Need help with ABS light and other brake symptoms

[dekdeavs]

Last Thursday my 2001 Ford Explorer Sport felt like it had a flat tire so I pulled off the road to check but saw that all 4 of my tires were fine. When I got back in and started to drive, I noticed the ABS light was on. Also the brakes became spongy and I noticed that the car pulled a little to the right when I stepped on the brake (just before I pulled off to check my tires).

Later that day I took it back to the mechanic that did a brake job about 5-6 months ago to take a look. He told me that both of the calipers locked and both rotors were bent and some type of connector was broken. The mechanic is a guy my girlfriend has gone to a couple of time before so she is my main source of communication because he doesn't speak english well.

I'm not even sure if he used a diagnostic machine to read the code. He's stating that it's going to cost about $1000 to fix. When I told him I wanted to take it to Ford to get a second opinion, he told it would be too much work to piece it back together.

That made me suspicious about him. Can anyone give me an opinion based on what i've wrote.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Have the codes read before replacing any parts. Not all scanners are capable of reading ABS codes.

 

[Dopler174]

It's just brakes. I'm sure with a little help from this forum Via Search feature, you can replace all the parts and save yourself labor costs.

 

[rob17san]

Most backyard mechanics cannot trouble shoot, or dont have scanners. He probably stated $1000 so he can replace everything and make sure its fixed, even if it only needs a $20 fix. Make sense? I have a high dollar scanner, and even IT does not do ABS codes.

 

[dekdeavs]

Thanks for all the replies. After talking with the mechanic more, He explained that after having the Explorer for 6 years, the hardware around my brakes is finally breaking down. I have to admit that I do a lot of driving so it figures. Odometer is at 104k and I haven't done any major work to the car.

He also gave me a better estimate ($700-$800) and would back up his work with a guarantee that if I get any problems with the brakes, I just need to bring it back to him.

 

[rob17san]

Brakes are one of the simplest things you can do on your own. For that price you can get POWERSLOT rotors and HAWK pads, and Install them and still be way under.