mattBarksdale,
Since you are a one man shop, what's the typical markup for parts? I can't complain about the guys work. He does the repairs the right way. I'm just a little disturbed about the prices of the parts. Over 80 dollars for a 40 dollar rotor times two. 75 for a caliper that is listed in the local store for 23. I looked up exact part numbers that were on the invoice so I know it's the same part. Just seems to me that the markup is just too much. The only reason this guy did the brakes is because he was already there replacing brake lines. I've always done my own brake work and know what the parts cost.

 

i guess i'd start with asking how long does he warranty his installed parts and his LABOR.
we all know you pay more for warranty items...so his better be at least 36,000 miles or better.

 

I marked parts up 15-20% and slept well. As to OEM parts: the quality isnt any better than NAPA or Autozone for that matter.

 

The nice thing about OEM parts is that the mark-up is built in.
I could buy parts at 20-50%, depending upon on the part, less than Joe Blow would pay at the parts counter. All I had to do was to convince Joe that Ford parts were better. NAPA has the same arrangement but the discount is smaller. But they did give me some nice signs once.
Since I`ve closed the shop down I get parts from Autozone. They offer 2 choices of quality. Cheap crap and lifetime warranty. If you buy the good stuff the info is stored in a database and is accessible from any of their stores. No receipt required and no questions asked anywhere. Was out in NM a few years ago, live in WV, and had a bad plug wire. Looked the nearest store up in the phone book limped over there . Gave the counter guy the old wires and he gave me a new set. Thats what you call service after the sale. See how that scenerio flys with your local friendly OEM parts supplier.

jrr

 

BK63

Chaulk this one up to lack of experience but commit to doing the work yourself from now on.

I just started doing my own work this year after a trip to the dealer and a $1200 estimate to fix the brakes.

With no prior experience and some help from this forum I replaced the wheel cylinders, drums, rotors calipers, pads, and a brake line.

After getting into the repair that they dealer recommended I probably could have gotten away with a new Master Cylinder, that was not on his list, and bending back the retaining clip on one of my pads.

Althought some of the parts did not need to be replaced, I have a new system for $400 and I know how to do it myself now.

Use a penetrating fluid on the bleeders and caliper connections and if you can not get them off with a wrench use vise grips and replace the bleeder screws or lines that are damaged.

I am done taking my vehicles to mechanics, expecially dealers because they always want to take the easy way out and replace more parts than necessary to make their jobs easier and more expensive. If they took the labor time to fix the old parts it may come out the same. In a way you can not blame them, they are like the rest of us trying to make a living. When you do it yourself you take out the labor costs and that is where the money is.

 

Amen to that!!!! That's the meat AND potatoes to why I do everything I possibly can myself.

Luke

 

TwoF150,
The sad part in this whole story is that I do know how to do it all myself. I was a mechanic 20 years ago but I never remember ripping people off like this. I have a lot of the tools and have never had a mechanic do brakes or much of anything else as long as I can remember. What' peed me off is when I saw the price he charged for parts. This is my ol mans rig, not mine. I always do the work on my vehicles. I just didn't have the time working so many hours in the computer business. I will do it all myself from now on and make the time some how.

 

I just replaced front calipers, rotors, upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends. I have about 8 hours of my time and about $400 in parts. After I was all done and went to bleed the brakes I discovered mutliple leaks in the rear lines. After reading these posts I will buy the lines and replace them all mysleg. By the time I am done with a total brake job and lines I will have about $650 in parts, much cheaper than the mechanic. Ia estimating it would have been about $1,200 by the time I was done

 

RedDawg,
Like I have said on here before, if you are going to replace your brake lines, go with stainless all the way around and you'll never have to do them again. Inlinetube.com has all the stuff.

 

Thanks for the tip BK, I am going to take your advice. I have some time invested in this and about $350 soi I am not going to go cheap at the end.

Once I started on this project I got more in to restoring and improving this truck. Even with a couple 100 in stainless lines and a couple hundred for new rear brakes it is still a lot less than a new car.

I appreciate al the tips, this board has been a great source of information and encouragement.