$610 for brake pad job, did my Lexus dealer charge too much?
01-20-09, 07:35 PM
#16
slapping pads is fine for your personal car for a quick turn and burn brake job, but at the dealer, we have to make sure the customer doesn't come back with squeeks, squeals, etc. slapping pads will result in that sometimes because the surface of the rotor and pad aren't bedded together like you would have if you had a fresh rotor surface to go with the new pads.
if the customer comes back, we have to take it all apart again, except for free this time and fix the squeek, which usually means the rotors have to be machined anyway,s o it's best to just do it right the first time so the customer isn't put out and i don't have to work for free...
if the customer comes back, we have to take it all apart again, except for free this time and fix the squeek, which usually means the rotors have to be machined anyway,s o it's best to just do it right the first time so the customer isn't put out and i don't have to work for free...
perhaps I have asked more clearly....
I wasn't askking if my Lexus dealer charged more than independent mechanics. It's obivious that any Lexus dealer will charge more.
I was wondering if my Lexus dealer charged more than the other Lexus dealers in my town. (in this case 4 other Lexus dealers within a 25-mile radius)
The answer is that my Lexus dealer charged MUCH LESS than the other Lexus dealers. My Lexus dealer only charged me $610. I called the other 4 Lexus dealers and got quotes ranging from $890 to $1100 for the same brake job....
Just for comparison, I also called a Toyota dealer and was quoted $790 for this brake job.
01-22-09, 05:13 AM
#17
perhaps I have asked more clearly....
I wasn't askking if my Lexus dealer charged more than independent mechanics. It's obivious that any Lexus dealer will charge more.
I was wondering if my Lexus dealer charged more than the other Lexus dealers in my town. (in this case 4 other Lexus dealers within a 25-mile radius)
The answer is that my Lexus dealer charged MUCH LESS than the other Lexus dealers. My Lexus dealer only charged me $610. I called the other 4 Lexus dealers and got quotes ranging from $890 to $1100 for the same brake job.... Just for comparison, I also called a Toyota dealer and was quoted $790 for this brake job.
I wasn't askking if my Lexus dealer charged more than independent mechanics. It's obivious that any Lexus dealer will charge more.
I was wondering if my Lexus dealer charged more than the other Lexus dealers in my town. (in this case 4 other Lexus dealers within a 25-mile radius)
The answer is that my Lexus dealer charged MUCH LESS than the other Lexus dealers. My Lexus dealer only charged me $610. I called the other 4 Lexus dealers and got quotes ranging from $890 to $1100 for the same brake job....
Just for comparison, I also called a Toyota dealer and was quoted $790 for this brake job.
The following users liked this post:
mariog7 (03-29-21)
03-21-17, 11:08 AM
#21
Turning brake rotors is completely unnecessary on Lexus cars
I've been changing my own pads for the last 25 years because I got fed up arguing with dealers/shops about the need to turn rotors. We have put hundreds of thousands of miles on multiple cars and all I've done is change the pads (takes about 30 minutes) and the brakes have been great. This worked well for our Toyota and Lexus cars - I have had problems with other brands....probably because the rotors had warped.
Lexus pads for our current cars (GS400 99 230,000 miles and RX300 99 100,000 miles) cost about $55 per axle online. Both cars have factory original rotors, which are in great condition.
When rotors are turned, a lot of metal is removed each time that requires the rotors to be replaced after several brake jobs. The lathe used to turn rotors typically does a really crude job compare to the factory mirror finish new rotors have. If there's a rotor problem after changing pads, it's easy to get the bad rotor turned then - it happened to me only once in over 500,000 miles, just one wheel after I ran over an animal at night on the freeway and the rotor no longer ran true. I had that rotor turned, and the brakes were fine.
Saves a lot of time and aggravation to change the pads myself, and the $$ savings really add up....
Lexus pads for our current cars (GS400 99 230,000 miles and RX300 99 100,000 miles) cost about $55 per axle online. Both cars have factory original rotors, which are in great condition.
When rotors are turned, a lot of metal is removed each time that requires the rotors to be replaced after several brake jobs. The lathe used to turn rotors typically does a really crude job compare to the factory mirror finish new rotors have. If there's a rotor problem after changing pads, it's easy to get the bad rotor turned then - it happened to me only once in over 500,000 miles, just one wheel after I ran over an animal at night on the freeway and the rotor no longer ran true. I had that rotor turned, and the brakes were fine.
