Can the Caliper Bolts be "too rounded" to remove on 99 GA?

[ranman01]

This is what the shop I took my 1999 GA SE too is telling me. The brake shop's inspection has yielded a need for new rotors as well. The final bill for 'new brakes' will be just over $330.

Strangely, I beleive they said there were 3 bolts going thru the caliper to the caliper housing/bracket, yet, from what I read here, there are only 2?

Drilling 1 of the '3' bolts out is going to cost an extra $60 in labor.

Besides asking the brake shop for my removed rotors, what can I do to verify the caliper bolts were rounded to the point that the shop couldn't be removed without having it ground out? Is this somewhat possible and legit?

Thanks in advance.

R

[alphalanos]

Did they already perform the service? Usually they will just throw out the old stuff so people can't prove they were lying.

[ranman01]

The service is currently in process now by the shop.

I thought that repair shops, by law, had to keep the replaced parts until the payment is made for the services, so that the customer could ask for and even keep the parts replaced if they so desired.

[ranman01]

Just to recap this completed brake job, I paid out about $380.

From what I was shown, the indicators were bent back on both pads, such that they didn't have a scratch on them, yet the pads were metal to metal with the rotors. Therefore, I had to get new AC/Delco rotors.

Also, the rounded bolts didn't look too bad to me, but I was shown one bolt that was severed since the head broke off. Not sure how they got the bolt out without making metal shavings out of it, but that was what was presented to me.

Also, they mentioned something about the caliper slider or something, and it was bad, etc. So that was replaced too.

So, I have a shiny new set of heavy duty cool looking rotors, and a brake job on a car that I only drive about 6k a year that will hopefully last me for years to come.

My fault for not looking at the brakes closely when I bought the car 5 months ago, but it was from a relative, so that brings up a trust issue, etc.

[xeroinfinity]

ya they can be stuck and rounded and break off. all sorts of stuff can happen, but to charge $60 just for that seems odd.

ANyway $380 isnt bad for new rotors and brakes, and the sliders kit(about $15) along with busting knuckles
At least they didnt charge extra for the knuckles

[alphalanos]

Yeah thats not too bad. I replaced the brakes on my Honda with Brembo rotors, Akebono pads, and new OEM calipers for about $350.