Is this a reasonable price for a repair?

Question

My husband brought my 2006 Ford Focus in to our dealership for an inspection and they told him we needed new front brake pads and rotors and rear brake pads (no rotors). Additionally, we needed the sway bar links and nuts replaced. For all this they quoted $770. My husband gave them the ok before consulting another mechanic. I called another garage (friend owned) and after an exclamation that he was surprised such a new car needed that work he quoted it at $350. Called back Ford and asked them to stop but they said the brakes were already being done. They agreed to stop and not do the sway bar but the brakes alone were already $600. Does this sound reasonable?

Answer 1

Honestly no that is an outrageous price for a brake job lifetime pads an a rotor refinishing should run around 100 dollars an axle (50 per tire) replacement rotors should be around 100 dollars each (that isn't a dealer price though) with a decrease in the original price since you are no longer putting the existing rotors on a lathe.  Why in the world your sway bar links would need replacing is beyond me unless there are some serious potholes combined with ultra agressive driving ( I have 41 year old camaro the I only recently replace the sway bar bushings on due to simple dry rot and I haven't treated it gently).  Total price for the brakes assuming the rotors truly had to be replaced (and I have found they rarely do) 3-4 hundred dollars the sway bar links and bushings an additional 75-100.  Top price 500 but I wouldnt pay more than 300 or so for the whole job.

Answer 2

NOPE! I also own a Focus 2008 "SES" The Ford dealership service departments always charge 2-3 times more then private shops. unless your auto is still under full factory warranty take it elsewhere!  and if the car is under warranty federal law states you do not have to go to Ford for maintenance oil changes brakes etc. If you are required to pay for the repair you can choose to have the work done at a private shop. Brakes are a normal ware item as is your sway bar. Sorry they took you so bad!.

Answer 3

this does not sound reasonable at all. it sounds like they're ripping u off.  

Answer 4

I feel like the 350 to 400 dollar range would have been more reasonable.

wow that seems like alot of money for just that.

Answer 5

Not really... The parts/prices are listed below from Auto Zone

Front Pads: $21.99

Front Rotor: $72.99

Rear Pads: $19.99

Sway Bar links: $11.49 ea ($22.98)

Parts Total: $137.95

Alot of the cost for repairs in labor time.  Most likely the dealership is charging more than your friends shop does... per hour. You didnt mention what state you were located in but labor times can range from $75 to $250 an hour depending on locale and vehicle type. If you husband has any mechanical ability he could have done this repair fairly easily with simple hand tools.  Except for the brake calipers which sometimes require an allen wrench or socket with an allen wrench on it.  Still easy to get. Front and back brakes would only take 1-2 hours depending on experience, usually takes longer the first time you do a particular repair because you arent as familiar with that part of the vehicle yet. The sway bar links should only take about 30 min to 1hr, but I would not think they would need to replaced on a vehicle that is 2 yrs old...

I rarely take my vehicle to a repair facility due to problems similar to yours.  I also work in extended warranties for vehicles and have seen how alot of repair shops are as far as over charging for parts and labor.

Repair shops use a labor guide (Mitchell, Motors, Chilton, etc) to tell them how long it should take to do a repair.. The book might say it takes 1 hour... they will charge you 2 hours and then have it fixed in 30 mins... I wouldnt expect to pay anything less than book time but I certainly wouldn't pay more than book time. The bigger the repair the more they will try to inflate the labor time.  Book may say 8 hrs and they might try to charge you 12-15.. Thinking the average person isn't going to know the difference or know how long it takes to do that particular repair.  

Disclaimer: NOT all dealers or repair facilities are this way... I am just speaking from experience that they are out there.  You will have to use your own judgement and investigate on your own.

Answer 6

Its always a bit more at the dealer, but in the long run, you are better off..it doesn;t pay to cut corners when your life in at stake. Brakes are Important..

Answer 7

Those rotors are worth about $50 ea, and the pads no more than $35 an axle. That's $170 for parts, and maybe 2 hrs labor. Doesn't add up to $600 in my book !

If you want to see what this stuff costs, go on Advance Autoparts website, punch in your cars info and the parts you want, and the prices will pop up like magic. A good way to keep everybody honest even if you can't do this work yourself.

Answer 8

You got hosed, just like my friend almost did. She took her 2007 Ford to the dealer for front brakes only. She had 14,000 miles on the car. Ford quoted $700.00 for the brakes.

She called me and I told her to take it to Pep Boys and got the brakes done for $345.00 including parts and labor. New rotors and new ceramic pads.However if she wanted Ford Parts the bill was going to be $650.00. So apparently the parts prices are what is so much at Ford. This was six moths ago and the brakes on the Ford are working well.

I just replaced the front pads on my Mercedes for $75.00. The dealer wanted $500.00. Go figure!  

Answer 9

Sure sounds like a ripoff.

Answer 10

no, dealers will rip you off on repairs, unless you are covered under a warranty. Any mechanic who knows what they are doing can fix that for you.

Answer 11

at the dealership, yes .they saw you coming. never let the dealer do anything except warrenty work..