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+--- Thread: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) (/showthread.php?tid=23504)
Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - punikahakaiferret - 12-22-2024
Need advice/recommendations for who y'all would suggest for new brakes. *sigh*
May/not need both front/rear and all the other bells/whistles/ribbons and bows, but definitely time for work to be done.
Guy I'd been using for car-thangs and such-like moved back to the mainland...wouldn't you know! He was a real McGyver, as he once said "I can fix anything, given enough time to figure it out!" Not to mention I had to force him to take money for work done. Very humble and honest sort...sure miss him!
Have texted a couple ppl...one I was referred to by a neighbor and another I saw mentioned on Nextdoor, but figure all you Punawebbers are the bestest most-trusty resource. :-D
Mahalo!
(We now return you all to your regularly scheduled Punawebbing.)
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - HiloJulie - 12-22-2024
For what it is worth, I just had a complete brake job done on our 2001 Ford Escape just at 71,000 miles, which included:
New master cylinder
New rotors, calipers and pads - front
New drums, shoes and wheel cylinders - back
New hoses from the metal lines to each brake - front and rear
Flush all lines and refill with new brake fluid
For a total of $406.44 - at Goodyear in Hilo.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - Obie - 12-22-2024
What year and make/ model car ?
It makes a huge difference.
HiloJulie's experience is typical for a tire store. Because of liability they don't take any chances and replace just about everything, however with a 2001 it may have been needed.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - Durian Fiend - 12-23-2024
(12-22-2024, 09:05 PM)HiloJulie Wrote: For what it is worth, I just had a complete brake job done on our 2001 Ford Escape just at 71,000 miles, which included:
New master cylinder
New rotors, calipers and pads - front
New drums, shoes and wheel cylinders - back
New hoses from the metal lines to each brake - front and rear
Flush all lines and refill with new brake fluid
For a total of $406.44 - at Goodyear in Hilo.
I find that hard to believe. The parts alone would be at least that much.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - HiloJulie - 12-23-2024
Well, that’s what it was. We scheduled the repair with Goodyear, let them have the vehicle for several days as we had other vehicles to use and that’s what they charged us.
I suppose I could have argued to pay more?
ETA: To be fair, my husband's 2012 F150 had a similar complete brake job done in February of this year at Orchid Isle Ford to the tune of $1,978.91.
As Obie mentioned, the make/model and complexity of the vehicle differs greatly - i.e. - anti lock brakes, 4 wheel disc vs disc/drum etc., etc.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - punikahakaiferret - 12-23-2024
It's a 2013 Kia Soul.
Estimates I've now gotten from the few ppl I texted earlier are only giving me a price for labor (which I find weird...is that normal?) ...meaning either I have to try and source parts myself or trust them to get them for a reasonable price (plus markup for their trouble)?
Just...don't...wanna...get...screwed.
Ugh.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - HiloJulie - 12-23-2024
@punikahakaiferret
A brake job is one of those kinds of repairs that can vary wildly in pricing and really can't be determined until it's all pulled apart.
You may just need new brake pads/shoes. The rotors/drums may be able to be resurfaced if scored/warped/out of round. Or may be below the minimum allowable thickness. Or may need to be replaced. Calipers/wheel cylinders too. Could be fine and reusable or may need to be replaced.
It's also a job that can be done cheaply - for the short term - only to cost you bigger bucks down the road.
Plus, when you think about it, having functioning dependable brakes is really kind of important thing to have.
I'd say plan on 200 to 500 bucks. As for a reliable place to have it done - I can only say that while a "name brand" store or dealer may seem to be a rip off - at least you get some type of something that "stands behind" what they do.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - Rob Tucker - 12-23-2024
A few years back my daughter, with her first car, was shocked when Lex Brodie quoted her $800 for a brake job. I took the opportunity to give her a lesson in the old adage: "is your time cheaper than your money or is your money cheaper than your time".
So I had her do the brakes herself. I sat there at her side as she did the job herself with my instruction. Total bill $50 for brake pads.
Those bastards! she declared when the job was complete in about an hour.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - punikahakaiferret - 12-23-2024
It's just been kinda confusing understanding the estimates I was being given were only for labor, which initially I didn't understand. I was anticipating getting a range of pricing based on what-all would need to be replaced regarding parts along with labor, but wasn't getting any of that. All the labor rates pretty much were the same.
I tried looking online for the parts, but not knowing if I was looking at the exact right thing (and also knowing there are various grades of pads available) wasn't helping.
I have been, in my best ferrety-fashion, jumping around and overthinking, in the interest of doing due diligence, while ultimately ending up back where I started.
The estimate I got originally, which was for everything, seemed high, so I started hunting around to ferret out the best price (best information) and so I 100% appreciate everyone's input. Y'all really are great!
I would really love to be able to learn to do these sorts of things myself, as I know it's not "magic", just know-how and diligence, as Rob demonstrated above, but at this point, not a practical option for me. I have great admiration for those sorts of hands-on, can-do sorts!
So, again, mahalo all!
On to bigger volcanic things...so it seems.
RE: Proper Puna problem (auto-related) - HiloJulie - 12-23-2024
Yes! Make sure your brakes are in good working order before you go see the volcano!
As for the pricing - it really all comes down to what parts are all needed. As Rob's example pointed out - all his daughter's car needed was a set of new pads. The pads are basically the cheapest part of a brake job. Also, no repair shop is going to put on a set of pads only without resurfacing the rotors - so that's another 50 to 100 bucks more.
If the rotors get worn to a certain thickness or scored too badly, then they must be replaced. Thats another 30 to over 200 bucks each rotor depending on car type! The calipers could be fine, or, not. There is a huge range of pricing on replacement calipers again depending on the car.
As for Lex Brodie - stay away. Far away. Far, far far away. A meth head Hawaiian Acres "wrencher" is a better alternative to Lex Brodie.
Good luck punikahakaiferret on your brake repair quest.