# Dropped my GFs car at mechanic he said **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 7, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728 "2023-09-07T22:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/1 "2023-09-07T22:27:02Z")
its going to cost $400-$600 for drum and brakes replacement in rear. front brake replacement in front. replacing stripped studs and possible lugnuts. does this sound reasonable? i think the price is a bit high? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/2 "2023-09-07T22:28:12Z")
Nope, might be low depending on where you live and what you drive… which you didn’t tell us. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/3 "2023-09-07T22:29:05Z")
Buy all the parts and do the job yourself if you think it’s high. Tester ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/4 "2023-09-07T22:36:09Z")
Well, you can always let your girlfriends brother do it, it worked so well last time he worked on the brakes. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/5 "2023-09-07T22:37:01Z")
Could be a time-consuming job, so the fee seems pretty reasonable. The folks here could provide more insight to your query if you post the vehicle’s make/model/year and (if you know) which brake parts need to be replaced. I replaced my truck’s rear brake shoes & some brake springs earlier in the summer, probably took me (a diy’er) a total of 5 hours , more than expected b/c had some trouble removing one of the brake drums. With the amount of time required, if I had a way of doing it, I’d have charged myself $500 just for the rear brakes … lol … ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/6 "2023-09-07T23:08:53Z")
Yes, it’s reasonable near me. ---
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/7 "2023-09-07T23:11:00Z")
its a chevy trax 2015 LT ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/8 "2023-09-07T23:12:44Z")
Seems reasonable to me. That’s a lot of work. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/9 "2023-09-07T23:17:00Z")
> [@itouring2010](#): > > its going to cost $400-$600 That might cover the parts, another $600 for labor. We charge $600 per axle for brake pads, shims and resurfacing rotors. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/10 "2023-09-08T00:58:33Z")
So you are getting new shoes and drums (maybe hardware) in the rear, new pads and machine the front rotors as well as install studs, that is **a great price if it is a real one** … lol BTW: you have to remove the pads and rotors to install new wheel studs, so normally pays 0.1 hours per stud while replacing the rotors as long as the hub doesn’t have to be removed… However looking at the labor there may be more involved with replacing studs on the Trax…lol # |WHEEL STUD - R&R Application Labor * * * Operation FWD Rear,w/Drum Brakes,One Side Includes: R&I Hub & Bearing Assembly. 0.9 FWD Front,One,Both Sides Includes: R&I Steering Knuckles. DOES NOT include wheel alignment. 3.0 AWD Rear,One,One Side Includes: R&I Hub & Bearing Assembly. 1.3 AWD Rear,One,Both Sides Includes: R&I Hub & Bearing Assembly. 2.4 FWD Front,Each Additional 0.1 FWD Rear,w/Disc Brakes,One Side Includes: R&I Hub & Bearing Assembly. 1.1 FWD Rear,Each Additional 0.1 AWD Rear,Each Additional 0.1 AWD Front,Each Additional 0.1 FWD Rear,w/Drum Brakes,Both Includes: R&I Hub & Bearing Assembly. 1.6 FWD Rear,w/Disc Brakes,Both Includes: R&I Hub & Bearing Assembly. 2.0 AWD Front,One,One Side Includes: R&I Steering Knuckle. DOES NOT include wheel alignment. 1.6 AWD Front,One,Both Sides Includes: R&I Steering Knuckles. DOES NOT include wheel alignment. 3.0 FWD Front,One,One Side Includes: R&I Steering Knuckle. DOES NOT include wheel alignment. 1.6 Note: Labor items can be added to an estimate on the Estimate detail page.| ---
**Author:** ![nofyfb\_180405](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@nofyfb\_180405](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nofyfb_180405)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/11 "2023-09-11T13:54:00Z")
By today’s predatory “business practices”, it’s suspiciously cheap. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/12 "2023-09-11T21:43:41Z")
> [@nofyfb\_180405](#): > > By today’s predatory “business practices”, it’s suspiciously cheap. lol … maybe overstating this a little? … car repairs can be surprisingly expensive though. Ray’s new column (9.11.23) mentions that replacing even simple halogen-bulb headlight fixtures, newer cars, the oem version for the part can cost upwards of $600 each. My older Corolla’s halogen headlight bulb, about $12 each. ---
