So I have a 2000 Toyota Corolla, with not even 67K miles on it. I got in an accident a couple years back and I think that could be why I'm starting to have some issues with the engine. I've gotten a couple quotes from various mechanics on how much I'd have to pay for the couple issues I need resolved sooner rather than later:

Averages:
Power Steering Fluid Flush - $112.47
Replacement of Drive Belts - $208.33
Front Brake Job (Incl Refacing Rotors) - $206.31

Now, does this seem reasonable? Because every time I go try and get something done to my car, the guys always try to play it like I'm an idiot because I have boobs. Some guy tried to tell me it would be about $60 to replace my windshield wipers and I told him I'd just do it myself for $13 a pop. So normal stuff like tires and oil changes, I know how much those cost. But the actual engine and brakes, I dont fool around with those.

If anyone has any experience with any of the above, please let me know if those prices seem fair.

Thanks!

10/23/2008 9:11:58 AM

Quote :

"Power Steering Fluid Flush - $112.47 Replacement of Drive Belts - $208.33 Front Brake Job (Incl Refacing Rotors) - $206.31"

power steering flush shouldnt be necessary on a car with just 67k miles
drive belts, well the interval is probably 60k, but it cant be more than an hour of labor and $30 bucks for the belts so where is that extra $100 coming from?
i wouldnt pay >$200 for the front brakes even if they included new rotors, i could see $150 if it included new rotors

10/23/2008 9:15:16 AM

well rotor prices have gone up a bunch lately. $40-50 for EACH.. thats easily $100 just for rotors, pads another $25-30... and no one is going to do all of that for like $20.

So honestly, $200 isnt a bad price if its done at a shop with all new parts.

but depending on rotor surface, you can probably get them turned for $10 (average) each.

but i dont know corolla prices, heck they are $40 or so for my integra and similar in price for avalon.

[Edited on October 23, 2008 at 9:21 AM. Reason : ]

10/23/2008 9:19:14 AM

There's a few twwers that would do a good job for you

10/23/2008 9:20:20 AM

looks like gravey work for [user]zxapeall[/user]

10/23/2008 9:37:37 AM

Yea I dont know where the extra charges are coming from, I'm assuming either for getting the parts to the place (freight costs, thats what we do at my job for our customers) marking up the parts and such...

And Idk about the fluid, they just told me it was dark.

10/23/2008 9:47:41 AM

Dudette, power steering flush is a gimmick to get your cash outta your pocket and into theirs.

Brakes are gravy work. But unless you experience a shudder or pulsation in the steering wheel and/or brake pedal [b]when braking only[/user] then I say fuck resurfacing the rotors. They don't make 'em with nearly as much extra material as they used to, and resurfacing them eats away at what IS there. I rarely resurface, and usually just replace when it's an issue.

That's a lot of money to put belts on a Corolla. Granted, at 75 to 125 dolla an hour for labor, and shop markup of parts, I can see that as a viable number.

10/23/2008 12:51:44 PM

are you for seriously!? b/c they said my power steering fluid is dark in color...

and the guy said something about my brakes being at 30% but wouldnt explain that to me.

10/23/2008 1:27:51 PM

^dark doesnt have to mean damaged/worn/etc.


30% is an estimate of the material you have left,so 30% of original. 67k is about time to do brakes anyway.

10/23/2008 1:48:35 PM

Basically, that means that your brake pads have roughly 30% of the original thickness. If they are the original pads, then you've got a good 10-15k miles left on them. Toyota has some good pad formulations which last a good long time, especially if you drive fairly conservatively.

Fluid might be dark in color, but then so is motor oil if you look at it under certain circumstances. Even new motor oil. toyota's fluid isn't red like a lot of others are.

Are you a student? What general area do you live? I'd be glad to check your car out and tell you what you REALLY need. In this day and age, going to a repair shop is just like going to Best Buy or the like. They're there to sell you stuff and services. that's how they make their money. When I was a technician I used to upsell people on services all the time...the difference is, if they came in and asked for just one thing, if I noticed items that should be addressed sooner than later, then I would sell them on it. If they didn't need it, then I didn't suggest it. If they said no, then I didn't hound them. There are a lot of service places that ummm...don't quite adhere to that philosophy.

Where did you take it?

10/23/2008 1:53:15 PM

I'm not a student, but I live in Raleigh...around Creedmoor and Lynn.

I took it to a Toyota place in Cary (where I used to live) and called Fred Anderson for a quote over the phone, I just gave them the same info that Phil gave me. But, some of this stuff he had been telling me to get fixed a year ago and I just never did it b/c I didnt feel the car act any differently.

I guess b/c of the seasons changing and it getting colder, I want to get it checked out and fixed if necessary so I dont end up on the side of I-85 or 40 trying to get in touch with someone to pick me up.

10/23/2008 2:16:16 PM

Quote :

"well rotor prices have gone up a bunch lately. $40-50 for EACH.. thats easily $100 just for rotors, pads another $25-30... and no one is going to do all of that for like $20."

well last time i did my car, i got new rotors and pads for $80 so that is what i was using for an estimate

i didnt realize that the prices had gone up

10/23/2008 2:25:58 PM

dang. $80 is a steal for 2 rotors and pads.

heck, mine use to be $25 each for a rotor, 2 year warranty.
now they're around $40 each

10/23/2008 3:11:07 PM

Quote :

"b/c I didnt feel the car act any differently. "

that's poor logic.

10/23/2008 3:12:39 PM

just keep waiting, you'll notice a difference

10/23/2008 3:15:59 PM

i went to napa about a year ago to get some rotors for my truck, got a price but they didn't have them. went back last week to finally get them done and the rotor price had doubled.


AND...those prices that you were quoted sound reasonable. I used to work at a VERY large dealership in Cary and that's about what we charged for those services. hour of labor=$100-$115 these days at a dealer shop. of course it doesn't take a seasond tech that long to do those jobs, but 1 hour for fluid and 2 hours for belts and brakes, plus parts, seems about right.

[Edited on October 23, 2008 at 5:01 PM. Reason : wasg]

10/23/2008 4:57:40 PM

Quote :

"dang. $80 is a steal for 2 rotors and pads. heck, mine use to be $25 each for a rotor, 2 year warranty. now they're around $40 each "

well when they are 10.2 inch rotors, there isnt that much material in them

10/23/2008 9:10:02 PM

crest rd. fab can do it on the cheap

10/27/2008 5:55:38 PM

thanks you guys

10/27/2008 9:17:16 PM

some mechanic wanted 1100 dollars to do rotors and calipers on my friends car, front and rear. i dont know shit about cars, but it sure seemed like a ripoff to me.

10/27/2008 9:48:09 PM

what kind of car? that may be cheap for some cars. try not being so vauge.

10/29/2008 9:57:56 AM

on a civic, yes, on a lambo, maybe not

10/29/2008 9:59:46 AM

Quote :

"some mechanic wanted 1100 dollars to do rotors and calipers on my friends car, front and rear. i dont know shit about cars, but it sure seemed like a ripoff to me. "

Gotta figure that some calipers, especially for anything imported, can be pretty damn expensive. Add to that the cost of rotors (and most likely pads), and it's damn likely that the bill could approach that.

10/29/2008 2:13:50 PM

blah repost.



[Edited on October 29, 2008 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ,]

10/29/2008 2:29:14 PM