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About 20,000 miles ago I was told I needed rear brakes. I didn't get them fixed.

Recently I asked another shop to look at my brakes during a routine oil change and, of course, they said I needed new brakes too. Their quote included new rotors and flushing the brakes system, total price about $350...for rear only. We wanted a second opinion. Driving through Denver, I saw a Just Brakes Franchise and stopped.

Their $99 special sounded very good and they were able to inspect the brakes right then. Not only did they say the rear brakes were bad but I needed new front brakes, calipers and rotors. I knew nothing about brakes but the manager measured the rotor thickness and showed me how they compared to the specs (Just Brakes specs?) and showed me how the pads were wearing and the BIG chart on the wall that identified the causes of break wear. By the time he completed the estimate, the cost jumped from $99 to about $500.

I was about to walk out when he said only the brake pads were a safety issue and the calipers and rotors could still be used but there would be no guarantee. So we let them replace all pads and mill the rotors on the rear brakes. He said that although the front rotors were above "throw away" thickness, they were too close to min spec to mill. I now question that opinion.

I also let him flush the system for an additional $60.

The reason for this review is to let people know that replacing brake pads is relatively quick and easy and you probably do not need all the other recommended work. Also the "Best" brake pads are likely to last the longest and cause the most wear on the more expensive rotors. In the long run, if you are even going to keep the car that long, it is probably economically cheaper to replace the pads twice and have the rotors milled than to get better, more expensive pads and then have to replace the rotors also.

Also, Ideally the pads will wear evenly but they don't except maybe in a race car. Uneven wear does not necessarily require calipers to be replaced.

Be skeptical of any brake inspections. They will almost always tell you that they need to be replaced and since you, the unknowledgeable consumer know brakes are a safety issue, you are more than likely to have the work done prematurely and some parts replaced unnecessarily.

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Guest

I have a 95 ford escort. My breaks are making a very embarrassing high pitch noise when I stop slowly.

The mechanic I go to said they are just fine. I think it's BS, my car stops; just hate that sound.

Guest

I was told on Jan 2, 2018 I needed new back brakes and rotors within a month. Four months later, I my brakes were still not grinding and that's after I took my car on three round trips to and from New Jersey to Tennessee. Over 1200 each trip.

Guest

How do you know for sure when you need new brakes? My car is a 2001,and I was told I need them replaced within a month,but do they make a sound or what another person told me unless I'm going off the freeway and my steering wheel is shaking and my foot going down to the floor,I probly don't need them???

Guest

Hi I'm an ase certified parts specialist. I do my own brakes and I always install the very best pads.

The premium pads actually reduce wear on rotors, produce less brake dust and last exponentially longer than the cheaper pads. Idk what brand or line of pads just brakes offers but if you value your car and plan on keeping it and you safe do your research. I suggest asking anyplace that does brakes if they offer Akibono proact pads....if they do expect to reschedule and get those installed no one I know of actually stocks these but will order for you. The pads alone will run nearly 100 dollars but worth every penny.

Generic pads 90% of what's available on the market actually cost you more trouble in the long run. They may be more expensive than most pads but best value to buy. Your initial bill will go up over 80 dollars buy keep in mind with generic pads you'll be back doing it again in 30k miles. With Akibono proact line of pads on most cars will go up to 100k miles.

80 extra once or do the job 3 times more often. Not rocket science.

Guest

Most people mold themselves to doing minimum of any repairs or even maintaining the vehicles the correct way.Every vehicle has several systems that have basic fluids that is "only" recommended or suggested. These two words are taken for granted for each system in vehicles contains fluid that does not last forever based on integrity.

Just as oil is recommended, for if not changed the other components of where the oil helps maintain will not last.

Well coolant, power steering, brake fluid, differential fluid, and other each maintain these different systems and will make other components in each of the system wear wrong or cause issues...

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