ok so i brought my car to kragen to get the brakes checked out.....cost 20 bucks, not bad i guess although i think ive heard places doing to for free.......

anyways, i got the news that there some problems, frozen caliper, some damage to the rotors or osmething i guess?? te back drums are leaking???

anyway,s i have stock drums in back and SSBC front brakes kit....

the guy said it would be about 550 bucks to do the front, and about 450 for the back.....thats just to get them to "good condition"....

now, that seems sort of steep considering how i could buy like rear disc brakes brand new just about for that much....should i go somewhere else???

they keep asking me what car i took those disc brakes off of too.....i go like "no it was a kit, the gut before me put it on, it comes new from SSBC, its a kit made for my year mustang...." and they reply "yeah, but what KIND-OF-CAR did it come off of....you had disc brakes on here before, WHAT-KIND-OF-CAR?"


its hard to say if they are trying to screw me but i think i could probably replace rotors....and other things if i was told how.....im trying to save for paint but this is killing me on my limited budget....

and by the way....the brakes DO work, and fairly well too....my dad just thinks "they dont feel as easy and dont have the same stopping as my 2005 F150, they much be very messed up." when in reality, they are just old and dont have a power booster or anything........i guess he dosent remember manual brakes very well.....

anyways, what should i do?

 

Jack the front of the car up and have someone apply the brakes. If you can't turn the wheels by hand, you dont have a frozen caliper. If just 1 of the calipers was frozen, the car would turn to one side upon braking. Then take off the wheels and take a look! Leakage or rotor damage should be obvious. They are probably trying to make an extra few bucks.

 

yeah alright i will do that once i get my car back from them......

got anymore tips to check before??? my mom dropped the car off so maybe they think they can pull one over because shes just like.....momish.....

 

Way too much money and they are not even telling you specifically what you need.

Rear brakes are cheep to replace..
Shoes $10 - 20 both sides
Spring kits-if needed or just because it is a good idea to replace and relatively in expensive 10-15
Adjuster kits-see above 10-15
If Drums still have enough meat..Prob 20 - 30 to get both cut.
If Shot figure 40-50 each for new ones
Wheel cylinders- 15-25 ea.
Rear Brake hose - 15-25

So on the high side to replace all the brake components i the rear approx. $200...less if drums just need to be cut. This is also a simple job you can do yourself if you can follow a service manual. You might say 200? well for another 2 I can have them do it and save the trouble. I guarantee they will not replace all the parts above.

If the Front components were stock drums it would be roughly the same. However, I am not familiar with the SBBC kits. If I were you I would have another place like Midas to a brake inspection and see if they can narrow down the issues with the front. If the kit is relatively new and the calipers are not frozen, you may be able to just cut them as well and if they can identify the specific problem, such as one caliper sticking, you can call SBBC and just order a replacement from them. I couldn't see a rebuilt caliper being more than a couple of hundred bucks from them or you may be able to find a ocal rebuilder that would prob. do it for 40-50 bucks. A front brake job is also something you can do.

Even if it winds up costing you the same money, you will know what you are getting and you will definitely be doing a more thorough job. Don't just take some guys word for it. If money is tite, do a lil investigation on your own. The worst thing that can happen is you learn more about your car.
Good luck

 

I wouldn't trust anyplace that doesn't understand those are brakes from a kit and not from another car...

Either find a friend and buy him a six-pack, or find a reputable speed shop in the area. They may either know someone to help you out, or can do it themselves. They may even be able to teach you what you need to know...

 

ok, so i went down there, the guy said no one could find any sort of part number or anything on the calipers so he was having trouble ordering parts for them...........


so me and my dad walk in after he got home from work and the guy says "so the back drums are done, and the new rotors are in the fronts, but we cant rebuild the calipers until they come in thursday....you can take it down the road to get a paint estimate though....and we can get it back and rebuild the calipers"

i was like WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON.....then my dad said hes going to get them done for safety reasons and the guy lowered the price semi significantly i guess......plus he dosent trust me i could do it myself. lol.

 

Well I sure hope he isn't paying that much. Thats just robbery!

 

well, not as much......i think they might have shaved a few hundred off for all redone brakes.......i dono how, he wasnt specific.........but at least i wont randomly have a skidding front tire at stop signs and stuff......i guess that it pays off to get good grades and such in times like these lol

he just dosent think im capable of doing it myself....maybe its better off that way.....i just hope when i go to get a paint/body work estimate they arent has harsh...i think i can finally afford it though, i havent spent a dime in ages.....

 

He said the back drums are done? What does that mean? What did they do/replace?
Then he says the front discs are done but not the calipers? And you can drive it? Seems odd..if you had a frozen caliper, it would ruin the newly cut rotors? Really just sounds like you guys don't know what you are actually getting for the money. If it were me, I would ask the guy to detail specifically what is being done. But if your dad thinks it is ok, it is his money. I would just be concerned that they are not doing a complete job and you will wind up with other problems down the road.
Good luck.

 

back drums done.....it means they are done being rebuilt and repaired...basically every part that possibly needed replacing or showed any wear was replaced....the remaining was cleaned and refurbed etc.......same is happening with the front brakes once they get the rebuild parts tomorrow morning.

and the calipers need to be rebuilt but they will work to take the car a few doors down block and back i think.......


anyways, im not doing that now, i just rescheduled the appt. this morning for tomorrow morning.