included?

Mar 9th, 2022 12:10 pm

#19

sickcars: Deal Guru; Mar 13, 2004; 13318 posts; 4932 upvotes; Ontario

Mar 9th, 2022 12:10 pm

Prices seem decent. I would say its probably right in the middle. Not to low and not to high & if you are happy with that mechanic i would go ahead with it.
As mentioned just make sure they are going to change all the brake fluid. Providing brake fluids does not mean they will replace it all. It might just mean a top up of fluids if needed. but since you are already there its a very good idea to change the fluid if it has not been done in a while or ever. It very well could be the cause of a bad caliper.

0_o
<_<
>_>
New Furnace/AC Time?

Mar 9th, 2022 12:11 pm

#20

UNDFTDss [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 2217 posts; 717 upvotes

Mar 9th, 2022 12:11 pm

sickcars wrote: ↑ Prices seem decent. I would say its probably right in the middle. Not to low and not to high & if you are happy with that mechanic i would go ahead with it.
As mentioned just make sure they are going to change all the brake fluid. Providing brake fluids does not mean they will replace it all. It might just mean a top up of fluids if needed. but since you are already there its a very good idea to change the fluid if it has not been done in a while or ever. It very well could be the cause of a bad caliper.

Thank you for the tip. I called them and they said they will flush and replace fluids front and rear.

+2