another car repair thread

SixFive

SixFive

bonswa
Forum Member
Mar 12, 2001
18,779
256
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BG, KY, USA
I didn't want to clutter the other thread nor incur the wrath of penguinfan, so here's a situation I had.

My car is old (18 year old Sable). It only has 60K miles (not flipped I know for a fact), and I'm the second owner. It runs perfectly, and I keep it maintained. I'm too tight to buy anything new, and besides, this car has a ton of legroom for my tall body, and it's comfy. I'll drive it as long as I can. The car is worth about 600 bucks. That said...

I took my car in about a month ago because my front brakes were grinding really bad. I got the 'free' inspection and was told I needed new front pads, rotors and calipers which would cost 300 dollars. I also "need" new back brakes/drums, and that's another 350 bucks. I didn't ask for my back brakes to be looked at, but they did anyway. The mechanic made it sound very urgent that these back brakes be fixed. He said at first it HAD TO BE DONE.

I called my brother and another person who knows about mechanic work and consulted with them. I picked up my car and didn't let them work on it. I bought the parts for the front and hired a crackhead (literally, he doesn't work, collects a crazy check, and likes to do this sort of work and knows how) to do the work. I was out $105 after paying him, and they are as good as new. I know brake work is not tough, but it's not something I care to learn to do. I did not get the back brakes fixed. Thoughts?
 
B

bubbas1

Registered User
Forum Member
Jan 7, 2003
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Wisconsin
Sounds like a good deal to me. Why were the calipers changed? I can see why you changed out the pads and rotors. I wouldnt have change out the calipers until I knew for sure they were shot. Oh well...you know everything is good now and it the price was good.
The next time you are driving and you hear chirping from the car and it goes away when you hit the brakes replace your pads ASAP. When that happens you dont have long before you are metal on metal.

Pull the rear drums and see how much meat is on the shoes. The salesman might have been just trying to pile on the cost but you never know until you look. If you get down to metal on metal on drum brakes you will have a hell of a time trying to pull them off. (Back off the adjuster..but its still a pain) If there isnt much meat left..replace them.
 
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