November 19th, 2005 at 01:11pm Posted by Bill
No, I didn’t switch to Geico. I changed the brake pads on my van instead of paying a shop to do it.
The front brakes have been squeaking like crazy for a few weeks now, and I’ve been too busy to do anything about it. Kathy called Les Schwab to see what they charge for a brake job, and they quoted her $200 something dollars. That’s just completely nuts. I called around to auto parts places, and found the brake pads for as cheap as $13. Kathy picked up the next best pads yesterday for $20. Now, since they were going to charge me ten times this much to do it, I thought I was going to have my work cut out for me. I went out to the van today expecting to be working on it for hours. I mean, why else would it cost $200, unless it was really difficult, right?
30 minutes later, I came back in the house, greasy and dusty, with the old brake pads in my hands and the new brake pads on the van. So if an all-thumbs complete amateur, with only the stock spare tire jack and a basic socket set, and without benefit of hydraulic lifts and pneumatic tools, can do this in 30 minutes, how can they get away with charging $200?
6 Comments Add your own
1. Kathy | November 19th, 2005 at 1:59 pm
You are awesome, honey.
2. Stephanie | November 19th, 2005 at 2:20 pm
I am not going to volunteer to be the first passenger!! Just kidding. I am sure you did a stellar job! Way to save $180!
3. scrapping dani | November 23rd, 2005 at 12:38 pm
It feels great to save money on stuff like that. Makes me wonder how the heck can these car repair places be so dishonest about how much this stuff costs and make you look stupid for fixing things yourself. They probably get the brake pads for under $20 and charge you for just scratching their butts.
4. Bill | November 23rd, 2005 at 1:22 pm
No, the butt scratching is on the house. It’s the thumb twiddling that they really gouge you for.
5. Justin | November 26th, 2005 at 10:59 am
200 something seems high to me I can see maybe maybe 95 for a job like that, for the most part at a shop they also turn the router for you as well perhaps that is where the extra cost is coming into play
6. tabitha jane | November 29th, 2005 at 10:32 am
you did it yourself??! wow!
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