I recently got my rotors and brake pads replaced @ stealership . Did little bit research and got few quotes from road side mechanics . Price quoted by them was of course much cheaper . I negotiated the job with dealer with baseline quote. Surprisingly They came very close to the price . I got Job well done with top notch service ( free loaner drop off and pick up ) while having a complete piece of mind .
Now I am kicking myself that I never negotiated any work at dealer earlier .

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Originally posted by Fido

Hi ,

I need to get my front brakes done (most likely brake pads, a small possibility of rotors).

The local mechanic gave me 2 quotes - one when he gets the parts (and gets the commission) and the second when I get the parts. The first quote would be lesser.

Which would be the better way - Can I ask him to insist to use a particular quality OR if I chose to buy them myself , which is a good place to buy ... I was thinking of getting from Toyota and getting it fixed by the local mechanic .

Any other things to be kept in mind.

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Growing Old Is Mandatory ..Growing UP is Optional

AT ~ Thanks ..I concur too.

AG~ You are the new Vagg ... I always wondered what that red laced cloth was ...

Thanks for the tip .. I shall try the same with the dea .. sorry stealership .

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Fido.

As others have stated, go with ceramic pads. Will last longer and produce less brake dust.

Check for any pitting, concentric lines or any deformation on the rotor. When the rotor has cooled down, you can run your finger to feel for concentric lines that are actually indents. That would give you an indication whether you need rotors changed or not.

Typically, the pads go first, which would eventually mess up the rotors via metal to metal contact, which in turn would turn into a mess with the calipers binding up. Cheaper to change the pads as a preventive measure than to deal with the remainder.

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Dimple2001

The Carbon, in the form of graphite is a great lubricant. Hence the rotor that is a component that is supposed to give way in its usage, wears gradually to a size that is 80% of its original thickness, which is not much when the thickness of the rotor is just an inch. But the Dealer will reject it at 10% wastage, because he has to sell his spare parts. Plus the OEM parts are OEM parts and are made at an approved location.

When the after market Manufacturers entered into the picture, they did a little more research into it, as they cannot copy the OEM style and format, (Not that they don't in a few places) and started to thatch the rotors, provided relief grooves, and in a few they cross drilled, not on the web links, but in the areas where they found it rendered to these lightening holes and provided air circulations to dissipate the heat generated within the rotor.

Fifty percent of the time, when we are in "the stop and go" traffic, the brakes do generate heat, which happens to be in the city driving. So, the after market parts take care of all of our needs in its efficiency. As we say it will stop on a dime and will give you nine cents change. It is good. On the highways, at very high speeds, the good braking effect is accomplished with the CERAMICS that are utilized in the Pads and the heat that it generated is removed efficiently with all of these cross drilled limbering holes and the Radial support vanes, that are cast in between the two smooth faces of the rotor on which the ceramics grind, to provide you the braking effect.

Hence has better efficiency.

I am not promoting the after market products, but just the cost effectiveness and the functionality of the product, plus the reason behind the purchase.

I will address the point that is raised by RBO here. : He says that he has heard funny noises and squeals in some, that is because some of the mechanics install the same old springs, they are made with stainless steel and hence do not lose its shine, but it loses its function, which is the retaining capacity or the snapping action that it is used for. He saves 10 bucks, it works most of the time. But when it does not, it squeals. Now you also know why. To take care of these abnormal sounds, they also provide you with a small squeeze pack of Molybdenum grease, looks like a ketchup pack, that they smother all over the snapping area and muffle the noise till the total installed system enters into a stable mode. After that it will be smooth sailing.

The best part is you can return to the Mechanic at the dealers and they want you to return back to get it done. But some of the TOP and sensible workers who want you to feel their very high quality work, will do an excellent job when you buy your own parts and also provide them with all of the required parts plus the extras and in turn ask him to provide all of the unused parts for restocking if he does not need them. That way you also know that he only used only what was needed. You can always hang onto the INSTALLATION KIT, because invariably it is the same kit you will be buying the next time.

FH.

You know once in a way, when ever we have toasts being made at breakfast time, if the timer does not release the toast out of the toaster, you smell a little bit of burning smell.... Well I never said too much to tell the one who missed pulling his/her toast..But mumbled some thing like .."A LITTLE BIT OF GRAPHITE IS GOOD FOR THE ARSEHOLE" Mmmm...fh.

Agree with FH. Aftermarket parts can be and are equally good.

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Dimple2001

Hmm .. That makes sense with what one Canadian Tire associate once told me that some of their pads were at or exceeded OEM requirements .... which perhaps meant that some after market parts could be superior to the dealer parts...

Having said that and though I will be checking finally with the dealer , any preferred vendors which can be recommended for purchasing the parts from / or at least checking out ..

I know of Canadian Tire , Walmart , Napa - any other walk in stores ?

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Fido.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Fido

Hmm .. That makes sense with what one Canadian Tire associate once told me that some of their pads were at or exceeded OEM requirements .... which perhaps meant that some after market parts could be superior to the dealer parts...

Having said that and though I will be checking finally with the dealer , any preferred vendors which can be recommended for purchasing the parts from / or at least checking out ..

I know of Canadian Tire , Walmart , Napa - any other walk in stores ?

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