Break System Price

[Chrismilner]

I have a 1991 Explorer XLT 4x4 i recently spent $350 getting a new alternator and $75 on a new battery... I was driving about 65 yesterday and my front end started shaking real bad and when i came to a stop light my front breaks were smoking. Today i took the explorer to a break shop and they said the whole break system has to be replaced for $550 i think it is kind of steep but this being my only car i went ahead and told them to do what they need to... Does anyone have any ideas what is wrong or know that this price is too high??? please reply IM GOING BROKE

 

[410Fortune]

$350 for an alternator is STEEP.
It sounds like your 91 front end is in need of some TLC.
You can bet that brake shop will double/tripple that price once they get in there. You likely need new wheel bearings, rotors, calipers, pads, slide pins, ball joints and tie rods, then an alignment.

How many miles on the truck?

$550 is a good price for a brake shop to do all new rotors, calipers, pads and perform a wheel bearing re-pack, then bleed, also a friction re-line on the rear drums.
But you need to expect them to suggest even more work....
You CAN do this yourself if you are so inclined, saves ALOT of $$$.

The shop rate in CO right now is about $75 an hour on average...

 

[Chrismilner]

The shop is owned by my uncle so i dont think they will rip me off... i cant remember what all he said he is gonna do for the $550 i think it is rotors, calipers, pads and bleed... the alternator i got was $250 by it self it is 197 amp or sumthing like that... but also my 4x4 is messed up they said i need a new front trans axel or sumthing like that... $1000+ The truck says 67,000 or so... i think it is accurate since it hasnt been driven for like 10 years, a relative passed away and i got it. the trans and clutch are great and it has driven good on the road but ive done some off roading that i think might have done some damage...

 

[410Fortune]

How is the 4x4 messed up? Lights flash?
Possibly needs new front hubs or convert to manual hubs.

 

[Chrismilner]

the 4x4 and low range lights come on... and it goes in to low range but the front tires dont spin... thats basically it... this is my first SUV i dont know too much about them... how much do u think it would cost to go to manual hubs?

 

[410Fortune]

A little over $150 for maul hubs and the conversion kit.
However your t case should be shifted manually and its operation tested before you throw parts and $$$ at it.

remember 4wd does not mean all 4 tires move all the time.

 

[Chrismilner]

ok well what do u mean that all 4 wheels dont spin at the same time?

 

['97 V8]

he means that unless your locked front and rear you will only have 2 wheels spinning. one in the front, one in the rear. A differential works by sending power to the wheel with the least amount of resistance.

 

[Chrismilner]

ok assuming that my breaks and front end are good after this $550 what would you suggest as the best/most cost effecient mods??? it is almost all stock

 

['97 V8]

its brakes...not breaks
what do you plan to do with it, off road a lot and hard or the occasional trail?
If its the first one, then you could get a 5.5 lift for the front and do a SOA on the rear....a locker would seriously help you in the traction department. then you could get 33" mud tires or somethin.
if its light trail duty you could get 2 inch spacers in the front and warrior shackles along with a Add a leaf in the rear. A 2 or 3" body lift would be good too, and you can fit 33's with minor or no trimming. For tires a set of all terrians would do nicely.

 

[Chrismilner]

How much would it cost for 32" or 33" AT's??? and how much for a 3 in body lift? im not going to be off roading hard but i live in rural Alabama and i go thru alot of trails and mud... so what should i do???

 

[410Fortune]

I suggest warrior shackles in the rear and F-150 spring seats up front for a mile 1.5" of lift.

However since this truck is 15 years old and sat for 10 years you should start by getting everything stock up to par. Raduis arm bushings, sway bar bushings, are a great place to start. Full tune up, flush and fill all fluids, etc.
It likely needs ALOT of work being this old, stuff you can do slowly over time can really bring it back to good working order. The 91's are tanks, they are tough as nails and can last a LONG long time.

I suggest you search this forum, all mods for your truck are covered from mild to wild. Take a look at other first gen's and see what you like.

 

['97 V8]

a body lift is 103.99, thats for a 3 inch. tires i dunno...search online for what you like. if ou are not going to touch the suspesnion then i would stick with 31's or 32..which is gonna probably need some inner fender trimming. go for the coil spacers and the shackles along with aals. aal's are 30 bucks from summit racing. Shackles, you could get the warriors as i said above for 70, or get some cheapo autozone one for 20 or 30 bucks...im not sure about the autozone price.

 

[Chrismilner]

could i install the lift myself? if not how much would i be paying a shop?

 

[410Fortune]

SEARCH

Yes the shackles and spacers are a day project, then an alignment with new camber shims is needed.

A body lift is not something you want to just tackle, not if you need to be at work on Monday. You need to be prepared with tools and new hardware, ready to remove broken bolts, etc a helper is a HUGE bonus when doing a body lift.
I personally dont like body lifts, especially a 3", on an already top heavy SUV.

 

[Chrismilner]

ok new problem... after spending $550 on the new brake stuff i got the X out of the shop it drove good on the way home but later on i drove it about 20 or so miles around town never going over 70 the brakes got really hot and started smelling then the car started pulling to the right real bad and when i got home i checked and the brakes were smoking...

 

[410Fortune]

take it back to the shop, this was the original problem you had before the $550 worth of work, obviously they did not fix it, so their diagnosis was not accurate.

 

[Chrismilner]

ok well some one told me that this is normal for brakes that are breaking in... i think that is a load of crap. and will the shop charge me further??

 

['97 V8]

that is a Load of crap. Dude the shop just f ed up your explorer. Take it back and demand them to fix it, tell them whats going on. If they refuse it, report them to the BBB or threaten to sue. My mechanic doesnt charge jack to look at something and tells me exactly what it is. I pay for it to be fixed, if it aint fixed he does me right and keeps going till its fixed not chraging me again for work that should have fixed the problem.

Make them fix it or threaten to sue in my opinion.

 

[Chrismilner]

ok its family owned... but i will try to get them to fix it... i just got it out today and i will take it first thing in the morning