$2500 Brake job cost?

topaz75 · Jul 28, 2022

Just looking for some cost comparison, as I just got a $2500 quote for break work on my 2016 RAM 1500. It has 125k miles so I guess it's not a complete surprise but the total amount did come as a bit of a shock. This place is usually great, and I have been taking my cars and trucks there for years. The pricing info i can find online is not great for this job, thus this post.

For $2,500 they will do

new pads and rotors both axels
new calipers rear axel
Repair seized e-brake (new brake shoes and according to them to install that the rear axel needs to come out, so the diff needs taking apart, new fluid, seal, etc.)

Thanks
Topaz

OC455 · Jul 28, 2022

Ummm...

Yeah, maybe $400-$500 for the e-brake with the differential service. $500-$600 for the brake job with new parts.

Replacing pads & rotors isn't that hard to do if you have little mechanical knowledge. But $2500 is bit over the top IMHO.

PoMansRam · Jul 28, 2022

Just new pads and rotors all the way around can run $800-1000 for a shop to do it in my area alone. I would say add another $250 per caliper replacement

Dealers during the pre-COVID days were charging $1200+ just to fix the seized parking brake. They use a kit with all new backing plates, actuators, shoes, hardware, etc. This method does require pulling the rear axles. There's several ways to fix the situation, which includes just replacing the P-brake cam/actuators, or taking some time to free up and lube what you have.

You may be able to free up your parking brake yourself and save ~50% of that cost. I've done it several times on later model Ram 1500s, there's lots of info here or on youtube, etc.

You could also do pads and rotors all the way around yourself with quality parts for $350 or so. Replacement calipers are like $70 and you get half of that back with your core.

That $2500 is probably fair in terms of what shops charge.

CheechDogg.0n37s · Jul 28, 2022

I paid $500 for the Power Stop z36 brake kit without the calipers and $150 but gave the guy $200 so $700 total for a full brake job ... $2500 is highway robbery ...look for another shop , you shouldn't be paying that much lol ..

OC455 · Jul 28, 2022

topaz75 said:
new calipers rear axel

Why new rear calipers?

CheechDogg.0n37s · Jul 28, 2022

OC455 said:
Why new rear calipers?

That's what I asked myself too, not the front but rears? ... he's getting ripped off big time

topaz75 · Jul 28, 2022

PoMansRam said:
Just new pads and rotors all the way around can run $800-1000 for a shop to do it in my area alone. I would say add another $250 per caliper replacement

Dealers during the pre-COVID days were charging $1200+ just to fix the seized parking brake. They use a kit with all new backing plates, actuators, shoes, hardware, etc. This method does require pulling the rear axles. There's several ways to fix the situation, which includes just replacing the P-brake cam/actuators, or taking some time to free up and lube what you have.

You may be able to free up your parking brake yourself and save ~50% of that cost. I've done it several times on later model Ram 1500s, there's lots of info here or on youtube, etc.

You could also do pads and rotors all the way around yourself with quality parts for $350 or so. Replacement calipers are like $70 and you get half of that back with your core.

That $2500 is probably fair in terms of what shops charge.

CheechDogg.0n37s said:
That's what I asked myself too, not the front but rears? ... he's getting ripped off big time

They didn't elaborate, just said they were bad. The truck has 125k miles, I bought it with 100k 4 years ago and this is the first time I am doing any repairs to the brakes, so they may have changed the front already. I am also in CT, and the truck spent all his life here, so rust could be an issue.

CheechDogg.0n37s · Jul 28, 2022

topaz75 said:
They didn't elaborate, just said they were bad. The truck has 125k miles, I bought it with 100k 4 years ago and this is the first time I am doing any repairs to the brakes, so they may have changed the front already. I am also in CT, and the truck spent all his life here, so rust could be an issue.

That is still a lot ... check out other shops ...I wouldn't pay that much

chopperman1 · Jul 28, 2022

They probably quoted the rear cailpers due to the e-brake issue, rather than troubleshoot the problem they are replacing everything. You could certainly do it all yourself for a lot less.

Matt2221 · Jul 28, 2022

I don't understand the caliper replacement. I have had 32 vehicles in my life and I have NEVER had a failed Caliper.
Les Scwab won't do brakes without replacing them. It's just unnecessary!

Rlaf75 · Jul 28, 2022

Take somewhere else for a second opinion.

CheechDogg.0n37s · Jul 28, 2022

Rlaf75 said:
Take somewhere else for a second opinion.

And don't mention the other shop wanting to replace the calipers, have what ever other shops you take it to determine what they want to do... then go from there ...

PoMansRam · Jul 28, 2022

All rear brake components take a severe beating in the rust belt. A theory on that is they catch all the wonderful salty winter time road spray and they have less surface area than the fronts.

You guys that live without road salt have it made.. In some ways at least!

RamDiver · Jul 28, 2022

Haven't you heard that brake callipers are a throw-away item now?

If the OP is even remotely mechanically minded and wants/has time for an adventure, cleaning up brake callipers and changing pads is painfully simple. Although, an experienced mentor could be extremely valuable & save time.

Maybe watching lots of YouTube could help too.

I can understand not having the available time though. This world moves much too fast, more often than not.

CheechDogg.0n37s · Jul 28, 2022

RamDiver said:
Haven't you heard that brake callipers are a throw-away item now?

If the OP is even remotely mechanically minded and wants/has time for an adventure, cleaning up brake callipers and changing pads is painfully simple. Although, an experienced mentor could be extremely valuable & save time.

Maybe watching lots of YouTube could help too.

I can understand not having the available time though. This world moves much too fast, more often than not.

Right ... I was going to do my brakes but for $150 labor it was a no brainer so I had my mechanic do them instead lol ... but brakes are not hard to do especially on these trucks ...

BadHemi2014 · Jul 28, 2022

I replaced all 4 pads, rotors and calipers myself. Also the ebrake pads and hardware without pulling axles. Difficult but possible. Only cost me the parts and a good bit of time. Hardest part was removing caliper bolts, I recommend a big can of Blaster!

IDSandman · Jul 28, 2022

BadHemi2014 said:
I replaced all 4 pads, rotors and calipers myself. Also the ebrake pads and hardware without pulling axles. Difficult but possible. Only cost me the parts and a good bit of time. Hardest part was removing caliper bolts, I recommend a big can of Blaster!

And a BFR!

OC455 · Jul 28, 2022

I did pads ad rotors on an 05 Ram 1500. It cost $250 for front and rear pad and rotor set, and a few hours of time. Truck spent it's whole life in CNY and has 76k miles on it when I did them. Calipers were fine....e-brakes are shot, so, yeah I can see pulling the axles and servicing the differential. A lot easier than trying to do it with them on.

bear52 · Aug 1, 2022

It's how they make their money. Been doing it for years, and doing stuff that doesn't need to be done. Doesn't matter..Dodge, GM, Ford...they all do it. I know of many instances where people have come to me after getting an estimate and half of the stuff didn't need to be done. Such a shame. Been doing just about all my mechanical work myself all my life because they can't be trusted to do it right anyhow. And when I do things like a brake job, I do stuff they wouldn't even consider. Brakes are not that tough to do. It's one of the few things you can do to these vehicles today. Good luck!

stormcom · Aug 1, 2022

Do you have a car jockey teenager in the neighorhood? Give him and his buddies 150.00 and they will do it while you sit in your lawn chair. Buy a reputable kit. You can get recomendations on this forum. I would think under 1k including the labor. If they do great, take them out to dinner or something.

$2500 Brake job cost?

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