For those who are on the verge of buying an Evo...
Evolved Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 822
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From: Jacksonville/Boca Raton
I appreciate your input. However as I've mentioned before in this thread, labor is not the issue in this case ($150 at most). What is costing are the parts. After reading some of these posts it seems that I might have paid too much for the parts and that this is where I might have saved a significant amount of money. However, I'm still a little skeptical that $60 rotors and $15 pads will last as long as $225 rotors and $150 pads. If someone can show me 50,000 miles on inexpensive aftermarket hardware, then I'll be sold. I got almost 50,000 miles on OEM stuff. Spending half as much for stuff lasting half as long is no advantage.
Actually, rotor pros uses OEM replacement rotor blanks, so, if you were to take your car to any major chain of brake or general car care shops, to get the brakes done, you would probibly walk away with the same product, just un machined, and un powdercoated. These same rotors are given warrentys for up to two years if you were to get them installed by, say firestone. I know someone who has resurfaced those same rotors I have three times, and they still have enough meat on them to brake efficeiently. Im not saying that some powerslots, rotoras, or quality two piece rotors like racing brake or stop tech arent awsome also, but I dont auto cross, so I was just looking for OEM replacement parts, and it just so happens that these turned out to be great quality, great price, and still improved perfromance in a marked fassion. For what you payed for rotors you probibly could have gotten a quality two peice racing quality rotor.
35k miles is ALOT in a year, so that's why maintenance gets so expensive. Also trying to find Evo parts locally is usually an expensive PITA.
If you can find a private, honest mechanic and get to know them, and establish a good repoire with them over time, they will be cool with (and maybe even grateful for) you bringing all the internet-bought parts you need to them, and will give you a fair deal. You'll be getting good work too.
It seems that its usually the people who get their parts from the stealership directly or indirectly through the shop performing the work who pay the most, and even worse when you go to a shop full of "strangers" as a "stranger."
that's exactly what happened to me, after getting ripped all over town, i found the MAN, and now he's an older buddy/mentor of mine who lets me come in, use his lift, gives me a hand or tell me what I need to do if I'm lost, and at the end of the job when I ask him "what do I owe you?" he says "Whatever you want to give me."
and it gets done quicker for me, the car is out of his way ASAP, he gets cash under the table, everyone is happy.
but if i were you i'd hire this type of guy, cause he's just like you, only a mechanic.
If you can find a private, honest mechanic and get to know them, and establish a good repoire with them over time, they will be cool with (and maybe even grateful for) you bringing all the internet-bought parts you need to them, and will give you a fair deal. You'll be getting good work too.
It seems that its usually the people who get their parts from the stealership directly or indirectly through the shop performing the work who pay the most, and even worse when you go to a shop full of "strangers" as a "stranger."
that's exactly what happened to me, after getting ripped all over town, i found the MAN, and now he's an older buddy/mentor of mine who lets me come in, use his lift, gives me a hand or tell me what I need to do if I'm lost, and at the end of the job when I ask him "what do I owe you?" he says "Whatever you want to give me."
and it gets done quicker for me, the car is out of his way ASAP, he gets cash under the table, everyone is happy.but if i were you i'd hire this type of guy, cause he's just like you, only a mechanic.
Last edited by hokiruu; Jan 29, 2007 at 04:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 660
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From: Fresno, CA
Actually, rotor pros uses OEM replacement rotor blanks, so, if you were to take your car to any major chain of brake or general car care shops, to get the brakes done, you would probibly walk away with the same product, just un machined, and un powdercoated. These same rotors are given warrentys for up to two years if you were to get them installed by, say firestone. I know someone who has resurfaced those same rotors I have three times, and they still have enough meat on them to brake efficeiently. Im not saying that some powerslots, rotoras, or quality two piece rotors like racing brake or stop tech arent awsome also, but I dont auto cross, so I was just looking for OEM replacement parts, and it just so happens that these turned out to be great quality, great price, and still improved perfromance in a marked fassion. For what you payed for rotors you probibly could have gotten a quality two peice racing quality rotor.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 218
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From: Dartmouth, Mass
when i get an evo it will be heaven lol buying parts for my audi lets me know that car parts are expensive. Especially trying to get anything aftermarket. I was really happy when i saw the prices on things for the evo compared to the s4 lol
Evolved Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 822
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From: Jacksonville/Boca Raton
Do you know why they didn't charge you for labor???? Cause they already got good $ from you.... Don't let the shop buy your stuff, go online and buy them yourself...Post on any vendor forum, see what specials they have. I'm sure if you were to offer $1200 for 4 rotors and brake pads, you'd get a lot of PM's... Good luck next time.
So let me get this straight. You pay $45 per pair of pads ($90 for four) and replace those every 2 months? I got 18 months (45,000 miles) out of the brembo pads and they cost under $400 to replace. So if you spend $90 every two months that means about $800 in pads in the same 18-month period. As far as the rotors are concerned, did you pay $180 per pair or $180 for each one? If that cost was for each one, then you didn't save that much. I just paid $225 each for the fronts and $210 each for the rears. I think people might be thinking I wasted money, but a vast majority of the cost is parts. And if some of you can get equivalent parts for cheaper, great. But also keep in mind that I drive (or had been driving until recently) quite a lot - 35,000 miles per year. Taking that into consideration would suggest that my cost was somewhat reasonable.
Oh, and AutoZone ceramic pads (are the ones that Evo comes of the factory) different factory.
AutoZone - No brake dust
Brembos - A lot of brake dust.
Like I said AutoZone is not the best, but suites street needs
AutoZone - No brake dust
Brembos - A lot of brake dust.
Like I said AutoZone is not the best, but suites street needs
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 660
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From: Fresno, CA
Thanks...
Well it's my own fault for assuming that I couldn't do much better than what a brake shop could do for me - epsecially one that has known me for a while. I would rather have paid $310 than $936, especially if they're essentially as good. There's always next time. Thanks...
Thanks...
DIY is the way to go. It's not that hard to learn how to change the brake pads and rotors. It will also save you alot of money in the long run. I think $1200 is just way too much for just the brake pads and rotors to be changed. It looks like you got ripped off! With that kind of money, you could have bought other things for your Evo.
Evolved Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 945
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From: NC
If you think it is expensive daily driving one, try tracking it 20+ times per year . I was dropping @1500 per month in tires, brakes, travel, gas, strippers and 'other' which equates to alot depending on where you are.
. I was dropping @1500 per month in tires, brakes, travel, gas, strippers and 'other' which equates to alot depending on where you are.
Yea, but that's fun........He paid $1500 from brake job? That's no fun