hmm Firestone wants $830 to do my brakes, it will cost me $300 to do them myself…
So I heard my brakes squealing and grinding for some time. I knew the brakes needed to be changed so I took it in to Firestone since they had a special on brake inspections. I also needed an alignment, but that is another story. So when the guy brought back my paperwork this is the estimate they gave me.
Their recommended parts: $554.14
Their Labor cost: $222.00
Subtotal: $776.15
ssssseeerrrrrrrrr excuse me…seven hundred seventy six dollars???
Oh but wait…then there is the supplies they gotta use (grease for the bearings, the tools, the hand cleaners, the lift, etc etc) okay maybe not those things, but still another $13.32.
Then tax on top of all that… at 7%: $39.72
M’aam your grand total for this work will be $829.19.
Okay so they said I needed to replace all 4 rotors, new brake pads, new alignment, brake fluid flush. This didn’t include the rotation of my tires (add another $30.00.
I felt dizzy as hell at this moment and said…”i’ll get back to you when i get my next check”
I came home and showed this to my honey. My first stop that weekend was to Advanced Auto Parts…I wanted to price what they were trying to charge me. I found all the parts for $300. My next thought that day when i got home was to find Youtube videos on how to change brakes. I had done it before on a hmmvee so it couldn’t be any different right? I watched video’s all night, then the next day got up, back to Advanced, got my parts, got in my garage and jacked up my truck. Between me and my girl we got the job done in 2 hours. (it would have took 3-4 at Firestone). I took it out that night to test it…
I had brakes…we flushed the system and saved over $500 by doing it ourselves. And while the wheels were off I did a tire rotation for free.
Thank you Uncle Sam for teaching me about vehicles.
