I went in today to get my tires rotated and while the tires were off they showed me how bad the brakes are. The rear brakes are fine, but the front rotors are cracked and overheating. The pads have almost disintegrated. The shocks are also shot. Kaufmann Tire quoted me $850 to get all this done, but the parts (according to fordpartsonline) should only run about $160 for both rotors instead of the $320 that I was quoted. The pads & service were supposedly going to cost $150, but I found them to be about $83 at fordpartsonline. What other pads are out there...are the carbon metallic ones from Autozone good? and How much are they?? As far as shocks, I was quoted $280 all around...but I know shocks are much cheaper than $70 a piece. What are some good shocks to install? My problem with shocks is that I don't know if my car has the load leveling suspension or not. Sounds stupid, but how can I tell?? It wasn't on the window sticker. It's a 1997 5.4L 4X4 Eddie Bauer. Is there anything to look for that would indicate the load leveling suspension?? Thanks in advance for any help, and sorry this is so long!

 

>Kaufmann Tire quoted me $850 to get all this done, but the parts >(according to fordpartsonline) should only run about $160 for both >rotors instead of the $320 that I was quoted. The pads & service >were supposedly going to cost $150, but I found them to be about $83 >at fordpartsonline. What other pads are out there...are the
>carbon metallic ones from Autozone good? and How much are
>they??

You can pick up new rotors for around $50 each and the pads should be no more than $60...for a grand total of $160 for parts.



>As far as shocks, I was quoted $280 all around...but
>I know shocks are much cheaper than $70 a piece. What are
>some good shocks to install?


The best shocks made (Rancho RS 9000's) are about $70 each, but I guarantee that's not the model they are quoting. It depends what you are looking for in a shock...you can pay anywhere between ~$30 and $70 for shocks. I put on Rancho RSX's on my Expy and they cost around $38 each. BTW, they are awesome. The Monroe Reflex is the same shock inasmuch as Rancho and Monroe are owned by the same company. Other good shocks are Edelbrock IAS and Bilsteins at around $60-$65 each.

So let's do some math, $160 in brake parts and say 4 shocks at $50 each results in a grand total of +/- $360 in parts. Sounds like the labor quote of around $500 is somewhat excessive.

 

I agree, the figure you were quoted is quite high. I have the Autozone carbon metallic pads on my Bronco, and they are excellent. As for shocks, stay away from Edelbrock. I have them on my Bronco, and I hate them.

 

Go to Ford to get your pads!!!

 

I think the LL suspension was optional. So, if not on your sticker you don't have it. To confirm, look for the switch that turn the LL suspension off, in the front passenger footwell. If it's not there ... no LL suspension.