Cost for brakes?

[AgentStarks]

My brakes are startign to squeak a little bit. I know the back are fine and the froont are starting to wear down a little, but don't need to be replaced just yet. How much should it cost to get them replaced? I went to Midas for an inspection yesterday and they quoted me:

$111.95 for the brake pads
$24.99 for the hardware kit
$58 for machining the rotors
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194.94 Total.

This seems kind of high. What do you guys think?
Is it necessary to get the rotors machined when switching brake pads? Also doing it myself isn't really an option right now as I have neither the tools or the time...

 

[BradE.]

Yes, those prices are high. $111 for their crappy pads is a joke. $25 for a hardware kit? What hardware? New slide pins maybe.

If the rotors meet specs and do not have any runout than the don't really need machined. Even if they did, $58 to machine 2 rotors is a ripoff.

 

[dondude32]

Did my front brakes last weekend. New rotors, slide pins, lifetime guarantee carbon metallic pads ran me a total of $125.00 and about an hour of my time. Do the brakes yourself. Disc brakes are no brainers.

 

[AgentStarks]

Ok, I'm saying screw getting it done anywhere. They just charge too much for labor. I'm going to do it myself with a friend. I do want to get a manual for the X though so I know what I'm doing. Any recommendations for which one to get?

 

[aldive]

I just bought all 4 pads and some spray cleaner and the bill was $45.00.

Do ir yourself. very easy.

 

[Jason_25]

Don't get the rotors turned. Just buy new ones. The cost is not much more and they will last you alot longer. you don't need a hardware kit at all either. Just grease your slide pins and stick the shim onto each brake pad.

 

[dondude32]

Shim came standard on my new pads.

 

[AgentStarks]

The rotors on it should be fine. It's a '99 in really good shape with only 45k miles on it so the rotors shouldn't need any work on them. My friend looked at them and said there wasn't any grooves on it or anything

 

[jasonb]

last time i did brakes.. i just took the rotors up to a tire shop and they turned them for $5 a pop.
those prices are high! and yeah.. what hardware kit? my hardware kit for doing brakes consists of a closehanger and a clamp.

 

[mrboyle]

If you are experiencing squeeking currently, you want to have the rotors turned before installing new pads. If you don't the noise will be worse. The reason it is recomended to have the rotors turned before installing new pads is two fold. First, turning the rotors will eliminate any high spots or surface irregularities (even if the rotor looks ok the surface is in no way smooth). Second, when you apply the brakes, friction material from the pad becomes imbedded into the surface of the rotor. Over time the amount of material that becomes imbedded incerases to the point that the majority of the rotors surface takes on a shiny dark appearence. This buildup of material is one of the causes of the surface irregularities and is also what causes the brakes to "sqeek" when applied. Machining the rotors removes this material and provides the new friction material a clean surface to seat into. Almost any auto shop that has a brake lathe will measure and turn your rotors for $5-$10 bucks (or a twelve pack). Believe me, its money well spent!