Saves a lot of time and aggravation to change the pads myself, and the $$ savings really add up....
The following users liked this post:
Met1life (02-03-23)
08-09-20, 08:26 AM
#22
RX350 MY2017, just had my front & rear brake pads replaced (rotors machined) @ 83K kms costing CA$995 (US$735) parts/labor excluding tax.
The parts @ 10% discount are;
The parts @ 10% discount are;
- Front pad kit: CA$134.50
- Front shim kit: CA$58.63
- Rear pad kit: CA$134.50
- Front shim kit: CA$50.91
08-11-20, 02:17 PM
#23
Lexus Champion
... I don't have the ability and guts to DIY specially that it pertains to vehicle safety.
08-11-20, 09:40 PM
#25
Lexus Champion
It’s all right, man. You paid a little extra but at least you have the peace of mind that it was done well. Next time you can maybe find a good shop to do it for a slightly better price.
11-12-20, 09:11 AM
#26
Driver School Candidate
I've heard from many knowledgeable technicians that turning rotors merely makes them thinner and does not help anything else, actually hurts with heat dissipation. Allowing the new pads to bed in on the rougher surface rotor is supposedly better. Not sure which is better but my experience is that I've never had rotors turned and new pads always worked fine.
01-01-21, 05:27 PM
#27
Advanced
I've heard from many knowledgeable technicians that turning rotors merely makes them thinner and does not help anything else, actually hurts with heat dissipation. Allowing the new pads to bed in on the rougher surface rotor is supposedly better. Not sure which is better but my experience is that I've never had rotors turned and new pads always worked fine.
01-17-21, 07:31 AM
#28
Turning rotors does make them slightly thinner, but it is ok as long as they stay within the minimum specified thickness. As far as installing new pads on worn rotors, while it may work it is not the best idea.
The new pads will not have maximum surface contact, and will wear quicker due to the rough surface of the old rotor. I have seen a few customers at my friends service station that had others install new pads with worn rotors with complaints ranging from pulsing to annoying squealing noises. In these cases he always ends up needing to install new rotors and pads.
The new pads will not have maximum surface contact, and will wear quicker due to the rough surface of the old rotor. I have seen a few customers at my friends service station that had others install new pads with worn rotors with complaints ranging from pulsing to annoying squealing noises. In these cases he always ends up needing to install new rotors and pads.
01-23-21, 06:17 PM
#29
Pole Position
I'd just throw rotors at it, whether they're 2 piece or the basic one piece......as well as flush the brake fluid w/ new........
12-27-21, 04:08 AM
#30
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2013 Lexus Es350
last Friday, I dropped off my RX at the Lexus dealer. the service advisor
advised me that I needed new brake pads for front and rear. They have
worn down to 2mm(front) and 3mm(rear)... I had expected this, since it's
been a while... however, he also told me that the rotors also needed to
be machined.... The total bill was $610. (the parts cost for the front and
rear brake pads were only $90)
Did my Lexus dealer charge me too much for something that one mechanic
completed in 1.5 hour? (arrived at 1pm and was out the door by 2:30pm)
by comparison, my sister recently had the front AND rear brake pads and
rotors replaced, as well brake fluid flushed, on her old Mercedes AMG C43
(that's 8 Mercedes pads and 4 Mercedes rotors, new MB brake fluid).
It was done at a Mercedes dealership. The total parts and labor cost
was only $520.
advised me that I needed new brake pads for front and rear. They have
worn down to 2mm(front) and 3mm(rear)... I had expected this, since it's
been a while... however, he also told me that the rotors also needed to
be machined.... The total bill was $610. (the parts cost for the front and
rear brake pads were only $90)
Did my Lexus dealer charge me too much for something that one mechanic
completed in 1.5 hour? (arrived at 1pm and was out the door by 2:30pm)
by comparison, my sister recently had the front AND rear brake pads and
rotors replaced, as well brake fluid flushed, on her old Mercedes AMG C43
(that's 8 Mercedes pads and 4 Mercedes rotors, new MB brake fluid).
It was done at a Mercedes dealership. The total parts and labor cost
was only $520.
I can post the breakdown of each part, I do recall them the cost of labor was $150 per hour and it was an hour job.