**Author:** ![nofyfb\_180405](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@nofyfb\_180405](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nofyfb_180405)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/13 "2023-09-11T23:32:24Z")
I respectfully disagree - every single “professional” these days is trying to pull the last feather out of customer’s ass. 20 years ago, I quit doing automotive mechanical inspections because I was sick of stealers I had to deal with and switched to Software Engineering. In my days in the field, auto repair was bad. I mean REALLY bad. I recall a case with broken clip on Mitsubishi spoiler cable - they wanted $1,400 (30 years ago!) for essentially speedo cable. I asked for a bolt and a file and promised to make a clip withing 30 minutes. For free. They kicked me out of the shop. A two month old [true] story: my son’s 4Runner needed a head gasket,I called a bunch of shops and all quoted $4,500 - $6,000. We ended up doing the job on the driveway in one day. Less than $300 OEM parts, one $20 special tool. It’s been 8,000 miles since then, and it’s just perfect. None of us is a mechanic. I am a FORMER Mechanical Engineer though. A few years ago, my mother-in-law took her Scion to a shop with one missing cylinder. They gave her a $3,500 estimate that included almost everything"because of mileage". She asked them to fix the problem at hand, they installed the cheapest spark plugs and charged her $240 for “estimate, diagnosis, and repair”. Repair, BTW, didn’t fix the issue - it needed an ignition coil. I live 1,000 miles away so I could neither fix it myself nor kick their butt. To make it short, people who can’t fix a leaking pipe, replace a sink or a faucet, fix their car are perpetual victims of “professionals” taking advantage of others’ misfortune. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/14 "2023-09-12T00:55:46Z")
> [@nofyfb\_180405](#): > > A two month old [true] story: my son’s 4Runner needed a head gasket,I called a bunch of shops and all quoted $4,500 - $6,000. We ended up doing the job on the driveway in one day. Less than $300 OEM parts, one $20 special tool. Not sure why you were quoted a price that high…Simple google search says it should be about $1400…which seems about right for 6-8 hours of labor. The gasket part is cheap…labor is expensive. Around here it’s over $100/hr or a decent independent. Not sure what the costs are in your area. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/15 "2023-09-12T01:43:27Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > Around here it’s over $100/hr or a decent independent. Not sure what the costs are in your area. Here in the Pacific NW dealer labor is +/- $200 per hour with the independents not far behind. Last shop I ran our labor was actually a bit higher than some of the dealers. > [@MikeInNH](#): > > Not sure why you were quoted a price that high Parts probably. I hope that the dealer would have done all the ancillary parts/service associated with engine disassembly. If the job was done in 1 day in the driveway the cylinder head was certainly not surfaced or inspected. ---
**Author:** ![nofyfb\_180405](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@nofyfb\_180405](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nofyfb_180405)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/16 "2023-09-12T02:50:57Z")
Same reason the dog licks his balls - because he can. I called 6 or 7 different shops with the same result. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/17 "2023-09-12T03:50:52Z")
Head gasket replacement must be easier in the driveway. Repair Pal: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/1/41b5dc38d62c0405d99d414733098728d90ac0b6.png) ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/18 "2023-09-12T04:29:35Z")
Sounds very reasonable to me. If you are comparing the price of parts online (probably about $120-150) to the cost of the job, you are not going to be happy. However, it costs money to have a shop, to hire and retain good employees, to maintain a business relationship with vendors and suppliers, to stand behind their work, etc. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/19 "2023-09-12T04:32:49Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > We charge $600 per axle for brake pads, shims and resurfacing rotors. That is too much money. I would NEVER agree to pay such a princely sum. Even with professional labor prices and parts markup, a basic brake job should not cost $1200. That’s insane. Anyone who would pay that is a fool. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728/20 "2023-09-12T04:46:53Z")
> [@nofyfb\_180405](#): > > A two month old [true] story: my son’s 4Runner needed a head gasket,I called a bunch of shops and all quoted $4,500 - $6,000. We ended up doing the job on the driveway in one day. Less than $300 OEM parts, one $20 special tool. It’s been 8,000 miles since then, and it’s just perfect. I am struggling to believe this. In fact, I have done head gasket repairs on several vehicles, all were inline 4-cylinder engines with a timing belt, and I spent **way** more than $300 on parts each time, and I bought the parts online to keep costs down. I always brought the head to a well-respected machine shop, and paid to have it cleaned and reconditioned (resurfacing, new valve stem seals, new camshaft seals, valve re-grind, etc) and that cost about $350 plus materials. For a V-6 or V-8 engine, double that. I also spent **way** more than $20 on specialty tools to do this type of work. In the past, I used a fairly accurate beam-type torque wrench, and my “eyeball angle gauge”. When I did the head gasket on my Daewoo Lanos, I needed an _accurate_ torque angle gauge, and I bought a professional model, which cost over $400. Having the right tools to do the job is a good investment, which pays for itself. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dropped-my-gfs-car-at-mechanic-he-said/192728.md?page=2)