Hello, I've got a little situation here...

Starts off me going into the dealer today for a Semi annual maintenace+Syn Oil change. I have done the Semi annual maint often and oil change religiously (2 Semi+2 Oil=Free Oil change. A promotion at this dealership). I keep all my documents in a folder aswell so I have a general time-line, and go to the same dealership. I have warranty till 140,000km/3Yr. I drive 75% highway 25% town, never been to a track, but do drive spiritly on occasion, In other words I enjoy my car. My vehicle takes me all over the province to work and I take good care of it.

At 51,297km on 11/26/2011 I took car into dealership and asked them to check all my brakes along with an oil change, I was feeling a bit paranoid about excess brake pedal travel over the last few weeks and thought the pads should be getting close to done. To my surprise they told me it was not required at this time. Bonus I thought. I also asked about my e-brake, it travels up quite a bit. I was told by service person to drive in reverse and brake, do this a couple times and that would help self-adjust and it'd be a bit better. I must've done it wrong I tried and did not notice a difference. Maybe I was not firm enough with the brake?

Today at 55,172km on 01/13/2012 they said my rears need to be replaced and my fronts are not far behind. I was a little shocked being so close to my last visit 4,000km ago. The service person was even surprised and gave me time to think of my options.

They gave me a quote for:
Rear Pads - $384
Rear Rotor X2 - $292
Labour Inc Service Calipers - $185.27

Front Pads - $384
Front Rotor X2- $291.86
Labour Incl Service Calipers - $185.27

Total Labour = $370.50
Total Parts= $1351.86
Tax = $223.91
Total = $1946.27

I can not be spending $2,000 every 50,000km/18mnths. Heck I just had to pay $1850 for a 17" winter rim/tire combo(Did get the TPMS though). I know a person has to "Pay to play" but really $2000 for brakes? I don't even want to know how much the Brembo's will be to replace when that time comes.

Would a few good quality pictures be of any help for you guys? I could take the wheels off too if needed. I find it hard to believe these rotors are needing replacement so soon. They have a slight wobble when stopping slowly but nothing that sets off my radar. Maybe it's due to winter and the ever so active ESC? I always drive with traction on during winter.

Do I have options in an after-market setup? I am on warranty and want to keep it. I was kind of stoked about staying stock due to the few posts I've read about how great the stock GM pads/rotors are. I would like to maintain stock specs and not have a downgrade, good brakes are needed.

Any advice/options welcomed. Hope I'm not being too over reactive. And no disrespect meant to any of the people I mentioned they are always very welcoming and open to help at the dealership.

 

alot cheeper at napa i replace all mine at 45000km and if you have a buddy that can do the repairs or yourself it will be alot cheeper i got the front pads for 120 and rears for 80 but i cut my rotors at my work place

 

You can change your brakes and rotors for a hole lot cheaper then that if you do them yourself

 

Shop around more. Check out crate engine depot and GM parts direct for Pads and rotors. I can see your rears being out by then but your fronts should be ok. You don't necessarily need to go with stock pads and rotors, though that's really what's best. You guys have some killer tax rates.

 

That's what we get for living in Canada lol.

 

GST and PST anyone? lol

I bought my rotors and pads from R1 at the beginning of 2010 and Im just now having to replace them again. 1900 dollars is nuts. I did the work myself with a friend. Half a day's work since I hadnt done rotors before. I think I spent a total of 500 for everything.

 

brake jobs are what many shops call "gravy jobs";
they're high return job - where most of hte cost is in labor.

as long as your caliper pins aren't seized, this isn't hard work if you're contemplating doing it yourself.

you can measure the rotors to see if you can just get them refinished;
I'd suggest buying good stuff from a stateside vendor such as Crate Engine Depot ~ the price difference from buying in Canada versus the 'states is often around 30-40%.

if you shop around to other service shops (often brake quotes are free - but ask before letting them drive your car into the shop) - I'd encourage you to ask if the rotors can be machined, or if they're getting out of spec and need to be replaced.

odds are if you had a base model Cobalt - the dealers price quote on doing all the brakes would probably be with in a couple hundred bucks at most...

Good luck!

 

contact me at Powell \Raceshop 905 985 1600 we are 2 hours from you and the cost would be half that, if not still less depending on what is really wrong. We have all LNF brake parts and rotors in stock including pin kits and even caliper pistons.

GM Canada parts prices are generally retarded.

ps the hand brake travel for the cables adjusts at the lever. they should know that, backing up does squat for the handbrake with an LNF

 

To the OP - this guy ^^^ is your best option if you're not up to doing it yourself. And I would be shocked if any of your rotors need replacing, let alone all. Dealer is trying to rape you.

 

I would do this

 

50000km thats crazy, I just changed the front brakes on my 06 with 110000km cause my rotors were warped, my pads still had about half life left on them and my drums are fine still. Picked up a set up rotors for 100$ shipped and they are great thus far, have about 3000ish kms on them. You need to shop around and get your hands a bit dirty doing them yourself, will save you a ton of money and only ttake you a few hours

 

You can replace all the rotors and pads yourself for around $500 or have a shop other than them do it for under $900 more then likely. I'd hit up Powel if u cant do it yourselfl. He will take care of u

 

@ OP

I had TOTALLY forgotten about Powell ~ you're one luck SOB!

 

got my powerslot rotors from mpx was alittle over $100

pads from autozone for $55.00

you can get a set from mpx and do it yourself like others said.

 

Thanks for the responses, would've got a post up sooner but this past weekend was a bit rough.

Should I ask for anyone in specific? I will definitly be giving you guys a call sometime this week to setup something for near future. Plus I've never driven out that direction it'll be a nice to get to know eastern ontario a bit more.


One other funny thing. I was going through my dealership records and I just found out they've been charging me for an extra litre of oil the past few times I've went. I compared records to past oil changes and the price varied by $30!

Also If anyone else begins to get water collecting in their headlight you must complain BEFORE 60,000km. Or it won't be warrantied. Even though I do have the 140,000km/3yr for some reason headlights are nill after 60,000km. This was told to me by a service person at the dealer.

 

Man, I wish I still lived up in Ontario! All my money in mods would have gone to Powell into suspension mods rather than power LOL

OP.....GO TO POWELL!