charged $400 for labor to replace front break pad

[kilimakri]

Need some help here. I was charged 412$ by my Nissan dealer (@Gaithersburg,MD) to replace the front break pad of my 2001 xterra. They said it took 5 hours to replace the break pad and that the procedure is long coz my vehice is a 4WD. I was charged at 85$/hour for 5 hours. The pad cost only 100$. I just checked my receipt and found that they've not entered anything in the 'hourly mechanic rate' section. They've just given me the total. I just would like to know if i've been fleeced.

I dont mind paying 400 if it actually takes that long ...so does anyone know how long it'd take to do this job?

[ChuckH]

I'm guessing they don't have a way to turn the rotors on the truck, so they actually removed the rotors to do that, which takes more time. The good news is that you will get a bearing repack at the same time, the bad news is it costs a lot! That said, it shouldn't take a Nissan tech 5 hours to do the job unless he included a 2 hour lunch break in the cost. I'd say it probably takes me 4 hours to remove and replace rotors and pack the bearings and I don't have all the neato things the dealer does to work with. They should be able to do the whole job in 2 hours; certainly no more than 3. So, my guess is that they went by the book. Dealers have a time schedule book or software program that tells them how long something "should" take and they will go by that no matter how long it actually takes. I've never seen a mechanic use up anywhere close to the listed amount of time for any project unless they are interrupted or stop to wait for parts or something.

Anyway, what it all comes down to is that $400 is a total ripoff, but it's probably not out of line with other dealer service departments. Just think, you could have just slapped on a new set of pads yourself (assuming your rotors were straight and not scored) in about half an hour for about $65.

[markplace]

I concur. I just did that with very little trouble. The rotors were in great shape and now the brakes are better than ever. Sorry to hear you got hosed.

[OffroadX]

BRAKE pad, not break pad...

Anyway, that's highway robbery if you ask me, and it damn well better have included turning the rotors.

A pad change alone is a simple procedure that should take an experienced tech no more than half an hour.

I just called Rosenthal, they don't have an on-vehicle brake lathe, so if they did turn the rotors it would have been a fairly involved bit of work. Still, 5 hours is excessive, but guess what, it didn't take 5 hours. They bill the standard labor amount for a job as listed in the repair guides, regardless of how long it takes. If a tech can do a "5-hour" job in 2 hours, the shop still books 5 hours, and the shop heads get paid by how many hours worth of work they book. A good shop can book far more than 8 hours of work per tech per day. It's a racket. On the other hand, if a job takes longer than the listed amount of time, they don't get paid more for it, but on the whole, they come out ahead of the game because most jobs come in under the quoted time.

Brent

[Tr8r]

I was talking to my dealer last service about my brakes as well and he informed me that I was going to require the exact same service as you. Same price and everything. I thought he was insane, but I guess this is the normal price for this work.

But another question for the masses... I own a 01 xterra and ever since about three months of owning it the front wheels have sqealed like a banshee whenever you are not applying the brakes. I know that this can happen when you apply the brakes due to bad pads and the like, but have never heard of this happening while just driving down the road. The dealership told me after many tries to fix the problem that this is something that every SUV owner has to deal with (which I know is BS). I was wondering if anyone else is having this problem and if anyone knows of a possible fix as it drives me insane...

Thanks,
Tr8r

[OffroadX]

You buy it new? The squeal tab on the pads will make a little noise with the brakes OFF as the pads have worn to the point the just barely are able to contact the rotor. When you apply the brakes, the noise stops. Later, it reverses so that they squeal (louder) when the brakes are applied.

[hobbes69]

I paid $200 for the dealer to do my front brakes and I thought that THAT was hiway robbery. I don't feel so bad now.

Richard

[flyins2k]

Dude You Got It In The Pooper.. It Takes Me One Half Of An Hour To Change Pads On My Fronty 4x4 Thats From Taking The Wheels Off To Puttin Em Back On..........ouch....i Think Id Have To Have A Little Chat With Those Folks.